Jogwa

This article is about a film. For traditional Korean confectionery, see Hangwa.

Jogwa - The Awakening
Theatrical poster for Jogwa
Directed by	Rajiv Patil
Written by	Rajan Gavas
Screenplay by	Sanjay Krishnaji Patil
Produced by	Shripal Morakhia
Starring	Upendra Limaye Mukta Barve
Cinematography	Sanjay Jadhav
Edited by	Rajesh Rao
Music by	Ajay–Atul
Production company	iDream Production Pvt Ltd.
Release date	25 September 2009 (2009-09-25)
Running time	114 min
Country	India
Language	Marathi

Jogwa - The Awakening is a 2009 Marathi-language film directed by Rajiv Patil and produced under iDream Productions & Screenplay by Sanjay Krishnaji Patil. It stars Upendra Limaye and Mukta Barve while Priya Berde, Vinay Apte, Sharvani Pillai and Kishor Kadam essay supporting roles.

The film received five awards at the national film awards for 2008.^[1] National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues, National Film Award for Best Actor for Upendra Limaye, National Film Award for Best Music Direction for Ajay Atul, National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Hariharan for song "Jeev Rangla" and National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for Shreya Ghoshal for the same.

It contains strong romantic elements, that explores the life of a rural people from Maharashtra who are the devotees of Goddess Yellamma, known as "Jogtin" (female) and "Jogta" (male) and are treated as slaves viewed with a mixture of semi-respect.

Jogwa actually means alms given to a person, usually known as a Jogta or a Jogtin. They are forced by the society to give up everything and serve God. A jogta has to give up the fact of being a man and suppress all his desires. A jogtin is expected to give up herself, she cannot get married, have children or have a life of her own.

This tradition was followed in the rural areas in the ancient times and like any tradition was flexible enough for those in power to misuse it. It is known to be still followed in some villages in Karnataka. Jogwa is a love story between jogta played by Upendra Limaye and jogtin played by Mukta Barve.

On the centenary of Indian cinema in April 2013, Forbes included Upendra Limaye's performance in the film on its list, "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema".^[2]

Plot

The story of Jogwa is about Tayappa (Upendra Limaye) and Suli (Mukta Barve), who are forced by their families to become jogtins, a practice where they have to dress as women, beg for alms, and serve a deity. Suli becomes a jogtin because her hair has a knot, and Tayappa is compelled to act like a girl because he has blood in his urine. They both meet others like them and form groups. Living this way affects them mentally, and they lose their courage. Through their troupe, they learn about the lives of jogtins.

Yamnya (Kishor Kadam), a male jogtins endure sexual abuse from young men at first, but some eventually find comfort in it and see it as their only source of pleasure aside from alcohol. The female jogtins often turn to prostitution, facing betrayal and despair, with many resorting to suicide. Yamnya warns Tayappa that he'll come to enjoy the attention from men as his femininity becomes fixed in his being. Tayappa is deeply affected by these words. He reflects on his loveless marriage, where his wife feels unfulfilled due to his lack of emotional connection. She eventually leaves him for another man. Along the journey, many young jogtins, including Suli, are deceived by men and end their lives tragically (except Suli). Suli becomes pregnant and is expelled from her home after undergoing a forced abortion.

A social worker tries to raise awareness in the village against harmful practices and superstitions, but the jogtins and villagers attack him and force him to leave. Suli and Tayappa can only watch helplessly as they cannot intervene.

Eventually, Tayappa is also kicked out of his home. He shares his feelings with Suli, who happily agrees to marry him. They both decide to get married. When the villagers find out, they try to force them back into being jogtins. Suli and Tayappa fight against this pressure and ultimately succeed in marrying each other.

Cast

• Upendra Limaye as Tayappa
• Mukta Barve as Suli
• Kishor Kadam as Yamnya
• Vinay Apte as Basappa
• Anand Alkunte as Mharatya
• Anita Date-Kelkar as Sakhu
• Priya Arun as Shevantakka
• Amita Khopkar as Akkubai
• Pramod Pawar as Subana
• Vidya Karanjikar as Bayja
• Aditi Deshpande as Taanu
• Vijay Salve as Mhadu
• Rajan Gavas as More Sir
• Prashan Patil as Annu
• Sharvani Pillai as Parvvaa
• Smita Tambe as Phula
• Vinayak Karanjikar as Raghu
• Chinmay Mandlekar as Sakhya Patil
• Milind Oak as Pujari
• Komal Aapke as Ratnavva
• Rajhans Shinde as Hanmya
• Ujjwala Shah as Kalawwa
• Sunil Shahane as Thorla Jadhav
• Ravi Inamdar as Bhima Patil
• Rohit Chavan as Balu
• Bhalchandra Kane as Ganpa Misa

Critical reception

Film is already internationally acclaimed, praised by critics and audience alike and won awards like Best Director Award, three prominent awards, 12 nominations in various categories at the Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar 2009 along with 13 nominations for depiction of culture and society and First Special Jury Award and Audience Choice Award at the Pune International Film Festival.

Jogwa received critical acclaim, with praise for Upendra Limaye, Mukta Barve & Kishor Kadam's performance. Talib Shaikh of MouthShut.com called the film "A different unusual yet great social cinema".^[3] Janani Rajeshwari S. in her review in Verandah called the film "Jogwa’ remains one of the most poignant films by director Rajiv Patil that touched upon such a tradition with utmost finesse and subtlety."^[4] Chetana Gavkhadkar of MarathiMovieWorld called the film "It comes out strong against superstition". The Times of India described film as "breaking away from tradition".^[5]

Soundtrack

Jogwa
Soundtrack album by Ajay–Atul
Released	September 2009
Recorded	2009
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Length	18:10
Language	Marathi
Label	Sony Music
Producer	Shripal Morakhia
Ajay–Atul chronology
Oxygen: Jiv Gudmartoy (2009) Jogwa (2009) Natarang (2010)
Music videos
"Jeev Rangla" on YouTube

The Marathi music duo Ajay–Atul composed varied compositions including Romantic and traditional Gondhal. The song Jeev Rangla was awarded a National Film Award in 2010.

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Man Ranaat Gela Ga"	Sanjay Patil	Ajay-Atul	Shreya Ghoshal	4:19
2.	"Lallati Bhandar"	Sanjay Patil	Ajay-Atul	Ajay Gogavale	5:02
3.	"Jeev Rangla"	Sanjay Patil	Ajay-Atul	Hariharan, Shreya Ghoshal	4:43
4.	"Harinichya Daarat"	Sanjay Patil	Ajay-Atul	Anand Shinde	4:35
Total length:					18:10

Awards

• Got 37 Awards out of 60 Nominations before its commercial release.
• Zee Gaurav Award 2009 Got 12 Nominations.
• 8 Maharashtra State Film Awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor & Best Actress.
• 9 Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor & Best Actress.
• 7 V. Shantaram Awards for Best Film.
• 7 Sanskruti Kala Darpan Awards for Best Film.
• 5 Maharashtra Times Awards for Best Film.
• International Film Festival,Pune Awards For Best Film.
• Marathi International Film & Theater Awards- Best Actress - Mukta Barve
• Marathi International Film & Theater Awards- Best lyricist - Sanjay Patil
• Marathi International Film & Theater Awards- Best Cinematography - Sanjay Jadhav

Award	Category	Recipient	Result
56th National Film Awards[6]	National Film Award for Best Actor	Upendra Limaye	Won
	National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer	Hariharan (for song " Jiv Rangala ")	Won
	National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer	Shreya Ghoshal (for song " Jiv Rangala ")	Won
	National Film Award for Best Music Direction	Ajay-Atul	Won
	National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues	Shripal Morakhia	Won
Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar	Best Story	Rajan Gavas	Nominated
	Best Screenplay	Sanjay Patil	Won
	Best Dialogue		Won
	Best Cinematography	Sanjay Jadhav	Won
	Best Editing	Rajesh Rao	Nominated
	Best Production Design	Mahesh Salgaonkar	Nominated
	Best Supporting Actress	Aditi Deshpande	Won
	Best Supporting Actor	Kishor Kadam	Won
	Best Actress	Mukta Barve	Won
	Best Actor	Upendra Limaye	Won
	Best Director	Rajiv Patil	Won
	Best Film	Shripal Mokharia	Won
Maharashtra State Film Awards	Best Story	Rajan Gavas	Nominated
	Best Screenplay	Sanjay Patil	Nominated
	Best Dialogue		Nominated
	Best Costume Design	Neha Nupura	Won
	Best Lyricist	Sanjay Patil	Won
	Best Music Direction	Ajay-Atul	Won
	Best Actress	Mukta Barve	Won
	Best Actor	Upendra Limaye	Won
	Best Director	Rajiv Patil	Won
	Best Film	Shripal Mokharia	Won
V. Shantaram Awards	Best Director	Rajiv Patil	Nominated
	Best Film	Shripal Mokharia	Won
Maharashtra Times Sanman Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Kishor Kadam	Nominated
	Best Actress	Mukta Barve	Nominated
	Best Actor	Upendra Limaye	Won
	Best Director	Rajiv Patil	Nominated
	Best Film	Shripal Mokharia	Won

References

1. "57th National Film Awards" (PDF).
2. "25 Greatest Acting Performances Of Indian Cinema". Forbes India. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
3. "Jogwa movie review".
4. "Lighting up their lives - Review of the movie "Jogwa" - The Verandah Club". theverandahclub.com.
5. "Jogwa". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257.
6. "56th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2010.

External links

• Official website
• Jogwa (2009) Official Trailer on YouTube
• Jogwa in 30 Mins (2009) on YouTube