Kartik Lokhande's blog

*The National Award winning Marathi movie features city-based ‘Left Ambedkarite’ activist Vira Sathidar in lead role  By Kartik Lokhande  It was around 3.30 pm on Wednesday. Vira Sathidar was in the office of Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) near Zero Mile in the city, when his mobile phone started ringing. It was a call from his wife Pushpa. He was surprised when Pushpa asked him, “What has happened? I have been getting too many calls...”   “It was then that I came to know that our movie ‘Court’ had been nominated as India’s official entry to the Oscars,” Vira told ‘The Hitavada’. Wednesday was an important day in the stupendous success story of the movie and Vira, a Nagpurian, who has made every other Nagpurian proud. Getting to know the news, Vira’s joy knew no bounds. “I am very happy to see that the movie that portrays struggle of a common man has now gone global as India’s official entry to the coveted awards,” he said.  Sharing his joy...

* Marathi movie ‘Court’ featuring city-based activist Vira Sathidar has won the National Award for best feature film, apart from awards in various categories in several International Film Festivals By Kartik Lokhande He is a farmer’s son who grazed cows, completed education up to Class X; worked as a factory worker, construction labourer, volunteer with an NGO, devoted time to social movements, sold and wrote books. Now, he is an actor winning national and international acclaim for his stellar performance as protagonist in Marathi movie ‘Court’, which has won National Award for best feature film.  But, not many know that the man with such a biographical sketch -- Vira Sathidar -- is from Nagpur. When one congratulates him for ‘Court’ winning the biggest award in Indian cinema, Vira politely remarks, “I have only represented this city and common people of this country. All of us, the entire city, and citizenry must be congratulated for this stupendous success.” An...