Pune-based director wins international award for his debut film ‘Potra’
Pune, February 11, 2022: Pune-based Shankar Dhotre has won the Outstanding Achievement Award for being the Best Debut Director at the 25th World Film Carnival-Singapore (WFCS) for his Marathi film ‘Potra’.
Dhotre has been honoured with ‘Certificate of Achievement’ at the film festival, which is an important platform for those working in the field of cinema globally. The winners will be automatically qualified for the annual live screening gala in the Lion City and can be nominated for the prestigious Golden Merlion Awards.
Being Shankar Dhotre’s first film, ‘Potra’ shows the social status of rural Maharashtra. The story takes place in Solapur district, where the focus is on the status of girls. ‘Potra’ means a grain of sorghum. According to the plot, if the corn starts rolling in the field, it needs more care. This rule also applies to men who say that the girl who is coming of age should be treated in the same way. The film, which was shot at five different locations in the Solapur district before the Corona pandemic, manages to entertain as well as inform the audience living in any part of the world with the social status of India, family life and gender relations.
“The movie is open-ended, which means that the viewers can interpret the movie in their own way. Being born and brought up in a rural environment, I have seen many females going through such situations and I wondered why because we definitely know the side effects. These things triggered me to give this story a platform. In this movie, I have given a chance to ordinary villagers who have never worked in cinema before. We held a three-month workshop for the main characters to prepare them for the role. I also want to thank Sharad Sidhu Shingade, Producer of the film who supported us to make an art film,” says Shankar.
