Popularly known as a studious actor Atul Kulkarni has played different kinds of roles in his career. Many of them have become really memorable. Very soon Atul Kulkarni will be seen in a web series produced by Ekta Kapoor’s ‘ALT Balaji’!

This untitled web series is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor. Atul Kulkarni will portray a character called ‘Brigadier Sathye’. His character is of a special force officer & will be seen training other soldiers from the army.

Atul Kulkarni says, “As an actor I have always chosen challenging roles & stories. When Nagesh offered me this role I was excited for it, because the audience love such characters & they take the audiences in a different world altogether about which we have very little knowledge. It was a great experience to work with Nagesh on this project.”

Though the web series is currently untitled it will soon be available for viewers through the ‘ALT Balaji’ app along with other web series & shows.

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‘Aasara’ is an upcoming Marathi film that portrays the life of people living slums. This film is produced by Sadanand Shetty under the banner ‘Padma Vision’ productions. The film is based on real incidents from producer’s own life. The people who live in slums struggle for the basic needs of human life & ‘Aasra’ spotlights this cruel reality.

The film stars Atul Kulkarni, Raghuvir Yadav, Ashok Samarth, Sunil Pal & Omkardas Manikpuri in important roles. The story of ‘Aasra’ is written by M.K. Shankar; the dialogues are written by Vishudh Anand Sharma, whereas the screenplay is written by the director of this film, Raj Sagar. Songs of ‘Aasra’ are composed by Abdhesh Goswami & are sung by Raghuvir Yadav, Siddharth Mahadevan, Abhijit Kosambi & Abdhesh Goswami himself. The credits for cinematography & editing belong to Krishna Soren & B. Mahanteshwar respectively.

‘Aasra’ has a strong message & an effective team to deliver it! The film has been shot at real locations as mentioned by the director Raj Sagar. The film stars comedy star Sunil Pal in an pivotal role & Singham fame Ashok Samarth in out & out different role. ‘Aasra’ will very soon release in theatres from 2nd December.

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The resurgence of Marathi cinema has seen a peculiar trend. A wide number of actors, directors and writers have made names for themselves, but somehow it is the ‘Kulkarni’s who have been omnipresent. Apart from the common first alphabet they do not really share anything with the ‘Khan’s. The ‘Kulkarni’s don’t necessarily set the cash registers ringing nor do they belong to any filmy dynasty. However, more often than not, they are associated with quality cinema. The list of all the ‘Kulkarni’s would be quite long, so let’s stick to the most prominent ones –

Atul Kulkarni: The most popular of all Kulkarnis, he first rose to prominence when he played the role of Mahatama Gandhi in the acclaimed marathi play Gandhi Viruddha Gandhi in the mid-90s. A graduate of National School of Drama, Atul gave ample display of his talent in the beginning of his acting career itself. The play was also adapted into Hindi, Gujarati and English. Much like his theatre career, his film career also started with a bang when he won the National Award for the Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Kamal Hassan film Hey Ram (2000). Interestingly, in the film he played the role of a Hindu fanatic who schemes to assassinate Mahatama Gandhi. Dahavi Fa (2002) was his first marathi film that made people stand up and take notice. He went on to gain loads of acclaim for his roles in films like Devrai ( 2004), Vaastupurush (2003) and Maati May (2007).

Valu (The Wild Bull, 2008) saw Atul Kulkarni in what can be termed as his first hit in marathi. Atul skillfully played the role of a forest officer who has been brought in to tame a wild bull in a remote village of Maharashtra. However, it is the film Natrang (2010) that got him unprecedented popularity among the masses. Cast as the protagonist Guna, Atul impressed one and all with his nuanced portrayal of a young villager who aims to become a body builder but circumstances later force him to perform the role of a ‘nachya’ – a man who acts in an effeminate manner in the folk art of Tamasha. The film went on to become a major hit and Atul Kulkarni won the hearts of masses and critics alike. Post Natrang, he has noticeably chosen to act in romantic films like Premachi Goshta (2013) and Happy Journey (2014) unlike before, while still continuing to be a part of a film like Popat (2013) that tackled an issue like AIDS.

Tracing his journey from the beginning, you can see that Atul has carefully shaped his career in marathi cinema by dabbling in a diverse range of films, but at the same time has been selective enough to ensure that every role challenges him as an actor and brings out a hidden facet hitherto unseen by his audience.

Sonali Kulkarni: Another product of theatre, Sonali Kulkarni made a name for herself by her role in Vijay Tendulkar’s most famous play – Sakharam Binder. A tad under-appreciated, she has consistently chosen to act in marathi films with author backed roles. This also meant that the films got a poor release or were limited to acclaim in film festivals. Only in the recent past have we seen her in films which can be termed mainstream.

Sonali began her marathi film career with Dr. Jabbar Patel’s Mukta (1994) that also landed her a state award.  Her role of a younger sister in Doghi (1995), who convinces her parents to accept the older sibling, considered to be an ill omen, into the family, won her even more accolades. She and Atul not only shared a promising start to their career but also went on to act together in films like Kairee (2000) and Devrai (2005).  Sonali’s Hindi career began to blossom and that allowed her to be selective about marathi films. Restaurant (2006), Gulmohar (2009) and Tya Ratri Paus Hota (2009) were all quality films with well sketched character that fully exploited her acting prowess. Sonali Kulkarni is the favourite of the new wave of marathi filmmakers who started pushing boundaries from 2008-2009 onwards. Gandha (2009) and Gabhricha Paus (2010), two of the most definitive films of the marathi new wave, both have her in the lead. Gandha has her as an independent urban woman on the verge of a divorce with her husband, while in Gabhricha Paus she plays a protective wife of a cotton farmer in the suicide prone region of Vidarbha. The two diverse roles go a long way in showing the capability of Sonali as an actress.

Deool in 2011 was Sonali’s first major hit in marathi. She played the wife of a village landlord in this satirical take on the commercialization of religion in India. She has also acted in Aga Bai Arechya 2 last year, which can be termed as her first lead role in a big commercial marathi film. Thus, Sonali, much like Atul, has chosen her roles in marathi carefully and has also made sure that she does not limit herself to arthouse cinema.

Girish Kulkarni and Umesh Kulkarni: Torchbearers of the new wave of marathi films, Girish and Umesh are one of the most gifted talents in the country. Collaborating with each other, they have consistently churned out superlative stuff. A writer-cum-actor Girish’s National Award for his acting in the film Deool made him popular in Maharashtra. After a crackling performance in Anurag Kashyap’s Ugly, the rest of the country too woke up to his talent. Umesh Kulkarni graduated from FTII and started making a name for himself from his diploma films.

Valu saw both of them debuting – Girish as actor and writer and Umesh as director. This first venture itself was an instant hit. Set in rural Maharashtra, the situational comedy has a number of quirky characters and an engaging story. Girish as writer-cum-actor is mighty impressive in bringing out the humour in the many awkward situation his character finds himself in. He has probably been the most impressive as the cotton farmer in drought stricken Vidarbha in Gabhricha Paus (2009). He effortlessly manages to get across the turmoil in the mind of Kisna. The dialect, body language are all perfectly moulded as per the demands of the character. In the Umesh Kulkarni directed masterful coming-of-age drama, Vihir, Girish Kulkarni has again sketched such incisive characters that you cannot help empathise with. Despite the rather limited screen-time, Girish makes an impact on the viewers as Bhavshya Mama, a jolly but rebellious fellow who has been labelled as a good-for-nothing by the patriarch of the family. Vihir saw Umesh Kulkarni get a lot of acclaim in highly regarded European Film Festivals as well. It is widely considered to be one of the best Indian films in the last decade or so.

Deool is what brought the fantastic duo name and fame. It won Best Film, Actor and Screenplay at the National Awards. The satirical take on the commercialization of religion was a hit among the masses and the classes as well. Then, the charming Masala marked Girish Kulkarni as one of the most gifted writers in the country. Directed by Sandesh Kulkarni, its witty dialogues and eclectic characters appear simple on the surface but stand for so much more. Much of the charm of the film lies in Girish’s comic timing and the chemistry his character shares with his sweet and soft-spoken wife.

The Kulkarni pair’s latest outing though couldn’t set the cash registers ringing, was a film that certainly pushed boundaries and was one of the better films of last year. So, the two have made their presence felt in a rather short time given that they have not even completed a decade in the marathi industry.

These four are in my books the most significant of all the numerous Kulkarnis. There are numerous other Kulkarnis too who are making a mark, however, none of them have had as much of an impact on marathi cinema as these. Let’s hope Atul, Sonali, Umesh and Girish go on to have a long and illustrious career and make marathi cinema popular not only in India but every corner of the world.

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• Review: Rajwade and Sons (2015)
• Director: Sachin Kundalkar
• Producers: Y M Deosthalee, Atul Kulkarni and Sachin Kundalkar
• Writer: Ajay Tamhane and Pravin Kamle
• Cast: Atul Kulkarni, Sachin Khedekar, Mrinal Kulkarni, Satish Alekar, Jyoti Subash, Siddharth Menon, Alok Rajwade, Mrinmayee Godbole, Krutika Deo, Pournima Manohar, Rahul Mehendale, Amitriyan Patil, Suhani Dhadphale.
• Music: Debarpito, Adrian D’souza, Tejas Modak
• Genre: Drama
• By: Keyur Seta

Rating : 4/5

Review:

It is vital for every society to adapt change in the changing times by putting aside regressive or orthodox beliefs that limit individual progress. But, as per an old saying, charity begins at home or family. And when it comes to family, the issue of generation gap plays a major hurdle to change.

Filmmaker Sachin Kundalkar has presented such a changing process of a family with regards to generation gap in Rajwade and Sons in a thoroughly heartwarming manner. It is an intelligently crafted saga that is an achievement for modern day Marathi cinema.

Rajwade and Sons is based in Pune and it focuses on a big and rich joint family of Rajwades, who are into jewelry business since generations. The senior-most member, Rameshrao (Satish Alekar) has the final word with respect to the personal and professional lives of his sons (Sachin Khedekar and Atul Kulkarni), their wives and children. Nobody dares even think of going against his decision.

The family shifts from its traditional wada to a modernly furnished luxurious apartment. Despite the major change in their residence, Rameshrao’s orthodox values continue to rule. Belonging to the generation of today’s era, his grandchildren wish to live their lives as per their own wishes. The story also focuses on Rameshrao’s youngest son, Vikram, who had run away years ago and has never returned.

Going by the synopsis, the film appears like an age-old joint family saga, seen mostly in daily soaps. However, that isn’t the case whatsoever. Despite having a joint family tale of orthodox versus modern, Rajwade and Sons is in every aspect a new-age saga, be it storytelling, presentation, dialogues, symbolism or behavior of characters.

Such similar goodness was also seen in Kundalkar’s last work, Happy Journey. And like that film, this one too presents a series of deep questions and thoughts that are not spoken. But what makes the film work the most is the mature manner of handling the issue of generation gap and, later on, its solution. Anyone belonging to this part of the world would be able to see him or her numerous times in some character or the other.

The film lacks any major drawback. The reaction of the family members towards a pleasantly shocking situation and the lack of footage given to Rameshrao at the end, are few minor issues.

The music (Debarpito, Adrian D’Souza and Tejas Modak) suits the genre with songs ‘Tagmag’ and ‘Mokale’ being impressive. Although DoP Arjun Sorte doesn’t get much scope to showcase his skills, he has captured the film well. The background score, as per the un-melodramatic content, is minimal and it works that way.

As writer and director, Kundalkar has also succeeded in giving proper importance to everyone from such an ensemble cast, which is a very challenging task, and made them deliver fine performances. Sachin Khedekar and Atul Kulkarni live up to their images of quality performers. It is a pleasure to see both sharing frame for the first time. Satish Alekar remarkably lives the character of an orthodox and rigid senior citizen.

Amitriyan Patil is a surprise package though. He gets to play an excellently sketched character and does complete justice to it. In the role of Rameshrao’s grandchildren, Siddharth Menon, Alok Rajwade, Mrinmayee Godbole and Krutika Deo are perfect. Godbole, especially, makes good use of the opportunity. Mrinal Kulkarni, Jyoti Subhash, Rahul Mehendale also succeed and so does the child actor Suhani Dhadphale.

Overall:

Rajwade and Sons is a triumphant family saga of the changing times. Due to the family appeal and the content, the film will be a winner at the box office.

The post Review: Rajwade and Sons – Gentle Revolution appeared first on MarathiStars.

• Movie : Rajwade and Sons (2015)
• Producer : Y.M.Deosthalee, Atul Kulkarni, Sachin Kundalkar
• Directer : Sachin Kundalkar
• Studio : Kaffe Kamera
• Star Cast : Atul Kulkarni, Sachin Khedekar, Mrinal Kulkarni, Satish Alekar, Jyoti Subash, Siddharth Menon, Alok Rajwade, Mrinmayee Godbole, Krutika Deo, Pournima Manohar, Rahul Mehendale, Amitriyan Patil, Suhani Dhadphale.
• Story : Sachin Kundalkar
• Music : Debarpito, Adrian D’souza, Tejas Modak
• Lyrics : Tejas Modak
• Screenplay : Sachin Kundalkar
• Editor : Abhijeet Deshpande
• Costumes : Amit Divekar
• Make Up : Santosh Gayke
• Production Designer : Satyajeet Patwardhan
• Art Director : Nitin Borkar
• Sound Design : Anita Kushwaha
• Background Score : Debaprito
• Cinematography : Arjun Sorte
• Associate Director : Riddhi Mahashabde
• Executive Producer : Nishith Dadich
• Genre  : Family Drama
• Release Date : October 16, 2015

Plot Outline :

Anay , Shweta , Annaya and Virajas are the young cousins staying together under one roof . They are the youngest generation of the rich and powerful Rajwade family , one of the most iconic business families in Pune. Each of them has their own dream , their own way to live and work . But their grandfather, the head of the family has some other plans for them . Each of them will have to fight argue and question the foundations of the joint family if they want to live upto their dreams.

Each one of them is a rebel and they aggressively struggle to live the way they want to live . While doing it , they find new chords of attachment towards their parents .

Rajwade and Sons is their story. Its a story of every family which is happily staying together and wants to stay together forever in the ever-changing modern times.

to quote the famous singer STING , this film tells the story of the parents who say – If you love someone , set them free.

Rajwade and Sons Marathi Movie Photos/Poster

Rajwade and Sons Marathi Movie Official Trailer

The post Rajwade and Sons (2015) – Marathi Movie appeared first on MarathiStars.

“Jeevapad premache bandha sare sodave…mokale” this is one of the emotional song that make you emotional. While listening this song we started imagine we are also the part of Rajwade family. “Mokale” is the next song from upcoming Marathi movie ‘Rajwade and Sons’.

This wonderful song sung by none other than Shankar Mahadevan and its music composed by Debarpito Saha. Rajwade and Sons directed by Sachin Kundalkar, Produced by Y.M.Deosthalee, Kaffe Kamera. Its starring Atul Kulkarni, Sachin Khedekar, Mrinal Kulkarni, Satish Alekar, Jyoti Subash, Siddharth Menon, Alok Rajwade, Mrinmayee Godbole, Krutika Deo,Pournima Manohar, Rahul Mehendale, Amitriyan Patil, Suhani Dhadphale.

Keep listening to Mokale. You will surely love it. Don’t forget to share this song with your family and friends.

The post Mokale (Marathi Song) – Rajwade and Sons | Shankar Mahadevan appeared first on MarathiStars.

The music launch ceremony of Rajwade ans sons took place in Mumbai recently in a glittering event. The film is directed by Sachin Kundalkar who has earlier given hits like Gandh and Happy Journey. The film is produced by Atul Kulkarni and Kundalkar under the banner of Kafé Kamera.

The music for this film has by Debarpito, Andrian Desouza and Tejas Modak while lyrics are penned by Tejas Modak.

For the music launch event, Producer Yashwant Deosthali, Atul Kulkarni, Mrunal Kulkarni, Sachin Khedekar, Satish Alekar, Jyoti Subhash, Paurnima Manohar, Rahul Mehendale, Siddharth Menon, Alok Rajwade, Mrinmayee Godbole, Krutika Dev,, Suhani Dhadfale were present. Along with these celebrities, singers like Nayantara Bhatkal, Debarpito, Teajas Modak were present. Debarpito and Nayantara rendered some songs from the film.

Interestingly, the director of the film Kundalkar was not able to attend this event. Due to heavy rains, he was not able to finish some of his shooting. He apologized through social media and commented, “We have shot this film like a strict military schedule. The songs are very simple and easy to hum. The film reflects the current society and hence every member of the audience will be able to identify with this film”

The film showcases story of three generations from a family. The story of the film is based on a Pune based entrepreneurial family encompassing three generations.

The film stars Sachin Khedekar, Atul Kulkarni, Sachin Khedekar, Mrunal Kulkarni, Satish Alekar, Jyoti Subhash, Siddharth Menon, Alok Rajwade, Mrunmayee Godbole, Kritika Dev, PurnimaManohar, Rahul Mehendale et al. With the line-up of such great names, this film is surely going to be a power-packed with intense performances.
The film releases on 16 October all over Maharashtra.

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Every teaser makes more excitements in audiences. Tagmag teaser is totally suitable for above statements. But the the wait is over. Now don’t have to wait for too long for “Tagmag song from movie Rajwade and Sons”.

Let’s enjoy the Tagmag song, it’s features Sidharth Menon, Alok Rajwade, Mrunmayee Godbole, Krutika Deo. Keep tuned in to Tagmag and comment your feelings to us. Feel free to comment because it’s Tagmag from Rajwade and Sons.

The post Tagmag (Marathi Song) – Rajwade And Sons appeared first on MarathiStars.

The theatrical trailer for Sachin Kundalkar’s next release “Rajwade and sons” has been released on social media platforms. The trailer has been brilliantly edited and aroused our curiosity about the film.

The story revolves around a rich, affluent and industrialist joint family. The three generations of this family are crumbling and so-called generation gap is very much visible, what happens next will be seen in the film. The look of the film is very sleek and camerawork is very superior.

The story- screenplay has been written by Sachin Kundalkar himself.  The film has been produced by Yashwant Deosthali, Atul Kulkarni and Sachin Kundalkar.

The film stars excellent actors like, Sachin Khedekar, Atul Kulkarni, Sachin Khedekar, Mrunal Kulkarni, Satish Alekar, Jyoti Subhash, Siddharth Menon, Alok Rajwade, Mrunmayee Godbole, Kritika Dev, PurnimaManohar, Rahul Mehendale et al.  With the line-up of such great names, this film is surely going to be a power-packed with intense performances.

The film releases on 16 October all over Maharashtra.

The post Rajwade and Sons (Marathi Movie) Trailer appeared first on MarathiStars.

Sachin Kundalkar, director of meaningful films like Gandh, Happy Journey, Restaurant and Aiyya is back again! This October, Kundalkar’s “Rajwade and Sons” will be releasing all over Maharashtra. The trailer for this film is out and it is mind-blowing.

The story of the film revolves around Rajwade family. The various family members, their aspirations, struggles and affections have been depicted in this trailer beautifully. What we loved about this trailer is the brilliant array of actors, some witty dialogues, and a good storyline. The story- screenplay has been written by Sachin Kundalkar himself. He is a brilliant film maker and a marvelous writer and has always given his films an extra definition in terms of story-telling and execution. We hope to see some great experimentation in this film as well.

The film has a huge advantage in its casting. The film boasts names like, Sachin Khedekar, Atul Kulkarni, Sachin Khedekar, Mrunal Kulkarni, Satish Alekar, Jyoti Subhash, Siddharth Menon, Alok Rajwade, Mrunmayee Godbole, Kritika Dev, Purnima Manohar, Rahul Mehendale et al. With the line-up of such great names, this film is surely going to be a power-packed with intense performances.
The film releases on 16 October all over Maharashtra.

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