Private Project

My Father's Name was Garbage

Kachru Mazha Bapa (My father's name was Garbage) is based on the true story of the Bansode family, spanning the years 1927 to 2001. It is the story not just of one man, but of a generation who have transformed India.

One night in rural Maharashtra of 1928 Umaji gave his only son the unusual name of Kachru (Garbage), to ward off the 'evil eye.' Although it is diamonds that Umaji envisions for little Kachru it seems unlikely after he is barred from attending the village school due to his caste, he grows up illiterate, and is orphaned by the age of 12. Later in life Kachru and his wife are touched by the philosophy of Babasaheb Ambedkar and are inspired to give all seven of their children the education that Kachru was denied. Amidst his constant struggle to make ends meet, living in the poorest areas of post-independence Mumbai, Kachru makes the many sacrifices needed to keep his children in school. As he faces his own fears and takes hold of his self respect, the next generation is freed from the old bondages that kept them back. Kachru enters into his old age and finally he understands what the diamonds are that his father had promised to him.

  • Mukesh Jadhav
    Director
  • Mukesh Jadhav
    Writer
  • Archana Deshmukh
    Writer
  • Kachru Bansode
    Writer
  • Motion Media Arts
    Producer
  • Arun Nalawade
    Key Cast
  • Aasavari Joshi
    Key Cast
  • Nandita Patkar Dhuri
    Key Cast
  • Rajendra Shisatkar
    Key Cast
  • Abhay Rane
    Key Cast
  • Aseem Sinha
    Editor
    Welcome to Sajjanpur, Zubeidaa, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
  • Anand Sharma
    Music
  • Rajesh Joshi
    Cinematography
    In Which Annie Gives it Those Ones, Dharavi, Heat and Dust, The Golden Child
  • Bharat Parthasarthy
    Cinematography
  • Natalie Millar Jadhav
    Associate creative producer
    Pratichhaya
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Kachru Mazha Bapa
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Biopic
  • Runtime:
    2 hours 20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 30, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    160,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Marathi
  • Shooting Format:
    16mm, HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Indian stories Australian screens
    Melbourne
    Australia
    December 4, 2016
    World premiere
    Closing night film
  • African International Film Festival
    Lagos
    Nigeria
    November 3, 2017
    African premiere
    Official selection, international panorama.
  • EFF BRICS
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    Official selection
Director Biography - Mukesh Jadhav

Mukesh Jadhav started his career as a theatre actor and director in 1989, while completing an MSc in Chemistry at Mithibai College, Mumbai University. After receiving many awards for his theatre productions, Mukesh went on to act in serials such as Voh, Sssh Koi Hai, Karma, Aahat and Gudgudee. From acting Mukesh turned his attention to directing film and television and joined the late director Kundan Shah to work as associate director on films such as Kya Kehana, Dil Hai Tumhara and Hum To Mohabbat Karega. He then worked with director Keval Singh on the Indo-Canadian production The City. Mukesh writes for film and television, with credits on films such as Scotland Express and Dil Hai Tumhara as well as numerous television drama serials. His feature film directorial debut is the Marathi film Kachru Mazha Bapa. His second Hindi feature film Pratichhaya is currently in post production.

With over twenty years experience working on the stage and screen Mukesh has been the recipient of many prestigious awards for his work as a director and mentor of actors. He has trained actors such as Preity Zinta, Vivek Oberoi, Shreyas Talpade and Vidyut Jamwal. In 2011 he received the Star Pravah Gurudakshina award, after being nominated by Shreyas Talpade. He has also written and directed musical shows, corporate events, documentary and corporate films and directed TV ad films. Mukesh is held in sincere respect and regard by those who have known and worked with him over many years, as someone with integrity and professionalism of the highest calibre.

FILMS

Director -
Kachru Mazha Bapa (Marathi)
Pratichhaya (Hindi, in post production)

Associate Director -
Kya Kehana
Dil Hai Tumhara
Loveria
Hum To Mohabbat Karega
The City

TELEVISION

Director -
Honee Anhonee
Phool Aur Patthar
Aakash Pankh
Tujha Ni Maajha Ghar Shrimantacha

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The making of this movie has been a journey of many years, over several generations of editors, involving so many different sacrifices and cooperation from friends and family. The few small difficulties our team has endured pale in comparison to the real life story of the characters in this story however; they have endured injustices, conditions of living and poverty that are hard to even imagine. Perhaps, though, if most of us look back a generation, or two or three, we have family members who endured such hardships, migrated to unfamiliar places, and prioritised their children's education, in order to give us the lives we now enjoy.

The story of Kachru Mazha Bapa is a real story. The film was actually produced by the children of Kachru Bansode, and is based on his orally recorded memoirs. We began to live his story as we wrote it, directed it, edited it, and watched the film over and over again. It became our story too, not that of someone else in some other time and place of history. We believed in making this film because this history shouldn’t be forgotten amidst our current privileges and politics. It’s not only the story of an outcaste, illiterate boy who had a dream; it’s our own story.