The Indian film industry is a vast platform. The multi-cultural and diverse population of the country is proudly represented in their regional films, and some of them shine more than just their bracket of viewing.
One such movie was ‘Sairat’, a Marathi-language movie based on the practice of honour killings, directed by Nagraj Manjule and starring Rinku Rajguru and Akash Thosar. It became a commercial success, becoming the first Marathi film to cross the ₹ 100 crore mark in earnings worldwide.
Hanumant Londhe, a laundry worker residing in Vadagaon Budruk, Pune, is such a huge and ardent fan of the movie, that he has seen the movie 105 times already!
“I began to go for the movie daily. I had arguments with my wife and the owner of the laundry shouted at me. Managing my daily income and spending on movie tickets was tough. Four times, I bought the ticket in black for ₹ 150 to ₹ 250. I spent more than ₹ 10,000 till now on Sairat.”
Londhe is a daily wage worker who hails from the Tamalwadi village in Tuljapur taluka, Osmanabad district. He says that when he first saw Sairat, he was moved because the portrayal of inter-cast romance, and it because it struck a deeper chord with him. He has watched the movie 105 times since its release on the 29th of April earlier this year at the Kibe Laxmi Theatre near Appa Balwant Chowk, Pune.
Londhe says that he, too, had a past similar to the movie, and hence, he appreciated the movie more, especially Rinku Rajguru’s acting.
Speaking about his past and how the movie resonated with him, Londhe was quoted as saying,
The theatre officials have awarded Londhe a certificate of appreciation for being a dedicated patron. Londhe also wishes that director Nagraj Manjule offers him a role in his next movie.
“When the movie entered its tenth week, we saw Londhe daily at the evening show. Last week, he showed us all the tickets he has accumulated. We felicitated him and gave him an official letter for watching Sairat the maximum number of times in our theatre.”
Londhe said that he used to perform in plays in his village for the Ganpati and Shivjayanti festivals, and he hopes that this past experience lands him a role in Majule’s next film.
Talk about a die hard fan!
News source: Pune Mirror
Cover image sources: 1 & 2