Whether you are for the mandatory prime time screening of Marathi films in multiplexes or against it, what is unanimous is that the Marathi film industry has undergone a major revival. Marathi cinema has been consistently delivering some seriously outstanding films lately. Listed below are five of the recent greats:
1. Court
Directed by twenty something Chaitana Tamhane, Court is a breath of fresh air in the commercial glut of Indian cinema. Arthouse almost to a fault but deeply nuanced, the film is both a takedown of the flimsy justice system in the country and also a character study of various people connected to the system. Since its debut in Venice last year, the film has been nabbing awards at the international festival circuit, including the top trophy at the National Awards. The film releases later this month.
2. Killa
The directorial debut of cinematographer Avinash Arun, Killa chronicles a young boy trying to cope with the loss of his father, moving to a new home and struggling to express his grief to his mother. The film is exquisitely shot, with haunting imagery of a fort the boy gets marooned in, and features a standout performance from Archit Deodhar, whose character was derived from Arun’s own childhood. Killa releases in India in May.
3. Shala
Sujay Dahake’s 2012 film takes us through the lives four school boys from different social backgrounds, and a girl whom one of the boys has a crush on. The result is a beautifully observed coming of age film bolstered by a cute love story without being cheesy. Camaraderie between kids in cinema has seldom been so lovable.
4. Fandry
Nagraj Manjule’s debut directorial effort won a national award in 2013, but the real strength of the film lies in its character details, interactions and a setting that screams authenticity. The film also featured one of the best movie moments of the year, where the national anthem stops a climactic dramatic chase.
5. Deool
Three years before PK, director Umesh Kulkarni satirized blind faith and religious bigotry in the terrific ensemble comedy drama Deool. The film is equally hilarious and shattering, and there’s unmistakable genius in the way it taps the universal mania surrounding God. This was Kulkarni’s sophomore effort, and after the arthouse bleakness of Vihir, Deoul demonstrated that he could handle the commercial space as well.
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