Incidentally, this year also saw another new trend; with almost one film hitting the screens every week. The year started with actor Ashok Saraf’s first production Ek Daav Dhobipachhad. Backed by strong corporate distributor company, Zee Talkies, it was marketed very strongly with the audience responding positively to the comic venture. The Ashok Saraf-film did well at the box-office. This proved to be a good sign for the Marathi film industry. February and March witnessed the release of ten movies, but none managed to garner audience attention.

In the fourth month, the producers-multiplex owner’s dispute took a strong turn with the Hindi film industry announcing a ban on releasing films in the multiplexes. Mahesh Manjrekar’s ambitious big budget venture Mee Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy was released in about 200 theatres in Maharashtra, one day prior to the commencement of the strike on April 3. Backed by strong publicity promotion, the film received huge applause from Marathi audience, not only for its content but also for the strong message that it conveyed. It told a story of a suppressed common man who rebels against the system and it is none other than Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj himself who comes to his rescue. The film was publicised in such a way that it tickled the ego of the Marathi manoos. The hype continued in the favour of the film and the next two months, May and June, saw an overwhelming response from almost every territory in Maharashtra with people coming out to catch the film more than once. This was a big high for the Marathi film industry.

The success of Mee Shivajiraje... was followed by a political satire Gallit Gondhal Dillit Mujra, which also managed to hold the audience attention. This was Zee Talkies’ second Marathi film to hit the screens within a span of four months and it got the right publicity support from the corporate house that gave some good Marathi films last year too. Bokya Satbande and Nau Mahine Nau Diwas did moderate business at the box-office. Besides this, around 26 films that released during this period failed to make an impact.

It has been noticed since the last five years there has been a ten per cent increase in the number of films released in Marathi, but not many manage to make business. Going by the trend, the films released during the first six months of 2009 were no exception.

According to producer Mahesh Manjrekar, the increase in the number of films released upto June may not necessarily benefit the Marathi film industry. And thus there may be a decline in the number of projects hitting the screens in the second half of this year. Director Purushottam Berde, whose Nishani Daava Angatha, released in May, has different opinion. Even if four movies are released on one Friday and if they are good, the audience will want to watch all of them. So increase in the number does not affect the box office collection, he opines.

Though there have been 31 releases till June, the audience however is not aware of them all. The reason for this could be lack of publicity so that the film gets lost soon after it is released. While Marathi producers did not pay much attention to the promotion factor for a long time, going by the Hindi film standards, it has now become a rather important issue to be considered.

An overview shows that of the 31 films there have been 13 comedy films, while the rest comprised social issues and family entertainers. On the threshold of the second half, there are almost seven films complete and ready for release, and they are mostly comedies. Some big films may also see the light of the day, which include Sudesh Manjrekar and Atul Kale-directed Patta Cut, the Mahesh Kothare-directed Sakhya Re, the Girish Mohite-directed Be Dune Saade Chaar, the Jatin Wagle-directed Ek Marathi Manus and the Purshottam Berde-directed Anandi Anand, etc.

Many a times, due to budget constraints, many Marathi films are not able to reach every part of Maharashtra and the audience in around 10-12 districts do not get to watch these films at all. However, the film’s excellent publicity strategy and strong distribution network, it is proved that a good film always gets a positive response. The film has not only raised the bar for the Marathi film industry but also brought hope and smiles in the faces of producers who are willing to experiment with projects.