EXCLUSIVE: Not Toilet- Ek Prem Katha, Gutrun Guturgu Was The First Bollywood Film On Women’s Sanitation, Says Writer Producer Asmita Sharma

&TV is coming up with a brand-new show called Guddiya Hamari Sab Pe Bhari. The show is based on the Bhopal milieu and the actors and the writers of the series think that the sow will instantly connect with the mass due to the innocence the main protagonist of the series exudes!

It was during the launch of the series that I had a heart of hearts conversation with actress Asmita Sharma who plays ‘Phula’ in the series and hers is one of the main characters in the show. Asmita who has been a hugely popular actress in various shows is still remembered for her portrayal of Sumitra Singh in Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigyaa. The lady is also a writer and producer and has produced India’s first film on women sanitation called, “Gutrun Gutargun.” Sharma spoke at length about her film and how it got overshadowed by Akshay Kumar’s Toilet Ek Prem Katha!

Well, the fact that you have to be a big name in order to impact the mind of the people in a big manner is absolutely true but again, Sumitra is definitely a big name on TV but her hold on producing films is in a nascent stage. Having said that, the ideas she has are definitely big and new. Sharma had written Gutrun Gutargu, four years prior to Toilet and the film released in 2016, whereas Toilet Ek Prem Katha released in 2017. a film called I had done a film called Gutrun Guturgun. It was India’s first film that focussed on women’s sanitation problems. Quipped she, “We had written “Gutrun Gutargun” in the year 2013.”

The film was made but was not marketed properly as it should have been. She revealed, “We had the money to make the film, we did not have the money to release the film. And by the time we managed to accumulate the money for the release of the film Toilet Ek Prem Katha was announced. And when there are such big names standing in front of you, you cannot do much to promote your film. Our film was restricted a lot.”

I had written and produced the film. We made that beautiful film which out from the sweat and blood of all the technicians. It was made with utmost integrity and honesty.”

When a lifetime of income is at stake, it does feel burdening to see the film not doing well. She stated and to make things work you have to be part of a camp! “You see, you have to pay because there is a lobby and no one lets you in the lobby. That’s because you will be asked – “Who are you? we are here since donkey years and just because you have made a film you want to be part of that lobby?” That is why you have to pay. Whatever, I had earned, I had invested in the film. I was literally broke! She ruminated.

Well, we are sure that this news article will come as a surprise to many but this is indeed the fact. The filmdom is replete with such underdog stories which barely come to the fore.

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