Mumbai :Maharashtra has a rich tradition of folk music but many popular forms of folk music entertainment such as Bharuds, Gondhals, Lavanis, Povadas, Bhaleris, Palanes, Artya, etc., are 
slowly on their way to extinction. Actor, producer, director, filmmaker and music composer Santosh Sawant, aka PAWA (Flute in Marathi), has urged the new BJP Government to save folk singers in Maharashtra who are struggling for survival. Incidentally, during the recent State Elections, BJP employed 200 folk singers to campaign for it and Santosh Sawant (PAWA) wants the BJP to continue its association with folk singers through scholarships, donations and other forms of support.
Hailing from Ratnagiri, Santosh Sawant (PAWA), who is an engineer by qualification, gained name and fame for being the foremost exponent of Jhamela – a folk song that throws light on the complexities and tragedies of life. He says, “Maharashtra’s zestful folk music has dynamic power of holding the audience spellbound. Folk songs have often formed an important part of Indian movies and some of them are memorable to the day. They are melodious. I think Bollywood should stop neglecting folk singers.”
And now the singer is ready to launch his debut Hindi feature film project titled ‘Jhamela’ which will showcase the life of a folk singer. “The movie has been inspired from a part of my life, my struggles as a folk singer, the art form jhamela and other things. And I shall first show it at 45 plus renowned international film festivals before showcasing it in India,” reveals Santosh.
Jhamela is groundbreaking concept in the world of modern entertainment. It takes you to a musical journey which is breathtakingly refreshing. Its freshness originates from the heavy dashes of folk music which is the highlight of the movie. It’s a heart touching story of a simple and innocent rural youngster who is a talented folk artist trying to make it big in the modern urban world. The movie Jhamela also explores the nuances of delicate relationships existing in village folks against the stark contrast of dry relationships in urban world. The highlight of the movie is its music with heavy doses of folk music flavours.
Source : Sachin Murdeshwar