New Delhi: Since Raanti hit theatres last week, director Samit Kakkad’s phone has been buzzing non-stop. Fans are already clamouring for a sequel, and Kakkad is soaking in the love. And in this success, Marathi cinema has finally got its angry young man.
The Marathi film, which hit theatres on 22 November, is an action drama that follows the journey of two friends taking on the underworld in their fight to restore justice. It stars Sharad Kelkar as the protagonist Vishnu.
“I was confident that the film would work. Never for a second did I doubt the script,” said Kakkad. “This is the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj—Maharashtrians are inherently brave. They adore the high-octane action of South Indian films, so I thought, why not create our own Marathi spectacle?”
Kelkar was Kakkad’s first pick. While Raanti claimed the crown as the “biggest action film in Marathi cinema”, Kelkar’s performance has earned him the tag of Marathi’s very own ‘angry young man’.
Kakkad, a longtime admirer of the original angry young man, Amitabh Bachchan, reflects on why Marathi cinema has long been missing a similar archetype.
“Action films are very expensive. Hardly any producer has that budget. It isn’t an easy business decision,” he said.
However, film critic Kalpeshraj Kubal offers a different reasoning.
“Marathi cine-goers are always rooting for the ‘boy next door’. They want their heroes to be like Shah Rukh Khan of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, not Darr. For them a hero is someone who can be their brother, son, or husband,” said Kubal.
Script is king
Traditionally, Marathi cinema leans heavily on emotion-driven narratives, steering clear of ‘larger-than-life’ heroes.
“The storyline has always been the king here,” said film historian Dilip Thakur, noting how the trend is slowly making its way to Bollywood as well.
According to him, apart from Shah Rukh Khan, there is hardly any actor who is drawing audiences to the theatres.
“When I was young, 42 years ago, theatres were the only source of our entertainment. Today, you carry entertainment in your hand everywhere,” he explained.
Kubal agrees with Thakur, labeling Marathi audiences as “picky”.
“If a film lacks emotional depth, it won’t draw the audience,” said Kubal, highlighting how Marathi cinema goers are particular about the content their industry creates. However, they’re more than willing to embrace action-packed blockbusters like Pushpa (2021) from other regions.
“The audience is scared that Marathi cinema, if it begins to mimic South or Bollywood’s action, would lose its identity,” Thakur said.
Additionally, he added, the censor board puts more cuts in a Marathi action film as compared to other regional cinema.
However, Kubal hails Raanti as a “Marathi milestone” and a game-changer in drawing non-Marathi audiences to the fold.
“Raanti has boldly introduced action to Marathi cinema. But, majority takers would be people who are not Marathi. If even 50% of non-Marathi viewers become regular patrons of our films, it’s a massive win for us,” he said.
Also read: Pushpa 2’s Kissik disappoints fans. ‘A slap would’ve been better than this’
‘Feels like a debut’
Raanti is quite literally a product of blood, sweat, and sheer determination from Kakkad and his team. The director recalls how, just a week into shooting, he faced a life-altering accident and was declared clinically dead.
“The doctors told my father to take my body. But at another hospital, after some treatment, I miraculously came back to life,” said Kakkad, who made his directorial debut with Aina Ka Baina in 2012.
Opening his eyes three days later, Kakkad’s first words were, “What will happen to Raanti?”
Although doctors predicted he wouldn’t be able to work for at least a year or two, Kakkad defied the odds, returning to the set in just a month and a half.
Kakkad was testing his bike after repair when another biker, allegedly drunk, rammed into him. It’s the last thing Kakkad remembers.
He sustained several fractures, including in his skull and below his eyes.
“I truly believe I was brought back to life just to finish this project. It feels like my debut film,” he said.
Describing his filmmaking journey, from comedy and romance to action, Kakkad calls it a whirlwind of genres.
“The only constant is change. You have to keep experimenting. If you create the same content, you become boring as a person,” he said.
Kakkad’s upcoming slate promises to further diversify his repertoire.
He’s collaborating with Sanjay Gupta on a biopic drama about a dancer and is also crafting a script for a Hindi web series.
“Can’t spill all the details yet, but it’s a crime underworld story inspired by real incidents,” he teased.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)