By : Keyur Seta

With out-of-the-box content and an uncompromising manner of story telling, Marathi cinema has been gaining a lot of appreciation over the last 5-6 years or so. So, obviously, it becomes difficult to choose Top 5 half-yearly and Top 10 yearly films every year.

But 2015 was threatening to be a dry year for Marathi films with a series of patchy films during a period. Thankfully though, it only remained a threat as the films released during the end of the first half of the year made up for the bad period in between.

Here is the list of the Top 5 Marathi films of the first half of 2015:-

Welcome Zindagi

Director:Umesh Ghadge
Cast: Swapnil Joshi, Amruta Khanvilkar

The film boasts of a content that is not only interesting but also moving. This ensures that half of its battle is won. Of course, the film has its share of minus points that cannot be ignored. But they don’t become much of a bother due to its entertaining nature and the final message, which is to love your life with whatever you have. Swapnil Joshi once again provides a lovable act.

Read the full review HERE.

Nagrik

Director: Jaypraad Desai
Cast: Sachin Khedekar, Milind Soman, Devika Daftardar, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Rajesh Sharma, Dr Shriram Lagoo

Nagrik shows that a tried and tested subject ceases to be one if treated completely in an out-of-the-box manner. It explores the not-so-novel subject of an honest protagonist pitted against a corrupt system in an unconventionally intense manner. A non-verbal sequence displaying the irony of Mumbai sums up Jaypraad Desai’s uncompromising stamp. Sachin Khedekar’s dedicated act also helps the cause.

Read the full review HERE.

Lokmanya – Ek Yugpurush

Director: Om Raut
Cast: Subodh Bhave, Chinmay Mandlekar, Sameer Sanjay Vidwans, Priya Bapat

There have been numerous biopics on Indian freedom fighters. Although Lokmanya – Ek Yugpurush is also one, it follows a modern method of storytelling and presentation, making it more appealing to the youth. This is also achieved by the parallel present day track about a journalist. But despite the modernism, the film does complete justice to the late freedom fighter and revolutionary Lokmanya Tilak. It is filled with overwhelming and appealing moments. But the film wouldn’t have achieved such greatness without Subodh Bhave’s excellent performance.

Read the full review HERE.

Killa

Director: Avinash Arun
Cast: Archit Deodhar, Amruta Subhash, Parth Bhalerao

Ki`lla is a triumphant directorial debut by Avinash Arun; on par with Mahesh Limaye last year in Yellow. It is a co-incidence that both of them are cinematographers-turned-directors. Killa continues Marathi cinema’s stint with rural films about a child or children. But it certainly shouldn’t be labeled as yet another film of the genre. It is a heart-warming, coming-of-age saga that is filled with moments that will touch you deeply, making it one of the top Marathi films of recent years. Its camerawork also deserves special mention for the visual treat is provides. Archit Deodhar and Amruta Subhash excel in their acts but Parth Bhalerao too becomes a scene-stealer with a hilariously skillful act, at such a small age.

Read the full review HERE.

Court

Director: Chaitanya Tamhane
Cast: Vira Sathidar, Vivek Gomber, Pradeep Joshi, Geetanjali Kulkarni

As per the name, Court is about a court case. But it certainly isn’t like those filmi courts we have been witnessing since decades. In fact, it portrays the working style of Indian courts in a never-seen-before and dedicatedly realistic manner. It proves that an utterly raw and realistic presentation can also be intensely gripping. But this doesn’t mean that the film is a serious affair. It becomes entertaining through some high dose of realistic and dark humor. Its greatness also lies in its undercurrent of irony related to the characters. And like every great film, it has some outstanding performances, especially from the lead actor Vira Sathidar.

Read the full review HERE.

(Note: The top 3 films in the list aren’t much ahead of one another.)

The post Top 5 Marathi Films of First Half of 2015 appeared first on MarathiStars.

• Review : Welcome Zindagi (2015) | वेलकम जिंदगी
• Producers : Ajit Satam, Sanjay Ahluwalia & Bibhas Chhaya
• Director : Umesh Ghadge
• Cast : Swwapnil Joshi, Amruta Khanvilkar, Mohan Agashe, Satish Alekar, Prashant Damle, Mahesh Manjrekar
• Writter : Ganesh Matkari, Srijit Mukherji
• Music : Amit Raj, Pankaj Padghan, Soumil & Siddarth, Samir Tandon
• Genre : Comedy, Drama
• Review By : Keyur Seta

Rating: 3.5/5

Review:

When your concept is not only interesting but also heart-touching, more than half of the battle is won as far as audience’s satisfaction is concerned. But this is not the only goodness on offer in debutant Umesh Ghadge’s Welcome Zindagi. The film is thought-provoking, entertaining and something that will nudge you to start loving your life.

Welcome Zindagi revolves around Meera (Amruta Khanvilkar), who is doing well in her professional life as a journalist in Pune. However, her personal life is in complete disarray. Her mother, whom she dearly loved, passed away five years ago. Following this, Meera’s father got married to the woman the former hates (Rajeshwari Sachdev). If this wasn’t enough, Meera’s fiancé cheats her, which forces her to break her marriage.

Now, Meera struggles to find a single reason to stay alive. Hence, she decides to commit suicide. Just then, she meets the happy-go-lucky and bindaas Anand Prabhu (Swapnil Joshi). He runs an organization that trains people on how to perfectly commit suicide with the name of ‘Happy Ending Society’. He urges Meera to enroll for the course to be well prepared to end her life. After some hesitation, she agrees.

As aforementioned, the biggest strong point of Welcome Zindagi is its basic plot. It is something that a lot of city-dwellers, who are victims of materially easy but practically empty lives, would relate with. The film has a timely and heart-warming message for them. But this is achieved without being preachy and while providing some light-hearted entertainment.

The idea of providing training to potential suiciders is funnily shocking. This point threatens to take the proceedings on the redundant path but, thankfully, it only remains a threat as the grip is hardly lost ever.

But it is the major twist during the ending moments of the second halfthat takes the satisfaction to a higher level. It gives a strong message without saying anything and provides an overwhelming feeling as you leave the cinema hall.

But while you leave, you can’t help but think of a couple ofquestionable incidents in the first halfand the sequence of an event in the second half that forms a major story development. These points, however, won’t trouble you much.

The songs go well with the theme and are used wisely, without providing any scope for a loo break. DoP Prasad Bhende has captured simple scenes artistically, especially the sequence where Anand and Meera are traveling in an open jeep. The background score generates the right effect, although it’s loud at times.

Swapnil Joshi is once again lovable in a tailor-made role. He has performed a well-sketched character with his trademark charm. Amruta Khanvilkar gets plenty of scope to showcase her acting prowess and she does that very well. Rajeshwari Sachdev and the actor playing Meera’s father are decent.The actor in the role of Meera’s fiancé does an average job.

Urmila Kothare scores high in a difficult cameo.There are also some very good cameos from Prashant Damle, Mohan Agashe, Bharti Achrekar, Mahesh Manjrekar, Pushkar Shrotri, Murli Sharma, Vivek Lagoo and Jaywant Wadkar.

Overall:

Welcome Zindagi is a heartwarming affair that also entertains. However, it is truly sad to see such low-key promotions for the film. This might stop the film from a wider impact, which it deserves.

The post Review : Welcome Zindagi – Fall in love with life appeared first on MarathiStars.

• Movie : Welcome Zindagi (2015) | वेलकम जिंदगी
• Producers : Ajit Satam, Sanjay Ahluwalia & Bibhas Chhaya
• Director : Umesh Ghadge
• Studio : Rupali Entertainment
• Cast : Swwapnil Joshi, Amruta Khanvilkar, Mohan Agashe, Satish Alekar, Prashant Damle, Mahesh Manjrekar, Bharati Achrekar, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Vivek Lagoo, Pushkar Shrotri, Murli Sharma, Urmila Kanitkar-Kothare, Jayant Wadkar, Mahesh Manjrekar
• Story : Srijit Mukherjee
• Music : Amit Raj, Pankaj Padghan, Soumil & Siddarth, Samir Tandon
• Screenplay : Ganesh Matkari
• Lyrics : Guru Thakur, Onkar Mangesh Datta, Mandar Cholkar, Varun Likhate
• Dialogues : Ganesh Matkari
• Choreography : Rajesh Bidwe, Santosh Palwankar
• Art Director : Trupti Tamhane, Vijay Kadali
• Costume Designer : Ashley Rebello
• Director of Photography : Prasad Bhende
• Co-Producer : Sanjiv Ahluwalia
• Associate Producer : Firoz Khan Ponkh
• Genre : NA
• Release Date : 26th June 2015

Synopsis :

Meera, a young media professional, finds herself cornered every step of the way, as she tries to live a normal life. She feels ignored by her father, betrayed by her fiancé, faces trouble at work. The only escape route she can think of, is taking her own life with a massive dose of sleeping pills.

Enters Anand Prabhu, who stops her at a crucial moment, although he has no plans of making her change her mind. His advice instead, is to go about it systematically. Anand is the founder of ‘Happy Ending Society’, an organization that believes that every person has a right to decide his , or her own fate. Anand gladly offers to make Meera an expert in various ways of ending her life by enrolling her in a 3-day suicide camp, organized by Happy Ending.

While Meera is busy making a choice between life and death surrounded by the like-minded students and over enthusiastic staff, Meera’s father Dr Rajwade leaves no stone unturned to find his estranged daughter.

What happens next? Will Meera finally succeed in carrying out her wish? Does Anand have an ulterior motive in keeping Meera at the Suicide camp? Will Meera reunite with her father? And what is the truth behind ‘Happy Ending Society’?

Walking a thin line between comedy and drama, Welcome Zindagi delivers a poignant message in the garb of entertainment.

Welcome Zindagi Marathi Movie Still Photos/Poster

Welcome Zindagi Marathi Movie Official Trailer

The post Welcome Zindagi (2015) | Marathi Movie appeared first on MarathiStars.

Welcome Zindagi is a dark comedy about a girl who wants to end it all, and a boy who will change her perception of life.

Movie Cast : Swwapnil Joshi, Amruta Khanvilkar, Mohan Agashe, Satish Alekar, Prashant Damle, Bharti Achrekar, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Vivek Lagoo, Pushkar Shrotri, Murli Sharma, Urmila Kanitkar-Kothare, Jayant Wadkar,
& in a Special Appearance Mahesh Manjrekar

The post Welcome Zindagi (Marathi Movie) Trailer appeared first on MarathiStars.

The First look launch & Music of “Welcome Zindagi” unveiled by show casing a video footage on Dadashaeb Phalke ‘s passion which gave birth to Indian cinema and today we have successfully completed 102 year of Indian Cinema over at the event Guest of Honor” Mr. Salim khan” gave tribute to the father of Indian cinema and launched the music of the film in presence of the cast & crew of the film & media.

On Behalf of the Launch Mr. Salim khan gave the entire team his best wishes & revealed few secrets saying that me & Mr. Javed where only very good in narration but our writing was so horrible that we too couldn’t make out the next day what’ s written on the page so from 1975 on wards Mr. Honey Chhaya is to write our narrated stories with his beautiful Hand writing and today the second generation that is Bibhas Chhaya his son also work’s for me and is also the producer of the film which gives me immense pleasure that today i give the Honor of Launching this Music box to Honey Chhhaya first ….

Swwapnil Joshi (Actor) quotes : I have done so many film is my career but this film i have choose to do for my own satisfaction. The character Anand Prabhu in the film convey’s to keep a positive approach towards life and live every moment . The actor gave the entire credit to the Director Umesh Ghadge for designing his entire new look in the film for his character ” ANAND PRABHU”Welcome Zindagi features star cast like SWWAPNIL JOSHI,AMRUTA KHANVILKAR,the star pair and DR. MOHAN AGASHE, SATISH ALEKAR, PRASHANT DAMLE, BHARTI ACHREKAR,RAJESHWARI SACHDEV ,VIVEK LAGOO, PUSHKAR SHROTRI, MURLI SHARMA, URMILA KOTHARE,JAYWANT WADKAR & in a special appearance MAHESH MANJREKAR

The post Welcome Zindagi to release on 26th June! appeared first on MarathiStars.

Swapnil Joshi is on a roller coaster ride, after delivering phenomenal hits he is set for another romantic flick. In Welcome Zindagi he will be paired against Amruta Khanvilkar for the first time.

This film is directed by Umesh Ghadge and produced by Ajit Satam, Sanjay Ahluwalia, Bibhas Chhaya. The Muhurt ceremony of this film was recently performed at Ganesh Galli, Mumbai in front of the Ganesh idol. All the cast and crew of the film were present for this ceremony.

The post Muhurt of ‘Welcome Zindagi’ with the blessings from Ganpati Bappa appeared first on MarathiStars.