We worked on Me Vasantrao for nine years, says director Nipun Dharmadhikari

Nipun Dharmadhikari’s ambitious Marathi film Me Vasantrao will be released in cinema halls on the occasion of Gudi Padwa on 1 April. The film is a biopic of the late Hindustani classical vocalist Vasantrao Deshpande. Interestingly, he has been portrayed by his grandson Rahul Deshpande, himself a classical vocalist.

Jio Studios has ventured into Marathi film production with this movie produced by Chandrashekhar Gokhale, Darshan Desai and Niranjan Kirloskar.

Sharing his thoughts on the film’s release, Rahul Deshpande said in a statement, “I had seen a dream around nine years ago. To fulfil that dream, Nipun, Shekhar [Gokhale], Shrikant [Desai], Niranjan, Ranjit [Gugle], Nikhil [Sane] and a lot of friends worked hard. We all were waiting for the outcome of that dream. It is coming true on 1 April on the occasion of Gudi Padwa.

"My grandfather’s persona was as vast as the sky. It is fulfilling to know that I am able to provide a tribute to that persona.”

Dharmadhikari added, “We worked on this film for nine years and are happy that it is finally releasing. It is not at all easy to narrate the story of a great personality. It is an ambitious task. The whole team made a lot of efforts to get the period, various shades of the persona, production design and, most importantly, the music right. It is a major plus point that Vasantrao’s character is played by his own grandson. I am sure when the audience sees the film, they will take note of all the artistic aspects.”

Me Vasantrao was screened at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in November last year.