Even while I was fighting elections I was a filmmaker first: Mahesh Manjrekar

It’s been a gruelling time for filmmaker-turned-politician Mahesh Manjrekar. While contesting the Lok Sabha elections as a candidate of Raj Thackeray’s MNS party he simultaneously shot and completed the Hindi-Tamil version of his Marathi film Kaaksparsh. Now that it’s complete Manjrekar wonders how he managed the feat. “It was tough. But I am first and foremost a filmmaker. Even if I had won the elections I would’ve continued to make films. Even while I was fighting elections I was a filmmaker first.” Kaaksparsh is Mahesh’s first Hindi film in 4 years. “To me making films in Marathi was every bit as exciting and challenging as Hindi. The only reason I decided to remake my Kaaksparsh into Hindi was because the issue it addresses of widow remarriage is relevant in every language,” explains Mahesh. He has replaced his favourite actor Sachin Khedkar from the Marathi original with Tamil actor Arvind Swamy in the remake. “I needed someone with no fixed image. Someone who would look convincing as a idealistic patriarch in a Brahman family. I’ve cast Vaidehi Parshurami as the widow. She has done a part in one of my earlier Marathi films.” With Arvind Swamy came the Tamil version of Kaaksparsh. Says Mahesh, “I’ve remade Kaaksparsh in Hindi and Tamil because the Konkani culture and the Tamilian backdrop are similar.” Tamil composing genius Ilaiyaraja has composed the music for the Hindi and Tamil versions of Kaaksparsh. “Raja Sir saw the original Kaaksparsh and he was on. No one said no to me. Theme-wise Kaaksparsh is among the most emotionally rich films in recent times. I haven’t remade it for its commercial potential. I just felt it was a story that needed to be told to a wider audience,” says Mahesh who has no regrets about losing the Lok Sabha elections. “We all wanted the BJP to win and to that extent the elections were a success for everyone,” says Mahesh, adding that he would continue his association with Raj Thackeray.