Tulasi Apa
Tulasi Apa is a 2017 first Odia biographical film, produced by Anupam Patnaik and directed by Amiya Patnaik.[1] The film depicts the life of Tulasi Munda, an educator and social activist from Keonjhar, Odisha.[2] The film was released on 19 May 2017.[3]
| Tulasi Apa | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Amiya Patnaik |
| Produced by | Anupam Patnaik |
| Starring | Barsha Nayak Madhusmita Sujit Paikray Choudhury Bikas Das Premanjan Parida Lochani Bag |
| Music by | Pankaj Jal |
| Cinematography | Arjun Jena |
Release date |
|
Running time | 121 minutes |
| Language | Odia |
The film introduces Barsha Nayak as the main protagonist. The film has been critically acclaimed and won numerous awards including Six Odisha State awards in 2015. It was officially selected in Bengaluru, Kolkata, Tehran and other film festivals. Barsha Nayak got the best actress award in Haryana Film festival. The film also won the best film award in Shimla Film Festival.[4]
Plot
Born and brought up in a tribal region of Odisha, 'Padmashri[5]' Tulasi Munda did not allow the poverty, illiteracy and un-development of her locality to dishearten her, discourage her or dampen her spirit. She took a humble step to educate her fellow beings, which grew into a huge movement. Be it urban-rural divide or conflict of mines-owner and workers or exploitation of the have-nots by the haves, Tulasi Munda protested each and every act of injustice and discrimination and turned the tide in favour of her fellow beings.
The film encapsulates the essence of Tulasi Munda's life.[6] It enumerates her struggle and highlights her achievements.
Cast
- Barsha Nayak as Tulasi Munda
- Madhusmita as young Tulasi Munda
- Sujit Paikray as Sahrai Oram
- Mamata Panda as Janha
- Lochani Bag as Ghasa Munda, Tulasi Munda's Mother
- Premanjan Parida as Tulasi Munda's Father
- Netrananda Barik as Tulasi Munda's Uncle
- Kanakalata Das as Tulasi Munda's Aunty
- Kajal Satpathy as Jhingi
- Debananda Sony as Jhingi's Husband
- Susil Mishra as Nabakrishna Chaudary
Production
The research started on 2014 November by Abha Rani Bal. She was a primary school teacher in Barbil. She used to travel every week to Serenda, Tulasi Munda's home to meet her and get the story from her. After months of meetings, discussions and research the script was formed by the end of 2014. Barsha Nayak, who portrays the lead character was shortlisted from some auditions. She had to travel from Hyderabad to Bhubaneswar frequently for the shooting as she was working in an IT company in Hyderabad. The workshop started in Bhubaneswar in January 2015, followed by the shooting in February first week. The entire schedule was completed in 30 days.
The film is shot in and around Keonjhar, Joda and Barbil all mining areas, and original locations where Tulasi Munda had grown up and spent her entire childhood.
According to the director the most difficult part, as it was with biopic Tulasi Apa is that one cannot take cinematic liberties. Most of the time people are sure, that while making a biopic, you will end up making a documentary if you are going to be inflexible. How to dramatise a person's life, without making it look like a documentary – that was the challenge. 'And when you end up doing it correctly, I think it's a tremendous achievement' said Amiya Patnaik.
Tulasi Apa is a biopic with a difference. The woman herself is different. She stands out in the crowd yet does not. Generally, when we deal with biopics we deal with a full life. But in Tulasi Apa, the director concentrated on her activism spans more than four decades of representation for the voiceless. How she became the symbol of tribal and women empowerment? That's what makes it different.
Music
The music for Tulasi Apa has been composed by Pankaj Jal, and the lyrics has been penned down Nimai Mohanty. The music rights of the film has been acquired by Eastern Media Entertainment.
| Tulasi Apa | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Pankaj Jal | |
| Released | 19 May 2017 |
| Recorded | 2017 |
| Genre | Feature Film Soundtrack |
| Length | 16.03 |
| Label | Eastern Media |
| Producer | Anupam Patnaik |
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dui Ek Dui" | Ira Mohanty,Pankaj Jal | 4.00 |
| 2. | "Makar Mela" | Bulu, Manasi | 4.17 |
| 3. | "Jibana Pradipa" | Ira Mohanty | 4.41 |
| 4. | "Andha Kupa" | Subhas Das | 3.45 |
| Total length: | 16.03 | ||
Release
Festival Screening
Tulsi Apa premiered in the 21st Kolkata International Film Festival in 2015.It was also screened at 4th Tehran Jasmine International Film Festival,the first Odia film to be screen there. It has won best feature film in 2nd International Film Festival of Shimla .This film was also screened at Nashik International Film Festival, the Bengaluru International Film Festival and the 1st Haryana International Film Festival.
Theatre Release
Tulasi Apa is slated to hit the theatres on 19 May 2017 at several single theatre across India.
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) and Nominee(s) | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 27th Odisha State Film Awards | Best Director | Amiya Pattanaik | Won | [9] |
| Best Actress | Barsha Nayak | Won | |||
| Best Music | Pankaj Jaal | Won | |||
| Best Playback Singer – Male | Gautam Giri | Won | |||
| Best Playback Singer – Female | Antra Chakarbarti | Won | |||
| Best Cinematography | Arjun Jena | Won | |||
| Best Dialogue | Chinmay Das Pattnaik | Won | |||
| Best Child Artist | Madhusmita Maharana | Won | |||
| 21st Kolkata International Film Festival | Official Selection | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | 4th Tehran Jasmine International Film Festival | Official Selection | Nominated | [10] | |
| Bengaluru International Film Festival | Official Selection | Nominated | |||
| Nashik International Film Festival | Official Selection | Nominated | |||
| Golden Triangle Film Festival | Official Selection | Nominated | |||
| 2nd International Film Festival of Shimla | Best Feature Film | Anupam Patnaik | Won | [11] [12] | |
| 1st Haryana International Film Festival | Best Actress | Barsha Nayak | Won | ||
| Chalachitra Jagat Awards | Best Film | Anupam Patnaik | Won | ||
| Best Director | Amiya Pattanaik | Won | |||
| Best Actress | Barsha Nayak | Won | |||
| Best Cinematography | Arjun Jena | Won | |||
| Cinema Sansar Awards | Best Film | Anupam Patnaik | Won | ||
| Best Popular Actress | Barsha Nayak | Won | |||
| Best Popular Producer | Anupam Patnaik | Won | |||
| Best Director | Amiya Pattanaik | Won | |||
| 2017 | Roopnagar Mayanagri Star Screen Awards | Best Film | Anupam Patnaik | Won | |
| Best Actress | Barsha Nayak | Won | |||
| Best Director | Amiya Pattanaik | Won | |||
| Showtime Awards, Belabhumi, Puri | Best Actress | Barsha Nayak | Won | ||
| Best Director | Amiya Pattanaik | Won | |||
| Best Film | Anupam Patnaik | Won | |||
| Best Screenplay and Dialogues | Chinmay Das Pattnaik | Won | |||
| Banichitra Awards | Best Director (Critics) | Amiya Pattanaik | Won | ||
| Best Actress (Critics) | Barsha Nayak | Won | |||
| Best Film (Critics) | Anupam Patnaik | Won |
References
- "Tulasi Apa - First Odia biopic to inspire generations - Odisha Sun Times". DailyHunt. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- "[Watch] Tulasi Apa odia movie trailer - A biopic on social activist Tulasi Munda, release on May 19". Incredible Orissa. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- admin. "Tulasi Apa An Odia Biographical Film All Set To Release on 19th May 2017". WwGossip. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
- Bureau, ReportOdisha (15 October 2016). "Biopic 'Tulasi Apa' to be screened at Tehran Jasmine International Film Festival". ReportOdisha.com. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- "file:///c:/windows/desktop/Keon1/tulasif.htm". kendujhar.nic.in. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
- "Tulasi Munda | Unsung". Unsung. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
- "Check Out Odia film 'Tulasi Apa' on Amazon Prime!". Pragativadi: Leading Odia Dailly. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- "Odia Feature Film 'Tulasi Apa' Marks Debut On Amazon Prime World Wide". ODISHA BYTES. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- "Tulasi Apa sweeps film awards". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- "Award-winning Biography 'Tulasi Apa' to be Screened at Tehran Film Festival". Discover Bhubaneswar. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- Ayaskant. "Biopic on Odisha activist Tulasi Munda bags top honours at IFFS | OdishaSunTimes.com". Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- Bureau, ReportOdisha (5 October 2016). "Biopic on Odisha's social activist, Tulasi Munda won the Best feature film at the IFFS". ReportOdisha. Retrieved 5 January 2019.