Bhonga teaser: Use of loudspeaker for call to prayer creates rift between villagers

In the past few years, the use of loudspeakers for azaan, the Islamic call to prayer, has sparked many controversies. Some have even called for a ban on the use of loudspeakers, saying that while azaan is a part of the faith, the device is not.

In spite of this, many religious outfits insist that the loudspeaker is important for the practice. Shivaji Lotan Patil's Marathi film Bhonga, which translates to 'loudspeaker', sheds light on this issue.

The recently released teaser for the film shows how the use of a loudspeaker creates a rift between villagers.

Kapil Gudsurkar plays a Muslim youngster who also works in the temple, but his all-inclusive nature doesn't sit well with some of the senior members of his community. When he raises the issue of the use of a loudspeaker, they rebuff him and question his faith in his religion. Soon things become more serious and the entire village gets involved in the debate.

The short teaser doesn't reveal much about why the villagers want to change the direction of the loudspeaker, but an official note from the makers says the story revolves around a nine-month-old boy who suffers from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a type of brain injury in newborns caused by oxygen deprivation and limited blood flow. Because of his condition, the azaan from a neighbouring mosque troubles the child.

The social drama won the National award for Best Marathi Film in 2019. The film also stars Amol Kagne, Shripad Joshi and Dipti Dhotre.

Bhonga is produced by Amol Kagne Films and scheduled for release in cinemas on 24 September. See the teaser below and let us know if you would like to watch this film.