Bolmarathi

By Author: Suraj
Total Articles: 84
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he National Award-winning Marathi film 'Killa', which got a theatrical release last Friday, has received an overwhelming audience response. In money terms, it translated into Rs 3.25 crore in the opening weekend notwithstanding the fact that it was allotted a limited number of 225 screens. And with a surge in footfalls, the distributors have decided to allot more screens to the film.
Says the film's producer Nikhil Sane, "Although it is a small-budget film, the number of screens given to it was quite decent as compared to other commercial Marathi movies.
Now following the good response, theatre owners have decided to allot more screens to it. Killa is currently running in 250 cinema halls, on nearly 4000 screens, which is equal to that of any other regular film. So far, it has collected around Rs 4.50 crore."
While some would say that the state government's rule on giving prime time slots to Marathi films in city multiplexes has done a world of good to regional cinema, one cannot ignore the industry's resurgence in the last few years — stronger content, more number of releases and higher profits, all without the aid of big budgets or superstar presence in the movies.
Prime time success
Rege writer Pravin Tarde, who has helmed the upcoming film 'Deool Band', says, "The story has always been the real hero for Marathi cinema and films like 'Balak Palak', 'Rege', 'Coffee Ani Barach Kahi', Fandry and others have proved that if the story is good, big actors are not required. The government's decision in favour of Marathi film screening has also helped immensely. The box office figures of recent films testify that."