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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 Return of the Prodigal Isle

After a brief estrangement, Narendra Modi’s deft diplomacy has again pulled the Maldives closer into India’s orbit.

 

Just three years ago, the Maldives seemed to be slipping from India’s embrace. Anti-India slogans echoed across Maldivian politics and President Mohamed Muizzu, then in the opposition, rode a wave of nationalist anger to power with the incendiary chant of “India Out.” But during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent state visit to Malé, that tide turned dramatically. Four new agreements, a hefty line of credit and a raft of joint initiatives later, India has not only weathered the storm but steered the relationship back on course. In a region where Beijing’s shadow looms large, New Delhi has managed to reclaim strategic space with unusual finesse.

 

The history of ties between the two nations is long and deep. India and the Maldives established diplomatic relations shortly after the latter gained independence from Britain in 1965. But the roots go further still to over two millennia of civilisational exchange marked by trade, migration, and cultural diffusion. The Maldives, whose name is sometimes thought to derive from ‘Maladvipa’ meaning “a garland of islands,” was touched by the currents of Buddhism from the Indian subcontinent as early as the third century BCE. Later, as Arab traders came to dominate Indian Ocean commerce in the medieval period, Islam became the dominant faith on the islands, a religious identity that remains central to Maldivian life.

In contemporary geopolitics, however, culture takes a backseat to strategic interest. The Maldives’ position in the Indian Ocean places it at the heart of India’s maritime security calculus. It is a buffer, a waypoint for shipping lanes, and a potential bulwark against China’s encroachments in the region. Unsurprisingly, China has invested heavily in Malé in recent years, building infrastructure, issuing loans and forging defence ties, all part of its Maritime Silk Road ambitions. This has made India jittery.

 

The “India Out” campaign, launched during Muizzu’s days in opposition and amplified by anti-India voices online, seemed to confirm India’s worst fears: that China’s cheque-book diplomacy was winning the hearts of India’s backyard.

 

Matters worsened when Muizzu took office in 2023 and demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed in the country. Nationalist sentiments in Malé began to eclipse the pragmatic logic of partnership with New Delhi.

 

Yet, the wheel has turned again. It would be naïve to attribute this solely to a change of heart. The reversal is the product of steady, quiet diplomacy by South Block. India’s Ministry of External Affairs kept channels open, patiently worked with intermediaries, and relied on economic carrots rather than political sticks. The turnaround also reflects Muizzu’s recognition that a workable relationship with India is not just preferable but necessary.

 

India’s economic footprint in the Maldives is considerable. Over 200,000 Indian tourists visit the archipelago annually, making India the single largest source of visitors. During the “India Out” rhetoric, many Indians had chosen to boycott Maldivian resorts, hurting the country’s post-COVID tourism recovery. The decline was so severe that its economic effects were immediately felt. India’s re-engagement, marked by resumed tourist flows, aid disbursements, and a raft of infrastructure projects, has been a salve.

 

More tangibly, India has committed to extending lines of credit for urban infrastructure and building roads and defence facilities. These projects represent real gains for Maldivians.

India’s pledge of $850m in credit, announced during Modi’s visit, is earmarked for infrastructure, defence and climate resilience.

 

Unlike Beijing’s loans, which have been accused of entangling small nations in debt traps, India’s approach has leaned on grants, soft loans and collaborative execution.

Defence cooperation, too, has been quietly reinforced. India has helped establish coastal surveillance systems and donated patrol vessels, vital for a country spread across more than 1,000 islands. India has also built a naval dockyard, cementing strategic interoperability. Though Indian troops are being withdrawn as per Maldivian demands, the broad defence partnership remains intact.

 

Climate change was another key focus. As low-lying coral islands, the Maldives are among the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world. India and the Maldives agreed to deepen cooperation on environmental protection and sustainability, including afforestation efforts. A joint initiative to plant five million trees across the islands is emblematic of a shared commitment to eco-conscious development.

 

Beyond the concrete deliverables, however, the most significant outcome of Modi’s visit was the restoration of trust. By sidestepping past tensions and looking ahead, both countries have signalled a maturity that has often been missing in India’s neighbourhood diplomacy. Modi’s statement that India-Maldives ties are “as deep as the Indian Ocean” underscores a strategic reality that the two countries are bound by geography and shared interests.

 

For India, the stakes are higher than ever. As China consolidates its presence in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the wider Indo-Pacific, New Delhi must ensure that it is not edged out of its own periphery. Winning back the Maldives is thus not merely a diplomatic victory but part of a broader contest for regional primacy.

 

The Maldives needs India for economic sustenance, strategic support and cultural proximity. But it also needs China’s capital and investment. A shrewd balance, not strategic subservience, will determine how the island nation navigates the years ahead.

 

Still, as state visits go, this one has set a new benchmark. From icy standoffs to warm handshakes, from social media spats to defence partnerships, the India-Maldives story has come full circle for now. In the choppy waters of the Indian Ocean, staying anchored to India might just be Malé’s safest bet.

 

(The writer is a foreign affairs expert. Views personal.)

 


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