Spotlight on best of Marathi cinema as stars and performances raise the bar

Mumbai: Filmmaker Kedar Shinde’s ode to sisterhood, Marathi film ‘Baipan Bhari Deva’ in which six estranged sisters transcend their differences and come together for the traditional Mangalagaur ceremony, took home the best film trophy on Thursday. At RR Kabel Filmfare Awards Marathi 2024, Shinde’s movie shared the best film award with ‘Aatmapamphlet’ (autobio-pamphlet), director Ashish Bhende’s coming-of-age satire whose 10-year-old protagonist falls in love with his classmate and grows up while the country goes through several socio-economic changes. Bhende took home the best director trophy for ‘Aatmapamphlet’ which also won the awards for best story, best dialogue and best editing. For his portrayal of a father who embarks on a choppy road trip with his son in ‘Baaplyok’, Shashank Shende won the best actor in a leading role (male) award. Actor Gauri Deshpande bagged the award for the best actor in a leading role (female) for her performance as the protagonist of ‘Shyamchi Aai’, a film based on a famous autobiography written by writer and social activist Sane Guruji. The awards function was held at Mulund’s Mahakavi Kalidas Natyamandir auditorium. The evening began with the playing of the national anthem and the state anthem ‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha’. “‘Baipan Bhari Deva’ has shown how ‘bhari’ the Marathi film industry is,” said Amey Wagh who co-hosted the event with actor Siddharth Chandekar. Actor Rohini Hattangadi, who shone in her role as one half of a childless couple in ‘Baipan Bhari Deva’, won the critics’ award for best actor in a leading role (female). Ankush Chaudhuri bagged the critics’ award for best actor in a leading role (male) for his role in ‘Maharashtra Shaheer’, which follows the life of celebrated Marathi folk singer and writer Krishnarao Sable. The jury comprised directors Nikhil Mahajan, Nipun Dharmadhikari, Trushant Ingle, Neena Kulkarni, Viju Mane, Pushkar Shrotri, Vikram Phadnis and Samruddhi Porey apart from veteran actors Renuka Shahane, Shravani Deodhar, Sailesh Narwade, Nishigandha Wad and screenwriter Niranjan Iyengar. Performances by actors Vaibhav Tatwawadi, Prajakta Mali, Prarthana Behere and Shruti Marathe promised enough moments for the trailer editor.Veteran actor Suhas Joshi, whose career began in the 1970s with the play ‘Barrister’ and who found acclaim on Marathi celluloid for her role in the 1998 film ‘Tu Tithe Mee’, received the lifetime achievement award. “I love her energy. I want to grow as strong and independent as her when I get to her age,” said actor Rinku Rajguru about Joshi onstage. “It has been 52 years since I began my career. I have never sat idle for a day in these years. I kept working. This is all because of the love I got from you,” said Joshi. Citing her recent role in ‘Jhimma 2’, a reunion of a group of women who celebrate life together, Joshi expressed her desire to keep working.Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui presented the award for best child actor. The honour was shared by Shrinivas Pokale and Treesha Thosar, who played the protagonists in ‘Naal 2’, which explores human connection, intricacies of family ties, and the power of love. (The event will be telecast on Sunday, May 5, at 7pm on Colors Marathi)