Marathi film industry gets a push with De Dhakka

Mumbai: Marathi films are usually not considered to be crowd pullers by theater and multiplex owners.

However, with the recent astounding success of Marathi film De Dhakka, many corporates are now stepping in to produce Marathi films. And theater owners are more than eager to screen them.

It's the film that has caught the imagination of moviegoers across Maharashtra. De Dhakka, a slick Marathi comedy and family drama is giving Bollywood a run for its money.

It is a huge hit and theaters and multiplex owners who earlier had to be threatened of license cancellation if they didn't show Marathi films are now asking for the film themselves.

From 47 theaters in the first week, De Dhakka now in its third week, is being shown at a 117 theaters across Maharashtra.

“We had it in the 67 seater cinema hall and had to move it to the one with 300 seats. Even that capacity does not seem to be enough. It is also the only film to have survived the IPL storm,” says Manager, Cinemax, Sion, Rakesh Mishra.

Literally translated De Dhakka means to give a push and that's exactly what the movie has done. It's given a push to the sagging business of the Marathi film industry.

In the last few months, several Marathi movies like Tingya, Valu and Sade Made Teen have drawn in the crowds. Also several corporates have stepped in to produce Marathi films. Zee has planned ten Marathi movies in the coming year and Subhash Ghai's Mukta arts too are getting onto the Marathi film scene in a big way.

“Last year turnover was Rs 20 crore. I am seeing a future not very distant where Marathi movie turnover will cross Rs 100 crore and in five years to about Rs 300 crore to Rs 400 crore,” says Director, Zee Entertainment, Nitin Vaidya.

Meanwhile, more profits would mean more investments and better payment and roles for Marathi actors.

“I am very lucky that I have an opportunity to act in a phase which is good for the Marathi film industry,” says actor, De Dhakka, Siddharth Jadhav.

However, with every hit film, the audience expectations tend to increase and the challenge really now would be to maintain the momentum.