At one point of time, we all have sung praises of the movies that were made in Hollywood or Bollywood because of the star cast and acting potential or the unique theme that it posses. While this is true many of the films in regional languages go wildly unnoticed because they cater to a tiny audience that understands the language and gets the backdrop in which the story is created, but if you choose to ignore this barrier some excellent titles are worth a watch.
Today we bring a list of 7 such Marathi films that each have a unique premise and a realistic setting.
Harishchandrachi Factory
Dadashaeb Phalke is synonymous with the inception of the Indian cinema, and his film gives you a glimpse into what went into making the first-ever full-length feature film and how Dadasaheb Phalke accidentally discovered the screening of a silent film and immediately fell in love with the idea of creating stories. The film was written and directed by Paresh Mokashi. Harishchandrachi factory won a lot of critical acclaims and was even selected as India’s official Oscar entry in 2010. It was only the second Marathi film to ever achieve that feat.
Streaming on Netflix
Natsamrat is one of the best Marathi films of modern times which has a great cast with the likes of Nana Patekar and Vikram Gokhale playing the pivotal characters in the story. Natsamrat is the story of Ganpat Belwalkar who is a retired Shakespearean actor who amassed a decent amount of money and respect in his time, but the cruel nature of his children leaves him and his wife without a home and a descent into misery. This masterpiece is directed by Mahesh Manjrekar and based on a story by Kusumagraj.
Streaming on Netflix
Sairat
Sairat was one of the most audacious projects ever created in Marathi cinema with a run time of 2h 54m. this project was the brainchild of Nagraj Manjule who is also known for other such projects like ‘Fandry’. It was one of the biggest box office grosser for a Marathi Film. It shows the love story of two college friends Archi and Parshya who are from different casts, and this film does a great job in portraying the casteism that is still prevalent in many parts of the nation. The ending is something that will leave you in tears, but the long runtime can take a bit of a toll on you.
Streaming on Zee 5
Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy
Me Shivaji Raje Bhosle Boltoy is the story of Dinkar Maruti Bhonsle who is a middle-class Maharashtrian and feels that he is often looked down upon and not given enough respect whether it is in his house or his office. He has a vision of Shivaji Maharaj and then starts to take control of his own life rather than others for everything around him. This is another one of the films that is directed by the Veteran Mahesh Manjrekar.
Streaming on Amazon prime
Killa
One of the best things about regional cinema is the realistic manner in which the story is created and told. Killa is the story of an 11-year-old boy who is struggling to cope with the loss of his father and is trying to make new friends at a new place after his mother gets a job transfer. This movie tugs at your heart with its storyline as Chinmay feels a certain isolation and is constantly trying to battle that whereas both the mother and the child have to adapt to all the changes that are taking place in their surrounding. The performance by the cast is endearing, and you will feel a sense of ‘Catharsis’ towards the end of the film.
Streaming on Netflix
Duniyadaari
Duniyadaari is the story of Shreyas, who is a young man with a very bittersweet relationship with his parents. He attempts to patch these feeling by surrounding himself with a loyal group of friends. At the same time, he struggles to find a balance in his love life as he tries to impress Shirin. Out of all the titles mentioned above, this has a bit of humour attached to it which makes it that much easier and more enjoyable to watch. Swapnil Joshi Plays the main lead, and his character will have you glued to your screens.
Streaming on Sony Liv
Aapla Manus
Aapla manus is the story of Aba Gokhale who while living with his son and daughter-in-law mysteriously falls off from the balcony and inspector Maruti Nagargoje is assigned the case. This movie is filled with different twists at short intervals and paints a picture of how the elder and younger generation do not always see eye to eye on things. When these arguments go beyond a limit, one has to suffer major repercussions if they are not sorted out in a timely manner. The last 5 minutes of the film will really make you think as to whether we have really evolved or just become more selfish in the name of progress. Nana Patekar plays a double role in this film.
Streaming on Netflix
Bong Joon ho in his Oscar speech, said that “Once you overcome the 1-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” This resounding statement always makes me wonder whether we have truly learnt to appreciate the way in which cinema can change our lives. Unfortunately, regional titles get underwhelmingly overlooked so next time you want to choose any film or series. Please look at what the story has to offer rather than just the language in which it is created.