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United News of India
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- United News of India
Marathi cinema marks decade-long presence in Cannes Film Market
Cannes, May 17 (UNI) Marathi cinema is aiming for the global market with Maharashtra completing a decade as the only state pavilion from India at the Cannes Film Market. The Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation (MFSCDC) pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival, which began on May 13, has four new feature films from independent filmmakers representing Marathi cinema. Supported by the Maharashtra government's ministry of culture and the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitra Nagari, which functions under the administration of MFSCDC, the Maharashtra pavilion is in its tenth year at the Cannes Film Market, the biggest film market in the world. "Four Marathi feature films were selected by the MFSCDC this year to showcase Marathi Cinema in the Marche du Film at the 78th Cannes Film Festival," says Marathi filmmaker Manoj Khadam, who is coordinating the Maharashtra pavilion. 'STHAL - A Match' directed by Jayant Somlkar, 'Snow Flower' by Gajendra Ahire, 'Khalid's Shivaji' by Raj More and 'Old Furniture' by Mahesh Manjrekar, are representing Marathi cinema in Cannes this year. "A total of 48 films were received out of which four films were selected for screening in the Cannes Film Market," adds Khadam, whose debut film, 'Kshitij', which deals with education for girl children in the drought-prone Marathwada region, won 17 awards, including the Maharashtra state award for Best Film and Best Director. "The Maharashtra government along with Film City Mumbai has been successfully showcasing Marathi Cinema at the Cannes Film Market to provide a platform for independent filmmakers to interact with the international producers, distributors and filmmakers to establish themselves on a global platform," explains Khadam. "Marathi Cinema is well appreciated since its inception as the first Indian film ('Raja Harishchandra' by Dadasaheb Phalke) made in 1913 . A lot of young filmmakers from rural areas are successfully bringing up new concepts and merging them with new technologies to create their own exclusive style in filmmaking," says Khadam. The Maharashtra pavilion will function at the Cannes Film Market, called Marche du Film, from May 13 to 20 this year to promote and market Marathi films. First set up in 2016, the Maharashtra pavilion in the Cannes film market has been present in Cannes every year since then, except in 2020 when it participated online. The state pavilion has so far screened more than 40 feature films in the Cannes film market while bringing as many emerging filmmakers from the state to the famous festival in the past one decade. "The Marathi cinema doesn't have a star-based culture," says Raj More, the director of 'Khalid's Shivaji', a critique of discrimination based on caste, religion, gender and race. "The Marathi audience watch films for their content," adds the debutant director, an alumnus of the JJ School of Arty, Mumbai. "The Maharashtra government's promotion of Marathi cinema is part of the state's culture policy unveiled last year," says Mahesh Varhal, Deputy Secretary, Maharashtra Culture Department. "A single-window permission for shooting in Maharashtra was announced by the Maharashtra government this year," adds Geetha Deshpande, Chief Administrative Officer, Film City, Goregaon. UNI XC PRS
India Today
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Biopic on Ahilyabai announced by Maharashtra government for 300th birth anniversary
In a historic move to celebrate the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maharashtra government has announced the production of a grand biopic on the life of the legendary Maratha queen. The film will be made in Marathi and multiple regional languages, with plans to release it on Doordarshan and leading OTT platforms. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made the announcement on Tuesday at Chondi in Jamkhed tehsil, Ahilyabai's birthplace, in Ahilyanagar district. He said the project will be executed through the Maharashtra Film, Theatre and Cultural Development Corporation and that Film City in Goregaon has been tasked with overseeing the film's production. 'Since it will be a commercial film, the required expenses will be made available through the budgetary demands,' Fadnavis said. Ahilyabai Holkar, born on May 31, 1725, is celebrated as one of the most respected rulers of the Maratha-Malwa region. She became the queen after the deaths of her husband Khande Rao Holkar and her father-in-law Malhar Rao Holkar. She is remembered for her progressive governance, dedication to public welfare, and religious contributions. Known as 'Punyashlok Ahilyabai,' she led armies into battle with the support of her military commander Tukoji Rao Holkar and protected the Malwa kingdom from external threats. A strong patron of architecture and Hindu culture, she restored several temples and dharamshalas across India, including sacred sites destroyed during Mughal rule. Ahilyabai's life has previously inspired other portrayals, including the popular Hindi TV serial 'Punyashlok Ahilyabai', which started on January 4,2021 and aired on Sony Entertainment Television. The show was produced by Dashami Creations and directed by Jackson Sethi, and ended on October 27, 2023. While the cast and crew for the upcoming film have not been finalised yet, the film aims to be completed and released during the tercentenary year in 2025.
