In the last few years, the Marathi film industry has suddenly shot to fame by producing some memorable films which have got national as well as international recognition. Even the audience seems to be returning back to cinema halls which is visible from the fact that more and more marathi films are doing well at the box office.
Probably, it all began from the success of Shwaas, which was India's official entry to the 2004 Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category. The films storyline was based on real-life incident in Pune. A low-budget film made with less than Rs. 30 lakhs (3 million), Shwaas won the National Award for best film in 2004, nearly 50 years since a Marathi film (Shyamchi Aai) last earned this title.
Another movie, Tingya, made on a special subject based on a life of a rural boy and his love and friendship with his bull, released in 2008 made news for all the right reasons. The movie based on the hardships faced by the farmers in Maharashtra was screened at various International Film Festivals and also won numerous awards. 2009 saw Harishchandrachi Factory being nominated as India’s official entry to the Oscars and 2010 has already begun with a bang for the industry as Jogva, an emotional story of one a woman’s journey to break free from the shackles of discrimination, sexual oppression and slavery to find true happiness, bagged the maximum honours (5 awards) at the 56th National Film Awards announced in January this year. Another film, Vihir, produced by Amitabh Bachchan ran into packed houses at the prestigious Berlin film festival in February.
Marathi cinema has always been very realistic and known for tackling social issues concerning a wide variety of subjects, something that has been missing in Hindi cinema. Somehow Marathi cinema has always lacked the commercial success which is why good film makers have been shying away from making them. But, things have been changing in the last few years which have seen Marathi films becoming commercially successful with numerous box office hits like Mi Shivajiraje Bhosle Boltoy, Dombivili Fast, Harishchandrachi Factory, Natrang and so on.
Probably a big reason for this success has been the advent of over 10 new Marathi TV channels in the last 5 years which has brought the audience back to watch Marathi television shows and ultimately to watch Marathi Cinema. The fact that a lot of Hindi film producers are now entering the Marathi film industry bringing better technology and production values is the testimony to the success of the industry.
As the quality of Marathi cinema improves, it is but natural that it will also get the desired acclaim. Several Marathi films are now being screened internationally and are finding good audience in the US, Europe and Australia. It is good to see Marathi cinema generating audiences worldwide. There are quiet a few Marathi people abroad, and this is possibly their way of getting a close to their language.
Yes, these are better days for Marathi cinema, but there is a lot more that needs be done. The Marathi cinema and television industry lacks proper infrastructure and the government should be doing everything possible for helping the industry in creating that, even if it requires a few hundred crore rupees to be invested. Maharashtra government should be forthcoming in promoting the Marathi film and television industry by all means. There has been a longstanding demand for a creation of a film city at Kolhapur and one doesn't understand why it can’t be fulfilled? If such decisions are going to get stuck in bottlenecks, it will only hamper the rapid progress of this industry. Rather I believe if the industry has to develop and prosper the government has to wake up sooner than later, otherwise these better days might become history again.
Probably, it all began from the success of Shwaas, which was India's official entry to the 2004 Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category. The films storyline was based on real-life incident in Pune. A low-budget film made with less than Rs. 30 lakhs (3 million), Shwaas won the National Award for best film in 2004, nearly 50 years since a Marathi film (Shyamchi Aai) last earned this title.
Another movie, Tingya, made on a special subject based on a life of a rural boy and his love and friendship with his bull, released in 2008 made news for all the right reasons. The movie based on the hardships faced by the farmers in Maharashtra was screened at various International Film Festivals and also won numerous awards. 2009 saw Harishchandrachi Factory being nominated as India’s official entry to the Oscars and 2010 has already begun with a bang for the industry as Jogva, an emotional story of one a woman’s journey to break free from the shackles of discrimination, sexual oppression and slavery to find true happiness, bagged the maximum honours (5 awards) at the 56th National Film Awards announced in January this year. Another film, Vihir, produced by Amitabh Bachchan ran into packed houses at the prestigious Berlin film festival in February.
Marathi cinema has always been very realistic and known for tackling social issues concerning a wide variety of subjects, something that has been missing in Hindi cinema. Somehow Marathi cinema has always lacked the commercial success which is why good film makers have been shying away from making them. But, things have been changing in the last few years which have seen Marathi films becoming commercially successful with numerous box office hits like Mi Shivajiraje Bhosle Boltoy, Dombivili Fast, Harishchandrachi Factory, Natrang and so on.
Probably a big reason for this success has been the advent of over 10 new Marathi TV channels in the last 5 years which has brought the audience back to watch Marathi television shows and ultimately to watch Marathi Cinema. The fact that a lot of Hindi film producers are now entering the Marathi film industry bringing better technology and production values is the testimony to the success of the industry.
As the quality of Marathi cinema improves, it is but natural that it will also get the desired acclaim. Several Marathi films are now being screened internationally and are finding good audience in the US, Europe and Australia. It is good to see Marathi cinema generating audiences worldwide. There are quiet a few Marathi people abroad, and this is possibly their way of getting a close to their language.
Yes, these are better days for Marathi cinema, but there is a lot more that needs be done. The Marathi cinema and television industry lacks proper infrastructure and the government should be doing everything possible for helping the industry in creating that, even if it requires a few hundred crore rupees to be invested. Maharashtra government should be forthcoming in promoting the Marathi film and television industry by all means. There has been a longstanding demand for a creation of a film city at Kolhapur and one doesn't understand why it can’t be fulfilled? If such decisions are going to get stuck in bottlenecks, it will only hamper the rapid progress of this industry. Rather I believe if the industry has to develop and prosper the government has to wake up sooner than later, otherwise these better days might become history again.
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