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From Shwaas and Sairat to Tighee and Ata Thambayacha Naay!, a new generation of filmmakers is taking socially relevant Marathi cinema beyond Maharashtra, while navigating challenges of screens, budgets and audience reach

Cinema as an art perfectly showcases human stories. And since its inception, socially-relevant Marathi cinema has redefined Indian cinema, with movies such as Kunku, Manoos, Samna, Sinhasan, and Pinjra. Recently, films like Fandry, Sairat, Court, Deool, Tighee, Dashaavtaar, Deool Band 1 and 2, Krantijyoti Vidyalaya Marathi Madhyam, Sthal, and Ata Thambaycha Naay! have revived interest beyond Maharashtra.

The torch bearers

Young Jeejivisha Kale recently made her directorial debut with Tighee produced by Supri Media & Advertising and Coquelicot Pictures. She considers Marathi cinema as being deeply rooted in people and their lived realities. “Take films like Jait Re Jait, Saamna, Fandry, Aatmapamphplet, and Ata Thambaycha Naay! These socially relevant films are also rich cinematic experiences. Cinema has always reflected the times we live in, and Marathi films have consistently questioned, analysed and, at times, simply mirrored society.” She feels social relevance rises naturally when true characters appear, allowing audiences anywhere to connect with the story.

Actor Sandeep Kulkarni, who has been part of Marathi cinema such as Shwaas and Dombivli Fast, feels that good films act as a mirror to life, complete with its complexes and problems. With time, he sees new problems cropping up. Direction and scripting process might change. But he sees cinema still being the mirror to life.