

It dwells more on the unjust caste system in Marathi villages, where the boy lives and is infatuated with a girl from an upper-caste. Fandry Source: sourceĪnother brilliant inter-caste love story set in rural Maharashtra, Fandry talks about a much more innocent love than its successor, Sairat. Authentic and heart-warming, this film is a great watch for any film buff.

The film shows the inspiring journey of Dadasaheb Phalke and how he dared to learn from the rest of the world and introduced India to the magic of cinema by making the first Indian film. Harishchandrachi Factory Source: sourceĪ light-hearted film about the first Indian man to make a motion picture using the British filmmaking technology in colonial India. The film brilliantly narrates the struggle of going against the tide and the wonders that absolute passion can achieve. But his family, and society in general, ridicule his love for theatre, specially when he reveals he wants to play an effeminate character. Atul Kulkarni plays a young man who aspires to join a famous musical theatre group, as he loves acting, dancing, and music. Natarang Source: sourceīased on a Marathi novel of the same name, this film shows the stigma attached to doing things that are out of the ordinary in the Indian society. The film follows the legal proceedings, taking a close look at the inner workings of the Indian judicial system and its broken, yet proud system. A veteran folk singer and social activist is arrested for allegedly inciting a sewage worker to commit suicide. India's choice for the Oscars in 2014 is a gripping legal drama. The way the boy copes with the loss of a parent and a radical change in environment is expertly shown. The story follows a small boy who has just lost his father and must relocate to a small village and attend the local school there. This sweet coming-of-age film is a must watch. Not to mention, the music is also brilliant. It will make you shout out in joy and weep in sorrow – but best of all, it will make you think. The way the filmmakers have shown young, forbidden love in a system so entrenched in detrimental dogmas is fantastic. The two fall in love and face opposition from all sides, some of which even gets violent. The boy is from a lower caste while the girl is the daughter of a rich, upper-class, politically influential man in town. The story follows the love between two college kids in rural Maharashtra, where caste plays a big factor in social interactions.

Although we are extremely skeptical of the Hindi version, we are equally sure of the original. The film that truly knocked the socks off of everyone who watched it, is being remade by Karan Johar. If you're wondering why Marathi cinema is being lauded by every critic and film buff to the point that Karan Johar is actually remaking one of its most popular films, you need to watch the following films and you shall know for yourself. They're all real, human, believable stories told by excellent actors, with simple yet gripping screenplays. Marathi films have slowly gained critical acclaim for their raw narratives, detailing unique stories of the Marathi people – from farmers in rural pockets of the state to the very rich, who own homes in Mumbai and Pune. And one region that has been producing ground-breaking films over the past few years is Maharashtra. But we often forget to look at our very own regional cinema for soul-stirring films that are devoid of all the naach-gaana masala of a regular Bollywood flick. When we think of quality cinema, our mind usually wanders to a list of European or International cinema as it is called.
