Anandi Gopal is a 2019 Indian Marathi Biographical film directed by Sameer Vidwans and written by Karan Sharma and Irawati Karnik. The film follows the life of Anandi Gopal Joshi.[1] It was jointly produced by Akash Chawla with Shareen Mantri Kedia. Bhagyashree Milind played the role of Anandi Gopal Joshi whereas Lalit Prabhakar played the role of Gopalrao Joshi.[2][3]

Anandi Gopal
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySameer Vidwans
Written by
  • Karan Sharma
  • Irawati Karnik
Based onThe life of Anandi Gopal Joshi
Produced by
  • Akash Chawla
  • Shareen Mantri Kedia
  • Kishore Arora
  • Arunava Joy Sengupta
Starring
CinematographyAkash Agarwal
Edited byCharu Shree Roy
Music byHrishikesh-Saurabh-Jasraj
Production
companies
Zee Studios
Fresh Lime Films
Namah Pictures
Release date
  • 15 February 2019 (2019-02-15)
Running time
134 min
CountryIndia
LanguageMarathi

Plot

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The story revolves around the Anandi Gopal Joshi and her husband Gopalrao Joshi. She was born raised and married in Kalyan where her family had previously been landlords before experiencing financial losses. Due to pressure from her mother, she was married at the age of nine to Gopalrao Joshi, a widower almost twenty years her senior.[4] After marriage, Gopalrao renamed her 'Anandi'. Gopalrao Joshi worked as a postal clerk in Kalyan. Later, he was transferred to Alibaug and then finally, to Kolhapur. He was a progressive thinker, and supported education for women.

At the age of fourteen, Anandibai gave birth to a boy, but the child lived only for a total of ten days due to lack of medical care. This proved to be a turning point in Anandi's life and inspired her to become a physician. After Gopalrao tried to enroll her in missionary schools and not working out, they moved to Calcutta. There she learned to read and speak Sanskrit and English.

Her husband encouraged her to study medicine. In 1880 he sent a letter to Royal Wilder, a well-known American missionary, stating his wife's interest in studying medicine in the United States and inquiring about a suitable post in the US for himself. Wilder published the correspondence in his Princeton's Missionary Review. Theodicia Carpenter, a resident of Roselle, New Jersey, happened to read it while waiting to see her dentist. Impressed by both Anandibai's desire to study medicine, and Gopalrao's support for his wife, she wrote to Anandibai. Carpenter and Anandibai developed a close friendship and came to refer to each other as "aunt" and "niece." Later, Carpenter would host Anandibai in Rochelle during Joshi's stay in the U.S.Pripas-Kapit, Sarah. Educating Women Physicians of the World: International Students of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1883-1911 (PhD). University of California, Los Angeles.

While the Joshi couple was in Calcutta, Anandibai's health was declining. She suffered from weakness, constant headaches, occasional fever, and sometimes breathlessness. Theodicia sent her medicines from America, without results. In 1883, Gopalrao was transferred to Serampore, and he decided to send Anandibai by herself to America for her medical studies despite her poor health. Though apprehensive, Gopalrao convinced her to set an example for other women by pursuing higher education.

A physician couple named Thorborn suggested that Anandibai apply to the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. On learning of Anandibai's plans to pursue higher education in the West, orthodox Indian society censured her very strongly.

Anandibai addressed the community at Serampore College Hall, explaining her decision to go to America and obtain a medical degree. She discussed the persecution she and her husband had endured. She stressed the need for female doctors in India, emphasizing that Hindu women could better serve as physicians to Hindu women. Her speech received publicity, and financial contributions started pouring in from all over India.

Anandibai travelled to New York from Kolkata (Calcutta) by ship, chaperoned by two female English missionary acquaintances of the Thorborns. In New York, Theodicia Carpenter received her in June 1883. Anandibai wrote to the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, asking to be admitted to their medical program, which was the second women's medical program in the world. Rachel Bodley, the dean of the college, enrolled her.

Anandibai began her medical training at age 19. In America, her health worsened because of the cold weather and unfamiliar diet. She contracted tuberculosis. Nevertheless, she graduated with an MD in March 1886; the topic of her thesis was "Obstetrics among the Aryan Hindoos." The thesis utilized references from both Ayurvedic texts and American medical textbooks. On her graduation, Queen Victoria sent her a congratulatory message.

Cast

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  • Bhagyashree Milind as Anandi Gopal Joshi
  • Lalit Prabhakar as Gopalrao Joshi
  • Kshitee Jog as Anandibai's mother
  • Yogesh Soman as Anandibai's father
  • Geetanjali Kulkarni as Vimaltai; Gopalrao's mother-in-law
  • Sonia Albizuri as Miss Macy
  • Jayant Sawarkar as Soman Bhatji
  • Ankita Goswami
  • Atharva Kulkarni
  • Pradeep Patwardhan

Production

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Bhagyashree Milind was selected for the title role of Anandi Gopal in the film who previously seen in Balak-Palak and Ubuntu.[5] The character of Gopalrao Joshi was played by Lalit Prabhakar.[6]

Soundtrack

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Anandi Gopal
Soundtrack album by
Hrishikesh-Saurabh-Jasraj
Released22 January 2019
Recorded2019
GenreFeature Film Soundtrack
LanguageMarathi
LabelZee Music Company
External audio
  Audio jukebox on YouTube

The songs were composed by Hrishikesh-Saurabh-Jasraj while lyrics written by Vaibhav Joshi. The album was released on 22 January 2019.[7] The sound design was done by Bignya Dahal[8]

All tracks are written by Vaibhav Joshi

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicSinger(s)Length
1."Rang Maliyela"Vaibhav JoshiHrishikesh-Saurabh-JasrajShatayu Date
Ketaki Mategaonkar
5:15
2."Anand Ghana"Vaibhav JoshiHrishikesh-Saurabh-JasrajHrishikesh Ranade
Anandi Joshi
4:36
3."Waata Waata Ga"VaibhavHrishikesh-Saurabh-JasrajPriyanka Barve2:48
4."Ghondal - Majhe Maauli"Vaibhav JoshiHrishikesh-Saurabh-JasrajJasraj Joshi3:43
5."Tu Aahes Na"Vaibhav JoshiHrishikesh-Saurabh-JasrajRahul Deshpande, Adarsh Shinde, Rohit Raut, Avadhoot Gupte, Jasraj Joshi4:30
6."Anthem - Tu Aahes Na"Vaibhav JoshiHrishikesh-Saurabh-JasrajRohit Raut, Adarsh Shinde, Rahul Deshpande, Jasraj Joshi4:11
Total length:25:23

Reception

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The film received positive reviews from critics. Mihir Bhanage from The Times of India gave it 4 out of 5 stars and concluding that, "This one is a must-watch for everyone and when you go to the cinema hall, make sure you stay for the end credits to roll. You won’t regret it."[9]

Ganesh Matkari from Pune Mirror gave it 3.5 rating out of 5 and writes "Anandi Gopal could have ended on a sweeter note, avoiding the spoon-feeding bordering on propaganda. But ignore that, and you have a strong film that caters to your heart and mind."[10]

Accolades

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Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
Pune International Film Festival Sant Tukaram Best International Marathi Film Sameer Vidhwans Won [11]
Best Actor Lalit Prabhakar [12]
Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar 2020 Best Film Sameer Vidhwans Nominated [13]
Best Director Sameer Vidhwans
Best Actress Bhagyashree Milind
Best Actor Lalit Prabhakar Won
Best Music Director Hrishikesh-Saurabh-Jasraj
Best Playback Singer Anandi Joshi
Best Lyricist Vaibhav Joshi
Best Makeup D. N. Yerekar
Filmfare Marathi Awards 2020 Best Film Sameer Vidhwans [14][15]
Best Director Sameer Vidhwans
Best Actress Critics Bhagyashree Milind
Best Actor Critics Lalit Prabhakar
Best Music Album Hrishikesh-Saurabh-Jasraj
Best Screenplay Karan Sharma
Best Dialogue Irawati Karnik
Best Production Design Nilesh Wagh
Best Cinematography Akash Agarwal
Best Editing Charu Shree Roy
67th National Film Awards Best Film on Other Social Issues Sameer Vidhwans
Best Production Design
  • Sunil Nigwekar
  • Nilesh Wagh
Mata Sanman 2021 Best Film Sameer Vidhwans [16]
Best Director Sameer Vidhwans
Best Actress Bhagyashree Milind
Best Playback Singer - Female Priyanka Barve
Best Lyricist Vaibhav Joshi
Best Production Design
  • Sunil Nigvekar
  • Nilesh Wagh
57th Maharashtra State Film Awards Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Social Film Sameer Vidhwans Won
Best Art Director
  • Sunil Nigvekar
  • Nilesh Wagh
Best Dialogue Iravati karnik

References

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  1. ^ Team MMW (26 January 2019). "Biopic on India's first Woman Doctor Anandi Joshi". Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  2. ^ "'Anandi Gopal': Here's why shouldn't miss watching Lalit Prabhakar and Bhagyashree Milind starrer film". The Times of India. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  3. ^ Shirke, Ullhas (19 February 2019). "'Anandi Gopal' - a truly inspiring realistic biopic with a social message". Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Who is Anandi Gopal Joshi?". The Indian Express. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  5. ^ "'Anandi Gopal': Bhagyashree Milind reveals she will play the titular role - The Times of India". The Times of India. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  6. ^ "'Anandi Gopal' teaser: Lalit Prabhakar gives a glimpse into Gopal Joshi's unconventional ideas - The Times of India". The Times of India. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Songs from Anandi Gopal (2019)". www.cinestaan.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Zee Studios Presents 'Anandi Gopal' – Dumkhum®". 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Anandi Gopal Movie Review {4.0/5}: Critic Review of Anandi Gopal by Times of India", The Times of India, retrieved 15 March 2021
  10. ^ Ganesh Matkari (15 February 2019). "Anandi Gopal Movie Review: Bhagyashree Milind-Lalit Prabhakar starrer is a story of triumph and tragedy". Pune Mirror. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Anandi Gopal named best film at Pune International Film Festival 2020". Hindustan Times. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  12. ^ Shiladitya Pandit (17 January 2020). "'Anandi Gopal' wins big at home, Tunisian film draws top honours | Pune News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Zee Gaurav Puraskar 2020 Winners List: Sonalee Kulkarni, Sayali Sanjeev Bag The Prestigious Award". ZEE5 News. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Filmfare Awards Marathi 2020: Anandi Gopal bags 10 awards, check out the winners list". www.zoomtventertainment.com. March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Zee Studios 'Anandi Gopal' bags 16 nominations at the eminent Filmfare Awards Marathi 2020". Zee News. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Mata Sanman 2021: Anandi Gopal Bags Victory In Whopping 6 Categories". www.spotboye.com. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
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