Rajendra Talak a National Award Winning film director and writer born and based in Goa, India. He is known for making highly acclaimed and popular films in Konkani and Marathi language. He has been honoured by the prestigious Indian National Award for Film Direction and Production (Konkani film) twice – once for ‘Aleesha’ (2004) and again for ‘Antarnaad’ (2006).
Rajendra Talak has been lauded by both critics and moviegoers for the striking subject matter, careful treatment and vivid depiction in his films. Most of his films like ‘Aleesha’ (2004), the bilingual ‘Antarnaad’/’Saavali’ (2006), ‘Saavariyaa.com’ (2008),‘O Maria’ (2010) and ‘A rainy day’ (2014) have been popular with audiences and have won numerous awards in film festivals in India and overseas.
Rajendra Talak is known for his contribution to various cultural activities. He is the founder of ‘Kalangan’, a well known centre for performing arts in Goa. He is also on the panel of Entertainment Society of Goa Government, handling the important responsibility of hosting the prestigious International Film Festival of India. He was also the President of the Goan Association of Film Makers.
Apart from his artistic achievements, Rajendra is also a successful businessman. His firm Talak Constructions is a respected and trusted name in Goa for more than 25 years.
Early career
Rajendra began his artistic journey as a director of One Act plays in his college days. Many of the plays in Konkani and Marathi directed by him like ‘R for Ragging’, ‘Teen Kheti’ and ‘Kalpravah’ won prizes in many departments in various intercollegiate competitions. He was also a part of popular plays like ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’ and ‘Lekure Udand Jahli’ which gave him an early recognition. He directed Marathi plays like ‘Ganpatwani’, ‘Kala vazir pandhra raja’, ‘Tase amhi sajjan’, ‘Chaudava Majla’ and Konkani plays ‘Aadhe Adhure (Ek Sausar Ardhakuto)’ and ‘Sorry Wrong Number’. He won many Goa State awards in direction, stage setting, lighting and music.
Films
Rajendra Talak started his filmmaking career with the telefilm ‘Shitu’ in 1996 which he produced and also served as a Production designer. It won a number of awards at the Goa Film Festival. His directorial debut was the 2004 Konkani film ‘Aleesha’. Set in the scenic locations of Goa, ‘Aleesha’ tells the story of a family in the mining business, whose artistically minded daughter-in-law is unable to reconcile her beliefs with the realities of the mining industry. ‘Aleesha’ won the Best Film and Best Director awards at the 52nd National Awards, becoming the first Konkani Film to bring a National Award to the state of Goa. It also won many awards at the state level.
Rajendra’s next production and directorial venture was 2006 film ‘Antarnaad’, which was also produced in Marathi as ‘Saavali’. It immediately became a huge success with both critics and audience, bringing Rajendra the rare honour of winning the National Award for two consecutive films for Best Film and Best Direction. A sensitive and musically oriented film, ‘Antarnaad’ portrays the conflict between a musically gifted mother and daughter. Film Antarnad won total five national awards including best singer, best child artist and best music director. The Marathi version ‘Saavali’ also won a host of other awards, like the Best Marathi Film Screen Award, Zee Award and Maharashtra State Award. Film Saavali celebrated Silver Jubilee of its screening in Pune running successfully for 25 weeks.
In 2008, Rajendra directed the popular ‘Saavariyaa.com’, this time telling the story of internet marriages. ‘Saavariyaa.com’ was made in Marathi and Konkani and was premiered at IIFI 2008. It won total 13 Goa State Awards including best film and best direction
Rajendra’s next production and directorial effort was the hugely successful Konkani film ‘O Maria’, which celebrated an unbroken 25 weeks run at the premier Inox theatre at Panjim and Osia at Margao, Goa. ‘O Maria’ is based on a subject close to the Goans’ heart- the sale of lands to non-Goans. The film was praised by critics for the accurate depiction of Goans and their problems. ‘O Maria’ was screened at Indian Panorama section for IFFI 2011. The film won 17 Goa State Awards including best Film and best direction.
‘A Rainy Day’ is the in the series of highly acclaimed and popular movies made by Rajendra Talak. Released in 2014, ‘A rainy day’ is a Marathi movie that explores the themes of trust, extra-sensory perception and corruption. It was screened at prestigious film festivals like the Pune International Film Festival (2014), Jagran Film Festival (2014), Bangalore Film Festival (2014) and Indian International Film Festival (2014). ‘A Rainy Day’ has won many accolades and awards including Best Indian Cinema at Jagran Film Festival (2014), Best Debut Marathi Production by Maharashtra Government and technical awards for Best Sound Design and Best Camera and won14 Goa State awards including best film and best direction. This film was screened at Indian Panorama section for IFFI 2014.
Rajendra Talak is a skilled film writer. He has been the sole or co-writer of many of his films. His all films have been showcased at International Film Festival of India and various other film festivals.
Rajendra Talak has been appointed as the Vice Chairman of Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) since October 2016 under the chairmanship of Chief Minister of Goa. ESG was established by the Government of Goa in 2004, as the nodal agency in the organization of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and the main objective of the ESG is to frame an entertainment policy to help cultivate Goa into a world-class International entertainment nerve center of the country.
Rajendra Talak is coming up with his latest film 'Miranda House' a bilingual in Konkani and Marathi which will be released in April 2019. He is the writer and director of this film.
Music
Rajendra has a passion for music. He has so far produced two music albums. With vocals contributed by the eminent artistes Asha Bhosle and Suresh Wadkar, his first music production was titled ‘Daryachya Deger’. The second production is named ‘Lhara’ or ‘Meera Ek Yaad’ and ‘Arpan’. To encourage flowering of arts in Goa, he founded ‘Kalangan’, a centre of performing arts in Goa and served as its president for the long years 1996-2014. He has also served as a member of West Zone Cultural Center, Udaipur.
Philanthropy and other
Rajendra Talak’s philosophy of life includes a strong social conscious. He has been actively involved in many social benefit activities and institutions such as the Old Age Home of Goa Hindu Association ‘Sneh Mandir’, of which he is a Joint Secretary. He has been a member of various organizations where he has contributed as a member of the building committee. His present mission ‘Clean Margao, Green Margao’ is in progress, making Margao a beautiful city supporting the Prime Ministers mission of ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyan’.
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