Astu, Astu, Astu

With a crowd of plus 60 women and men, Rama and me waddled into Inox, Thakur Mall, Dahisar (E) for Marathi film Astu (So be it), perhaps a shorthand of Thathastu. After two hours waddled out lipping Astu (So be it). Dr. Mohan Agashe as Dr. Chakrapani Shastri, or Appa, popping Sanskrit verses, syncing with every slip into Alzhiemer. His daughter parks in a no parking area, steps out to buy some royal blue cloth for her daughter...Appa also steps out ...after an elephant and his mahout... and the film unreels...not one in Inox sneezed, silenced by Astu. Yes, it could happen to any of us; either as a Alzhiemer patient or tending one; the film is taut, crisp and pains; no waste of words and film rolls; cameras dont jerk, have eyes for green patches in Pune. Is an Alzhiemer patient human; sans memory is he anything; family links do not stick him; can the family derisk; and to the gods, is it not all unfair. 'True to life ...Deva, deva....' remarked an aged frocked woman tending a walking stick; her friends paused the lift for her to step in. Rama and me have seen Amitabh in Black, Mohanlal in Thanmatra, Dr. Mohan Agashe in Astu. Appa is way deep into being an Alzhiemer patient; Rama exclaimed: Mohanlal and Amitabh are nothing; Dr. Agashe is the best. And as the wife of the mahout Amruta Subhash (Channama)  holds; she held me in Killa. A helpless Dr. Agashe stares absently at Channama with a 'Mother' and me pulled out the handkerchief. Rama wept. Directors Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukhthankar, credit be; they seem to have studied Alz patients and the disease. And this film, a Marathi film, is not shown across Mumbai; no viewings in Borivili, Kandivili and Malad; Sultan shows everywhere. Perhaps, by Friday, Astu will be pulled out for Rajanikanth's Kapali. Can a Chennai theatre in Tamil Nadu dare deny Kapali. Is this fair? Astu...Astu...Astu...