Palyad, Preview: Funeral rites and funereal duties

Marathi language film Palyad, meaning ‘The Other Side’, is releasing tomorrow.

Almost all Hindus cremate their dead by burning them on a funeral pyre. Some have access to electric crematoria, and the rites are therefore less disturbing, visually. To perform these rites, in some Maharashtrian villages, there are certain designated persons. They do nearly everything after the body is brought to the site, after a generous helping of alcohol. Formalities include incantations and actual ignition of the body, which is placed on wooden logs. The duties have to be performed in heredity, and the son of a rites performer will have to follow in his father’s footsteps. Palyad is the story of one such father, mother and their only, young son, who wants to go to school, instead of being groomed to carry the tradition forward.

Given the abject poverty in which the family lives, this desire can only remain a piped-dream. Nevertheless, Mahadu Shankar Jogi and Laxmi’s son Shambhu is determined to fulfill his dream. A quirk of circumstance helps him acquire a set of the local government school’s uniform, and this redoubles his commitment to the cause. His mother encourages her son in his effort to get educated. Emboldened, he starts attending the school on the sly, without any registration, but is soon found out. However, when she learns about his circumstance, his teacher co-operates, and lets him sit in class, with the other children. Word reaches the village Sarpanch (Headman), who cannot digest this development. Who will perform the rites, if Shambhu gets educated and takes up a job somewhere? So he decides to penalise Mahadu for what he perceives is insolence and disobedience, although it was the child’s own, keen, desire to go to school.

The film begins with an elaborate, long-lasting funeral that ends in the fires consuming the mortal remains of a body. Otherwise too, the story is very serious and sad, but a telling commentary on a custom that deprives a child of his right to education. In fact, education is compulsory, with text books provided free by the government, yet children like young Shambhu can only dream about going to school. An attempt is made to bring in secularism, with the woman who exchanges vessels for clothes, a common practice in India, and the man she sells her stuff to. Both are shown to be Muslims. Both sympathise with Shambhu and are so moved that they give him the school uniform, free.

Casting and setting are perfect, and the narrative tugs at your heart. Overall, it is a clash of funeral rites over funereal duties, duties that are assumed to help the deceased attain moksh. “What does liberation (moksh) mean, father?” This question asked by a child, to his father in the beginning of the trailer of 'Palyad' makes one think deeply. The child is told the rough meaning of liberation from the cycle of sin and punishment. In this film, we will see the story of a community of Smashaan Jogi (people working in crematoria), asking for the donation of liberation for the people. 'Unch Unch Udu Aaj, Abhalat Phiru...' is a song that adds wings to the dreams of children in the trailer.  

So far, this movie has been played in 14 national and international film festivals, and has been selected for the International Film Festival of India, which will be held in Goa in a fortnight’s time. The entire shooting of this film has been completed in 25 days in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra.

Cast and Characters

Shashank Shende - Mahadu

Devika Daftardar - Laxmi

Ruchit Ninave - Shambhu

Devendra Dodke - Sarpanch

Veera Sathidar - Tukaram Buva

Saili Dethe - Teacher

Gajesh Kambale - Blind Man

Director -

Shailesh Bhimrao Dupare

Story -

Sudarshan Khandagale

Screenplay & Dialogues -

Sudarshan Khandagale and Shailesh Bhimrao Dupare

Costumes -

Vikas Chahare

Lyricists -

Prashant Madpuwar and Arun Sangole

Music -

Sam A. R., Jagdish Gomila and Tushar Pargaonkar

Singers -

Ananya Dupare, Avadhoot Gandhi, Shamika Bhide, Susmirta Dawalkar and Ketan Patwardhan

Background Music -

Mangesh Dhakade and Lokesh Kanithi

DOP -

Mohar Mate

Editor -

Manish Shirke

Makeup -

Swapnil Dharmadhikari

Art Director -

Aniket Parasawar

Sound Composition -

Girish Ramteke

Trailer: https://youtu.be/rNYWJEoISa4