Marathi industry receives boost
Diwali, the ongoing festival of lights, is somewhat brighter this year in so far as the Marathi film industry is concerned. The Diwali cheer has been provided by the Mahesh Kothare-directed Khatarnak, released in Pune at the Prabhat cinema during Dasera (October 6) for daily regular three shows. The film has done housefull business despite the supposedly dull period. The film is continuing its successful run at the Prabhat and is being released in Mumbai at the Plaza cinema for daily three shows, in addition to four other cinemas in the suburbs from October 27, right amidst Diwali.

It is also opening on the very same day in five other cities — Nashik, Satara, Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji and Sholapur. This means that the film will be on view in 12 cinemas at seven centres in Maharashtra, including Mumbai and Pune, during the Diwali fest, something of a record in recent times.

The stock taking done during Diwali every year, seems to be proving a happy exercise this year with Khatarnak generating box-office euphoria and six other films released since January 1 having done above average business. The run of a Marathi film at the Prabhat cinema in Pune is generally taken as an indication of a film’s success.

According to the statistics provided by veteran exhibitor Sharad Pai, of the Prabhat, the films which have done well at this theatre are Lekroo (16 weeks in daily matinee show), Rajoo (eight weeks daily three shows and 17 weeks daily matinee show), Jodidaar (nine weeks in daily matinee show), Tochi Ek Samarth (one week regular shows and five weeks daily matinee show — this film has done much better business in Mumbai and several other mofussil centres in Maharashtra) and Navara Maajhya Mutheet Ga (five weeks in regular shows and three in daily matinee). Khatarnak released from October 6 in regular shows is doing extremely well, while the Marathi version of Astitva, released from October 13 in daily matinee show is also faring well at the box-office, says Sharad Pai.

Upto now more than 20 Marathi films have been released this year in some city or the other in Maharashtra, but apart from those listed above, the rest have been among the also rans.

Manoos opens in Mumbai
Producer-director A Radhaswami’s Manoos, already released elsewhere in Maharashtra, is opening in Mumbai at the Bharatmata cinema in regular daily four shows from October 27. The film also opens in Thane on that day. The story and screenplay have been written by the film-maker himself, while the dialogues have been penned by Pratap Gangavane. Lyrics by Jagdish Khebudkar have been set to music by Anil Mohile.

Cinematographed by Shankar Bardan and edited by Ashok Patwardhan, it stars Laxmikant Berde, Nishigandha Wad, Ravindra Mankni, Archana Nevrekar, Uday Tikekar, Jaywant Wadkar, Meghana Sane, Kavita Thakur and Ravindra Berde.

Hey Khel...: 7-day stint
A seven-day filming stint was recently completed in Mumbai for Neelima Paul’s Hey Khel Nashibache at Essel studios and elsewhere by director VK Naik. Those who took part in the stint included Nishigandha Wad, Ramesh Bhatkar, Milind Gawli and a child artiste. The filming consisted of the picturisation of a song and a number of scenes. The film has music by Anil Mohile.

Dhani Kunkwaacha
The dubbing of dialogues by the artistes of producer Gajanan Mandhare’s Dhani Kunkwaacha is at present in progress in Mumbai and the film will soon undergo post-production technicalities. Directed by N Relekar, the film stars Varsha Usgaonkar, Deepak Deoolkar, Surekha Kudchi, Satish Pulekar, Chetan Dalvi, Jayashri Naik, Jyoti Nisal, Maqbul Mulla, Maya Khutegaonkar and Giriraj. Cinematographed by Koya Yamkar, it has music by Shashank Powar.

Dekhani Baiko...: second schedule
Producer Girish Udale and director Suresh Udale have recently completed the second shooting schedule of Gurushri Chitra’s Dekhani Baiko Namyaachi at Kolhapur and its environs. The film which is now half-way through has story and dialogues by N Relekar, screenplay by Suresh Udale and lyrics by Shrikant Narule and Bapu Gharat set to music by Bal Palsule. The film stars Laxmikant Berde, Ravindra Mahajani, newcomer Annapurna , Jayashri Naik, Vijay Kadam, Chetan Dalvi, Vijay Patkar, Bhalchandra Kulkarni, Shanta Tambe, B Majnalkar and Priyanka Shetty.Imran Ali and Dr Erondal have designed the production.

Pandit Shimpi