Kedar Shinde: Marathi films have a tough fight. We share screens with films like Jawan

Known for making blockbusters, acclaimed director Kedar Shinde hit the bull’s-eye once again with Baipan Bhaari Deva, one of the highest grossing Marathi films with an all-female lead cast. The film stars Rohini Hattangadi, Vandana Gupte, Sukanya Mone Kulkarni, Shilpa Navalkar, Suchitra Bandekar and Deepa Parab.

While the film’s humongous success story is known, few are aware of the director’s struggle to ensure it reaches the audience.On day 2 of FICCI Frames 2024, Kedar Shinde addressed the issue in a session which also comprised Sukanya Mone Kulkarni, Shilpa Navalkar and Suchitra Bandekar.


He said, “We cried a lot, not because of the film’s emotional story but because our film wasn’t released. We completed it in Feb 2020. The pandemic happened and everything stalled. First wave happened, then the second wave, then the lockdown. Aisa karte karte, almost six release dates passed! It coincided with the number of lead heroines in the film. This was our writer Vaishali Naik’s first feature film and I felt guilty for her. She kept asking me, "Picture kab aayegi" and I didn’t have an answer.”

Elaborating on the need for a level playing field and how Marathi films work despite the odds, he said, “I have special attachment for folk art and one cannot leave his roots, which is our Marathi culture. We have a tough fight. Humari picture jab lagti hai, Jawan, Kantara and Mission: Impossible play alongside. Fortunately the Marathi audience still supports cinema that’s rooted in our culture. I feel the same for south films. They uphold their culture with pride and I appreciate that the most about their cinema.”