Retired Sanskrit scholar Chakrapani Shastri’s mind is like a clear, cloudless sky. Tranquil. He has forgotten all his memories, his being, his past and his present. As his dementia progresses, his family has to grapple with the many existential challenges it poses. The 2013 Marathi feature film Astu that dealt with Alzheimer’s Disease, still remains one of the most relevant films of the times.
Dr Mohan Agashe, who plays Shastri and co-produced Astu, says the film was received well worldwide and praise still pours in, but it is still a must-see for those who love and care for their parents. Directed by Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar, Astu has won about 19 awards. In Kochi for a screening organised by Chaitanya’s Aryarjun Foundation along with the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), Dr Agashe talks about his films, his career and the growing need for empathy in society.
Excerpts from a telephonic interview.
Astu has made a mark inIndian cinema.
The film was an attempt at an authentic portrayal of Alzheimer’s and the burden of care. Both our intentions have been served well, as is evident by the number of national and international awards the film has won in many International Film Festivals, the number of invitations from reputed universities including Harvard for special screenings, the press coverage, the comments and emails we have received from the public at large and the authorities on the subject.
How much has the situation changed in the field of care and support for Alzheimer’s since the film was released in 2013?
The traditional family set up has changed. Even nuclear families are breaking down. Families are sitting with each other, but they are not with each other; they are caught in their own worlds on their mobile phones. This is where social organisations such as ARDSI become relevant. They offer the much-needed support to patients and their families.
We are now heading towards a new world; an age of a new species that uses only intelligence and no emotion. There will be no place for emotions.
You say you want the youth to watch these films,in particular.
Young people should start thinking beyond themselves. Unless they realise this, their lives are going to be lonely and meaningless. As a culture, we have been unselfish in our ways. But somewhere down the line, we started imbibing the West’s self-centredness. We need to learn to differentiate between need and greed.
From a doctor to actor...How would you describe the transition? (Dr Agashe was the founder Director and Professor of the Maharashtra Institute of Mental Health in Pune).
I am a doctor who has turned a smuggler. I smuggle education through entertainment.
I took to acting after my retirement. In retrospect, I realised that I wasn’t so bright as a student. I had just managed to cope. I couldn’t understand by reading. So, I used to watch people and learn from them. I would observe them and strike friendships with them and then learn. I made a lot of friends that way. Acting is also a lot like that. It is about trying to understand the other person. There should be such a thing as emotional learning even in films.
Kaasav, your film ondepression, is as relevant as Astu .
Through the relationship between a woman and a suicidal man, Kaasav demonstrates the need for care, affection and empathy for people suffering from depression. The story is told through the analogy of the life and nesting cycle of Olive Ridley sea turtles, which makes it easy for people to relate. Through compassion, love and care, a depressed person can be brought out from the depths his mind has fallen to. What do people really need after all? Some meaning in life. (The film won the national award for best Marathi feature film in 2017).
What are you working on these days?
I am thinking of something along the lines of the right to die and the right to live. That is what is preoccupying my mind now—about the length and quality of life.
How can cinema help in creating awarenesson mental illnesses?
It is one of the best ways to do so. Awareness can be brought about through entertainment. All those who work for ADI (Alzheimer’s Disease International) and elderly care feel that the film ( Astu ) should reach the public at large, particularly the younger generation. The existing film distribution system does not serve this purpose as it is geared towards marketing so called commercial cinema and not meaningful cinema. So I am doing sponsored and private screenings. I have been organising shows in medical colleges too as part of education. And I always look forward to the discussions after the film.
