Why Marathi films are all the rage again – and why this wave could last
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Something is happening in Marathi cinema – something good.
The past few years have seen a bunch of thoughtfully made, resonant films. Alongside commercial releases, there have been movies affirming Marathi cinema’s reputation for realism, sensitive treatment and excellent performances. Jeejivisha Kale’s Tighee, which was released on March 5 in cinemas, and Mohit Takalkar’s Toh Ti Ani Fuji, which went directly onto Sony LIV on April 10, have been widely appreciated.
Some of the most noteworthy recent releases have all been in Marathi – Sabar Bonda, Vaalvi, Zombivli, Jhimma, Baipan Bhari Deva, Sthal, Aatmapamphlet, Ata Thambaychay Naay!, April May 99. A few of them have worked at the box office – Baipan Bhari Deva was a massive hit – and found fans beyond their traditional linguistic base on streaming platforms.
Marathi cinema will test its potential on May 1, when Riteish Deshmukh’s ambitious biopic Raja Shivaji will be released in theatres in both Marathi and Hindi.
There has also been a crossover of personnel between the languages. Following in the footsteps of directors such as Mahesh Manjrekar and Ravi Jadhav, Aditya Sarpotdar (Munjya, 2024) and Laxman Utekar (Chhaava, 2025) have staked their claim in Bollywood as bankable directors.
For an industry whose history runs parallel to that of Hindi cinema, a high strike rate of success should not be extraordinary. Yet, Marathi cinema has gone through ebbs and flows for decades. Consistency in quantity and quality, assured...