The widespread havoc caused by the changing course of river Kosi across 14 districts of Mithilanchal region in 2008 plays a crucial role in director Nitin Neera Chandra's National Award winning Maithili film Mithila Makhaan's plot. The protagonist Kranti played by Kranti Prakash Jha stays in Toronto but returns to his village after more than two decades for a family function, and to meet a prospective bride, of course, at his mother's behest.
Mithila Makhaan. Image credits: Champaran Talkies
Stills from the movie. Image credits: Champaran Talkies
The film successfully brings the best of Mithilanchal to the fore by capturing the small nitty-gritty of the culture, enlightens, educates and informs about the best of Maithili culture in particular and Bihar in general. It doesn't shy away in highlighting all that is wrong with the state — casteism, dowry system, poverty, unemployment, rampant lawlessness and rising crime rate — that is taking Bihar many steps backwards. The romantic angle between the lead pair is subdued in the background, and expressed subtly and that through a song that serves as a breather from the heavy doses of issues that Mithila Makhaan has dealt with in its 130 minutes presentation.
The film like the truth is sharp-tongued, crude and authentic. The stellar performances by the lead actors and supporting cast are commendable; all of them have played their part with honesty and sincerity. The surprise is a cameo by film's co-producer Rajiv Nayan as Kranti's Toronto-based boss. The music and background score by Ashutosh Singh and Aashish Rego, song renditions by Udit Narayan, Vandana Bharadwaj, among many others, add to the film's regional flavour. Editing by Archit D Rastogi, cinematography by Sanjay Khanzode, story, dialogues and screenplay, direction by Nitin Neera Chandra… all of it make it a perfect package. A medium budget film, it has managed to make the cut with its realistic portrayal, making the most of its limitations and constraints.
-by Shillpi A Singh
Shillpi is a freelance contributor at NewsGram and can be contacted at shilpi.devsingh@gmail.com