Marathi cinema will not be crushed, says debut director Kshitij Patwardhan

Two weeks ago, when Marathi film ‘Uttar’ starring Renuka Shahane, Abhinay Berde, among others, released on December 12, it was an uphill task to get screens as Dhurandhar dominated the theatres. “Marathi films have always struggled to get slots,” says debut director Kshitij Patwardhan, better known for his work for Rohit Shetty’s ‘Singham again’, Sushmita Sen-starrer ‘Taali’, ‘Chhava’. He is a well-awarded young screenwriter, theatre director, lyricist, playwright, who is a household name in Maharashtra.

He has now made his directorial debut with ‘Uttar’. His post on social media about the way his team has been fighting to overcome challenges, has won hearts.

“Marathi Cinema Will Not Be Crushed. For the first time in my career, my debut film UTTAR released alongside two once-in-four-years cinematic giants — a box-office monster like Dhurandhar and a global phenomenon like Avatar. Dhurandhar, already a powerful film, gained further momentum when its narrative smartly pivoted around Akshaye Khanna after the Ranveer controversy. With over 22 shows running, the odds were clearly stacked,” Mr Kshitij wrote in his post. 

He said that a turning point came when he decided to not play the victim card. “As a first-time director stepping into this battlefield, I made one decision very consciously — no victim card. No complaints about show timings. No “Marathi vs Hindi” narrative. No excuses. The focus was simple: wherever we got shows, we would make them work. UTTAR released on the 12th and received a strong response from urban centres. Very early on, we decided to mentally treat the release as if it were on the 19th — to regroup, reach out, and expand awareness. What followed was relentless groundwork: Kolhapur, Pune, Mumbai, college campuses, competitions, cultural forums — physically showing up, talking about the film, and building genuine word-of-mouth.”

While acknowledging the support of the Marathi media, he said what helped was a positive approach. “We faced the clash head-on — positively, strategically, and without bitterness — and we will continue to do so,” he said in his post.

“This is not a one-off situation. Similar clashes have happened before, and they will happen again for many Marathi films in the future. The only way forward is belief in content, smart positioning, day-by-day perseverance, and refusing to play the victim. If there is one message this journey must send out loud and clear, it is this:No matter how big the Hindi or English releases are, Marathi cinema will not be crushed. The fight is on,” he said in his post.

People lauded the post saying that a Marathi family entertainer should find more screens. “Great observation. It shows resolve, commitment and determination. Commendable attitude. We will be with you every step of the way on your march,” posted a reader Vijay Jeste.