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By:

Bharati Dubey

17 May 2026 at 1:38:10 am

Raja Shivaji sparks a new era for Marathi cinema

Mumbai: As Raja Shivaji marches steadily towards the Rs 100 crore mark, the film has reignited debate around the future of the Marathi film industry. Having already crossed Rs 80 crore at the Indian box office, the historical drama is now only the second Marathi film after Sairat to achieve the milestone. Its success has raised a larger question within the trade: can a major blockbuster finally attract sustained investment into Marathi cinema, an industry often marked by cycles of growth and...

Raja Shivaji sparks a new era for Marathi cinema

Mumbai: As Raja Shivaji marches steadily towards the Rs 100 crore mark, the film has reignited debate around the future of the Marathi film industry. Having already crossed Rs 80 crore at the Indian box office, the historical drama is now only the second Marathi film after Sairat to achieve the milestone. Its success has raised a larger question within the trade: can a major blockbuster finally attract sustained investment into Marathi cinema, an industry often marked by cycles of growth and slowdown? Much of the buzz surrounding the film stems from the support it received from prominent Hindi film stars, several of whom reportedly came on board to back the project and the industry. Trade analyst Girish Wankhede believes the film’s biggest achievement lies in the scale of collaboration it represents. “The real strength of Raja Shivaji lies in its creative ensemble star cast, which Riteish Deshmukh successfully brought together. By roping in heavyweight Hindi stars like Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, and Salman Khan, the film showcases the immense combined value of cross-industry collaboration. This strong gesture of Hindi cinema’s biggest names extending full support to a Marathi project has created a powerful impression, generating tremendous curiosity and respect for Marathi cinema among audiences, investors, and other industries. It underscores how Marathi films can now command pan-Indian attention and star power,” he says. At the same time, Wankhede feels it may still be premature to call the film a runaway commercial success given its production scale and costs. “What is heartening is the visible new energy and creative fuel that Riteish Deshmukh has infused into Marathi cinema. With him at the helm of affairs, the film looks strong and polished, and this momentum, further amplified by the star support, is already drawing serious attention from investors who were earlier hesitant about the regional space,” he adds. Producer Suniel Wadhwa, Co-Founder and Director of Karmic Films, says the film’s performance could play an important role in rebuilding investor confidence in theatrical cinema. “The success of Raja Shivaji could significantly improve investor confidence in theatrical cinema, especially at a time when many non-film investors have become cautious about the sector. If the film succeeds as a large-scale theatrical event rather than just an opening weekend phenomenon, it will reinforce the belief that culturally rooted Indian stories still possess massive commercial potential across regions and demographics,” he says. However, Wadhwa points out that the industry continues to face deep structural challenges. “One of the biggest is the shortage of true theatrical stars who can create urgency for audiences to step into cinemas. Streaming has created visibility, but not necessarily ticket-selling mythology. At the same time, India remains heavily under-screened, and even strong films often struggle with inadequate show slots, limited showcasing windows, and overcrowded release calendars. Many films today are judged within the first 48–72 hours, leaving little room for organic word-of-mouth growth,” he says. According to him, the theatrical business is evolving rather than disappearing. “Audiences are now reserving cinema outings for event-driven experiences — spectacle, emotion, mythology, action, horror-comedy, and culturally resonant storytelling. Films that can create that collective viewing urgency will continue to attract both audiences and serious investment capital,” he adds. The Marathi film industry has witnessed a mixed year so far. More than two dozen films have released, but only a handful — including Raja Shivaji, Kranti Vidyalay Marathi Madhyam, Aga Aga Sunbai Mahnatay Sasubai, and Super Duper — have performed strongly at the box office. Veteran journalist Dilip Thakur believes Marathi cinema has already begun regaining momentum after the slowdown caused by the pandemic. “New Marathi films are getting launched regularly. The upcoming film Bapya had its screening at Sunny Super Sound, which was attended by non-Marathi journalists in big numbers. The story of Bapya is complex and difficult to make. The point here is that a producer agreed to put his money into the film. Sabar Bonda was another difficult subject which won an award at Sundance. So, producers willing to invest money in such subjects is one positive sign,” he says. Thakur also points to the continued appetite for mainstream Marathi entertainers. “The boom after Sairat still exists in Marathi cinema. There was a setback for four years because of Covid, but the industry has gained momentum. Ravi Jadhav’s new film Fulawara, based on tamasha folk art, will soon go on floors in Pune,” he says. He further notes that Marathi cinema is increasingly attracting investors from outside the industry. “Most Marathi films have non-Marathi investors. They are putting in money because there is business in Marathi cinema. But not every film becomes a hit. Subhash Ghai also produced a few Marathi films. If the subject is good, people are willing to invest,” he adds. Not everyone, however, is convinced that one major hit can alter the industry’s fortunes overnight. Nitin Datar, president of the Cinema Owners Association, remains cautious about reading too much into the film’s success. “Only one film success is not going to bring investors. In the last five years, out of nearly 500 films produced, the success rate has not been encouraging,” he says. Datar acknowledges that the presence of Hindi stars has helped boost the film’s commercial appeal but stresses that Marathi cinema still lacks enough bankable stars capable of consistently drawing audiences to theatres. “The production houses and directors have attracted audiences. Unfortunately, producers haven’t been successful in attracting financial assistance, which has resulted in low production and advertising budgets. But if films succeed in pulling audiences over the weekend, exhibitors automatically increase shows and reduce screenings of underperforming films from other languages. The audience is always there, waiting to visit theatres in large numbers for a good film,” he says. For now, Raja Shivaji has undeniably given Marathi cinema a strong moment in the spotlight. Whether that momentum translates into long-term financial confidence and sustained industry growth remains the larger question.

The Power of Her

Updated: Mar 10, 2025

‘The Perfect Voice’ celebrates strong, trailblazers in this series with stories of women who brave battles every day that serve as an inspiration to the next generation. We have daughters fulfilling their parent’s dreams, victims of domestic abuse rebuilding their lives and professionals dealing with the famous ‘mom guilt’.


Part - 6

Braving All Odds

Kalpana Patil, Mumbai


Kalpana Patil

Her life was a struggle from the very beginning. Born into a family of limited financial means in Belagavi, Karnataka, Kalpana Patil, 57, couldn’t study beyond Class 10 because her parents couldn’t afford to pay her fees. They wanted to marry her off early, an idea she resisted. Her family, however, couldn’t find a suitable match until she was 20 years old. But as luck would have it, even marriage didn’t offer an end to her financial woes; in fact, it was the beginning of a traumatic journey in an abusive marriage. Patil claims her husband misled her family. “He told us he had a big house in Mumbai. He also told us that he was well settled and was in the position to keep me happy all my life. I came to Mumbai and was shocked to see a house that was confined to a 10/12 square feet room. My in-laws, my brother-in-law, his wife and kids, all of us were supposed to live in that one room,” she says.

There were no means to verify the groom’s background. Her family was riddled with illiteracy and was helplessly poor. Societal pressure meant they accepted the first proposal that came along for their daughter.


Patil and her husband, who worked as a tempo driver, shifted to another house in Dahisar, which was not bigger than the earlier one. She was subjected to “extreme mental torture” for not conceiving a baby for five years after the wedding. “I was relieved when I delivered my first son five years after my marriage. After a few years I was blessed with another son,” she says.


Financial troubles mounted as Patil’s husband spent all his money on alcohol. After marriage, she discovered that her husband had been addicted to alcohol since he was 12 years old. There was no money to feed the children and Patil decided to work in a bid to save some money for her family’s future. She has experimented with several jobs from diamond industry to bangles manufacturing to catering to pest control chemical factories to working as a peon at a school and many more. She recalls “challenging experiences” while she looked for jobs in factories. Finally, Patil got a job in a company located at Dahisar, close to her home, where she’s been working for the past 16 years. “My employer has been an epitome of humanity. I always shared all my issues with him and he has been a patient counsellor and support,” she says.

The financial troubles mounted into a crisis, when her husband took out a loan to buy a tempo but couldn’t bring in enough money to make ends meet. To add to that, abuses and thrashings were part of her daily life. “He would waste food, he would beat me up mercilessly. He used to be most often drunk. Once he even kicked me in my waist when I was asleep. I woke up in shock and pain,” says Patil.


Tired, she attempted suicide several times, experimenting with different methods of ending her life. “Someone advised me, eating baked soil reduces life expectancy and helps you die early. I have been eating that for the past few years. My employer was good. The team offered counselling and I stopped thinking negatively,” she says.


Worried about the “dire consequences” of her decision, Patil never considered divorce and puts up a brave face in her challenging situation. Her older son has completed a BCom degree “I am really proud of him. He used to work during the day, and would attend night college to complete his education. He has worked really hard and now he is settled,” says Patil proudly. Her sons’ education has changed the dynamics in their home. My husband doesn’t abuse me anymore. By now, I have gained courage to give it back to him, and my sons are able,” she says confidently.

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