Prutha Goa

In an atmosphere of nationalistic brainwashing and blind subservience to an ideology that is taking this country down the path of socio-cultural regression, the documentary Building Bridges comes as a respite from political propaganda that imbues one’s countrymen with hatred towards another nation. First-time filmmaker Rahul Chandawarkar brings us an image of Pakistan that is vibrant, hospitable and culturally exuberant. It presents a Pakistan that could have emerged as a progressive nation had it not been strapped down and shackled by the effects of Talibanisation. The decision to document this journey was made just before leaving with a hurried purchase of a Sony handycam that was made functional through trial and error. The 45 minute film is grainy and shaky almost throughout its length, but it lends authenticity to the images captured. Though filmed in 2004 it was only in 2012, after years of discussion, that Mihir Apte, a film editor and a friend of Rahul, edited the footage to c

Rahul and Shobhana Chandawarkar are very much a power couple who decided to move from to Goa for a life of a better quality, and the freedom to have control over decision making in their careers. The latter was achieved by starting their own event management company called Cashewrina Events. Rahul was involved in sales and marketing for ten years after acquiring his MBA degree from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management in 1987. He changed his career pathway to journalism in 1997. Since then he has worked for The Times of India and has been the editor of Sakal Times at Pune. He has been editor of Gomantak Times in Goa as well for a few months. Being in media for about eighteen years has allowed Rahul to build a network of contacts, especially performance artists, which in turn made the idea of starting an event company viable. Shobhana, who has been part of the IT industry for most of her life, has now transitioned to a different role in the partnership she holds in Cashewrina Ev