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{{short description|2004 film by Sandeep Sawant}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Shwaas
| image = Shwaas1.jpg
| caption = Promotional release poster
| director = [[Sandeep Sawant]]
| producer = {{plainlist|
*[[Arun Nalawade]]
*[[Sandeep Sawant]]
*Devidas Bapat
*Rajan Cheulkar
*Mohan Parab
*Nareshchandra Jain
*V. R. Nayak
*Deepak Choudhary
}}
| starring = [[Arun Nalawade]]<br />[[Ashwin Chitale]]<br />[[Sandeep Kulkarni]]<br />[[Amruta Subhash]]
| music = [[Bhaskar Chandavarkar]]
| screenplay = [[Sandeep Sawant]]
| story = Madhavi Gharpure
| cinematography = Sanjay K. Memane
| editing = Neeraj Voralia
| distributor = Kathi Arts
| released = 2004
| runtime = 107 minutes
| country = [[India]]
| language = Marathi
| budget = {{INRConvert|0.60|c}}<ref name="forbesindia.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/work/how-indias-regional-cinema-is-breaking-boundaries/46185/1|title=How India's regional cinema is breaking boundaries - Forbes India}}</ref>
| gross = {{Estimation}}{{INRConvert|2.75|c}}<ref name="forbesindia.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/work/how-indias-regional-cinema-is-breaking-boundaries/46185/1|title=How India's regional cinema is breaking boundaries - Forbes India}}</ref>
}}
'''''Shwaas''''' (Marathi: श्वास, ''The Breath'') is a [[Marathi cinema|Marathi film]], released in 2004. It was India's official entry to the [[77th Academy Awards|2004 Oscars]] and was ranked 6th in the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]] category. Its storyline is based on a real-life incident in [[Pune]].<ref name="Shwaas: A must watch!">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/sep/29shwas.htm|title=Shwaas: A must watch!|last=Pawar |first=Leela |date=29 September 2004 |work=rediff.com/movies |publisher=rediff.com |access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> A low-budget of [[Indian rupee]] 65 [[lakhs]] (6 million),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/899205.cms |title=Politicians leave Shwaas breathless|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=12 June 2008|first1=Sanjay|last1=Pendse|date=26 October 2004}}</ref> ''Shwaas'' won the National Award for best film in 2004, nearly 50 years since a Marathi film (''[[Shyamchi Aai (film)|Shyamchi Aai]]'') last earned this title.<ref name="Shwaas: A must watch!" /> Directed by debutant [[Sandeep Sawant]], it was shot in 33 days at [[Sindhudurg]], [[Konkan]], [[Pune]] and at KEM Hospital in [[Pune]]. ''Shwaas'' was acknowledged as a "significant turn for Marathi cinema" which had been going through a low patch. After its success, it was released in [[Hindi]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] languages.<ref name="Marathi ">{{cite web|url=http://bollywood-buzz.com/news/3576/marathi-movie-%E2%80%9Cshwaas%E2%80%9D-in-hindi.html |title=Marathi movie "Shwaas" in Hindi |author=Neha |date=29 April 2008 |publisher=bollywood-buzz.com |access-date=5 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915080304/http://bollywood-buzz.com/news/3576/marathi-movie-%E2%80%9Cshwaas%E2%80%9D-in-hindi.html |archive-date=15 September 2008 }}</ref>

==Background==
Vishwanath Nayak, one of the eight producers, a chartered accountant for [[Arun Nalawade]], a Marathi stage actor, suggested him to make a film. Later, Arun came across a story by writer [[Madhavi Gharpure]], published in the [[Diwali]] edition of a magazine and thought that it would make a wonderful film storyline.<ref name="Shwaas aims for an Oscar " />
The distribution plan for ''Shwaas'' was in place before production began. In the initial stages, it was taken to as many villages as the team could manage; marriage halls, school auditoriums and makeshift venues were all used for screening. All this despite the fact that ''Shwaas'' has no songs, heroes, heroines or recognizable stars of Marathi film industry.<ref name="Production plans">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2005/03/18/stories/2005031802410300.htm|title=Production plans|publisher=hinduonnet.com|access-date=5 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224231153/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2005/03/18/stories/2005031802410300.htm|archive-date=24 February 2008|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

==Cast==
*[[Ashwin Chitale]] (Parashuram Vichare, the child suffering from [[retinal cancer]])
*[[Arun Nalawade]] (grandfather of Parashuram who takes him to Mumbai)
*[[Sandeep Kulkarni]] (Dr. Milind Sane who operates on Parashuram)
*[[Amruta Subhash]] (medical social worker named Asawari who helps grandfather, child and doctor to understand each other)
*Ganesh Manjrekar (Divakar: Parashuram's uncle who accompanies child and grandfather to Mumbai)
*Ashwini Giri (Parashuram's mother who stays in the village).
*[[Vibhavari Deshpande]] as receptionist

==Plot==
A villager (Vichare) brings his 8-year-old grandson Parshuraam (also known as Parshya) to a doctor in Pune to diagnose the child's eyes. They are accompanied by Parshya's maternal uncle Diwakar. On the first day Vichare is asked to sign the usual papers before admission in hospital. Upon asking, he learns that the papers say the doctor would not be responsible if anything goes wrong. Vichare, the rustic grandfather finds these terms unacceptable. A medical social worker, Aasawari, quickly comes in and explains the practice to Vichare. She calms him down and accompanies them during the first appointment with the doctor. Dr. Sane quickly diagnoses child as a victim of [[retinoblastoma]] — a rare retinal cancer. After consulting with other colleagues in US and UK doctor finds that only way to save child's life is to perform an operation that will leave the child blind. As per rule, doctor explains this and insists child be informed of this before surgery. He cannot be operated without this knowledge as it was against ethics. Aasawari (Amruta Subhash) who helps the doctor in convincing the grandfather and the grandson, tries to keep track of Vichare and persuades him not fall prey to other doctors promising false medicines. She tries to befriend Parshya to explain him what is going to happen. However, she finds it is too difficult to explain to him that he will turn blind.

The film then depicts the grandfather's struggle to accept the reality that the only way to save his grandson is at the cost of his eyesight. He tries to come to terms with the situation and his personal agony is shown in scenes, like taking second opinion, explaining his grandson the reality and his desire to show him everything possible before his grandson loses his eyesight. For some reason, the surgery has to be postponed by a day. That afternoon, grandfather and grandson disappear from the hospital ward and a frantic search follows. Confronted by an angry surgeon on their return, the grandfather states quite simply that he wanted to show Parshya the sights of the city for one last time.

''Shwaas'' has been applauded for scenes which depict the difficulty faced by the doctors to explain to grandfather and Parshya that nothing can be done and the truth is but inevitable. It shows the medical fraternity in a very positive light, with the doctors and nurses being extremely supportive and doing the best they can, and helping the villagers with the best facilities. The last shot where Parshya returns shwas home wearing dark glasses, waving to his family and friends from the boat was widely appreciated by film critics.<ref name="moview review">{{cite web |url=http://www.webindia123.com/movie/regional/shwaas/index.htm |title=moview review|publisher=webindia123.com|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref>

==Reviews==
{{blockquote|This Indian melodrama about a young boy with retinal cancer whose only chance for survival is an operation that will leave him blind is unstintingly sentimental and a bit tedious, but it also has a winning simplicity and some touching moments. The story is a kind that American audiences are accustomed to finding on basic cable television, and there is something strange and oddly gratifyng about seeing it rendered with the luster and grandeur of CinemaScope.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/317993/Shwaas/overview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909155048/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/317993/Shwaas/overview|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2009|title=Review|access-date=12 June 2008 | first=A. O. |department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|author-link=A. O. Scott|date=2009| last=Scott}}</ref>|A. O. Scott, ''[[The New York Times]]''}}
The film received 40% positive ratings at [[Rotten Tomatoes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shawaas/|title=Rating|publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]].|access-date=16 December 2008}}</ref>

==Awards==


The film received numerous awards at national and state levels. ''Shwaas'' won the Maharashtra State Film Award and then India's highest [[National Film Award (India)|National Film Award]], bringing the coveted Golden Lotus to Marathi cinema for the first time since 1954. Ashwin Chitale won the best child artist award.<ref name="Shwaas aims for an Oscar " />
*2003: [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film]]
*2003: [[National Film Award for Best Child Artist]] - Ashwin Chitale

==Bid for Oscar award==
''Shwas'' was India's official entry to the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]] in [[77th Academy Awards]] (the Oscar awards), 2004. The team faced financial problems to showcase and promote their film at the Oscars.<ref name="Cash-strapped and Oscar-bound">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/India_Buzz/Cash-strapped_and_Oscar-bound/articleshow/msid-873964,curpg-3.cms|title=Cash-strapped and Oscar-bound|date=5 October 2004|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> People from all classes came forward with contributions. A school in [[Jogeshwari]] organized its children to make lamps and sell them and made a contribution of Rs. 30,000. Another group of students cleaned cars to collect some money. A division of standard 10 students in [[Nasik]] collected Rs. 10 each and their teacher added some more to donate Rs. 1001. A Marathi theatre group that performs the Marathi play ''[[Yada Kadachit]]'' collected around Rs. 65,000.<ref name="Beyond applause">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2202/stories/20050128001508700.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630205951/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2202/stories/20050128001508700.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 30, 2006|title=Beyond applause|last=PINGLAY|first=PRACHI|date=15–28 January 2005|work=Frontline|publisher=hinduonnet.com|access-date=12 June 2008}}</ref>

They approached multinationals and corporate biggies to get sponsorships.<ref name="Shwaas aims for an Oscar ">{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041114/spectrum/main5.htm|title=Shwaas aims for an Oscar |date=14 November 2004 |publisher=tribuneindia.com |access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> Cricketer [[Sachin Tendulkar]] held an auction to help raise funds.<ref name="Sachin promises to raise funds">{{cite news |url=http://www.cricketzone.com/news/off_the_field/20041113-0.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041115211039/http://www.cricketzone.com/news/off_the_field/20041113-0.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 November 2004 |title=Sachin promises to raise funds for 'Shwaas' through auction |date=13 November 2004 |work=CricketZone Bureau |publisher=cricketzone.com |access-date=5 June 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Bollywood actor [[Amitabh Bachchan]] donated [[Indian rupee|INR]] 1 lakh (100,000) for the ''Shwaas''' Oscar bid.<ref name="Bachchan donates Rs 1,00,000">{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-5214426_ITM |title=Bachchan donates Rs 1,00,000|date=25 November 2004|work=The Press Trust of India Ltd.|publisher=The Press Trust of India Ltd.|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> Mumbai's [[Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai|Siddhivinayak temple]] installed a drop box for people to donate for ''Shwaas'' promotion at Oscars.<ref name="Divine help for 'Shwaas' on Oscar road.">{{cite news |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-14088515_ITM |title=Divine help for 'Shwaas' on Oscar road.|date=17 October 2004|work=Times of India|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref> The government of [[Goa]] contributed [[Indian rupee|INR]] 21 [[lakh]] (2.1 million).<ref name="'Shwaas' producer gets a cheque">{{cite news|url=http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/946301.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103161910/http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/946301.cms |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title='Shwaas' producer gets a cheque |date=21 December 2004 |work=timesofindia |access-date=5 June 2008 }}</ref> [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India)]] committed Rs 50,000 and the [[Government of Maharashtra]] had given Rs 15 lakh (1.5 million) towards the fund.<ref name="Sachin promises to raise funds" /> Even political parties like [[Shiv Sena]] helped in the promotion.<ref name="Sena chief hits out at cricketer’s gesture">{{cite news|url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=106491|title=Sena chief hits out at cricketer's gesture|date=12 November 2004|publisher=Newsline |access-date=5 June 2008}}{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref>

The ''Shwaas''' team was director Sandeep Sawant, marketing manager Anil Bastawade, costume designer and Sawant's wife Neeraja Patwardhan; they tried to attract [[Marathi people|Maharashtrian]] people in the USA before the Oscars. They addressed a crowd of 12,000 members of the Maharashtra Vishwa Parishad in [[New Jersey]] while attending the Diwali celebrations in [[Manhattan]]. ''Shwaas'' was screened 14 times in the USA during the pre-Oscar bid. The team took a three-hour drive to [[Atlantic City]] to meet Maharashtra Mandals for their support.<ref name="Maharashtrians across America ">{{cite news|url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=38667#compstory |title=Maharashtrians across America to go Jai Shwaas|last=Suhasini|first=Lalitha |date=21 November 2004 |publisher=expressindia.com |access-date=12 June 2008}}</ref> However, the movie failed at the Oscar and was ranked 6th.<ref name="Shwaas fails at Oscars.">{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-1080673_ITM|title=Shwaas fails at Oscars.|date=25 January 2005|work=The Press Trust of India Ltd.|publisher=The Press Trust of India Ltd.|access-date=5 June 2008}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0396962|Shwaas}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110522071610/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808625185/info Shwaas at Yahoo! Movies]
*[http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/sep/29shwas.htm Review on Rediff]
*[http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2004/oct/26sld1.htm Shwaas' Oscar walk!]
{{NationalFilmAwardBestFeatureFilm}}
{{Indian submission for Academy Awards}}

[[Category:Indian films about cancer]]
[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:Best Feature Film National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:2000s Marathi-language films]]

Shwaas - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article