Vartul () is a 2009 Indian short film written and directed by Santosh Ram and produced by Vivek Chitra Production & Mokal Films.
Production
The leading cast of the movie consisted of Ashwini Giri, Chinmay Patwardhan, Ajinkya Bhise and Shailesh Shankar Kulkarni. The production of the film commenced in May 2008 and was completed in July 2009. The crew were selected by Vivek Chitra Production. The movie was shot in Bhor Maharashtra on a very tight budget. The crew faced various difficulties due to the shoestring budget.
Plot
The movie revolves around Damu, a 10-year-old boy. There is a festival so mother wants to make Sweet. Mother asks Damu to go to shop and bring the jagarry. Damu has to take the money from the box, but he observes that there is no more money other than one coin left in the box. He leaves his home to buy Jagarry. On the way, he meets his friend Ganya. Ganya proposes for a race and Damu immediately accepts it. On the way to shop they stop at a Bioscopewallah. Ganya wants to watch the show of Bioscopewallah and he asks Damu to join him. Damu realizes that he does not have enough money, he wants to watch the show but he has to deny it. Damu realizes that he does not have enough money and he has to go to the shop and bring the Jagarry for the sweets. After the show Damu curiously asks Ganya about it. Ganya narrates the things to Damu on the bicycle ride they enjoy together.
Someone from the corner shouts for Ganya and asks him to join the game. Ganya and Damu leave the bicycle side of the road. They go there and see that Ganya's friends are playing game of money. The game is you have to hit a coin with a stone slab. Ganya joins the game. Everyone is winning the money this greed takes him to play a game. Damu decides to earn some quick money by playing the game. He starts playing the game. Beginners luck works in the case of Damu. Initially he wins the games and his greed for money grows more.
After the game, Damu goes to the shop. Damu asks the shopkeeper to give him the jaggery. The shopkeeper gives him the jaggery and in exchange of that Damu puts money in the hands of the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper looks at the defaced coin and tells Damu that the coin doesn't work. Damu requests shopkeeper but the shopkeeper asks for different coin. Now Damu walks back with tearful eyes.
Cast
Aswini Giri - Mother
Chinmay Patwardhan - Damu
Ajinkya Bhise - Manya
Kalyan Gadgil - Kallya
Aakash Giri - Akya
Shivam Chetan Moray - Shivya
Anant Shankar Salunke - Antya
Jayesh Dikhale - Jivnya
Rohan Choudhari - Rohnya
Karan Lokhande - Dinya
Shailesh Shankar Kulkarni - Shopkeeper
Vinod Anand Kamble - Villager
Vijay Kadam - Bioscopewallah
Crew
Story, Screenplay: Santosh Ram
Producers: Ramchandra Pundlikrao Marewad, Mokal Brothers
Editor: Vinod Gama Borate
Cinematography: Pravin Mokal
Music: Shrirang Umrani
Editor: Vinod Gama Borate
Art Director: Santosh Sankhad
Re-recording: Mahesh Limaye
Costume Design: Sonali Santosh Sankhad
Sound recordist: Rashi Butee
Promo Editor: Vaibhav Dabhade
Awards and recognition
Since its world premiere in July 2009, the film has been selected for 50 Film Festivals across the world, winning thirteen awards.