Kshitij Patwardhan (born 11 January 1985) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, theatre director, playwright, and lyricist. He received the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay in 2018, Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist in 2020, and Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue – Marathi for Dhurala, along with the Tarun Tejankit Award 2019. He is also the recipient of multiple Maharashtra State Film Awards, Zee Gaurav Puraskar, MIFTA and Star Pravah Ratna for his contributions to Marathi cinema.
Early life Kshitij Patwardhan was born in Pune to a Maharashtrian family. He completed his education at Bharat Marathi Vidyalaya and Abhinav Marathi Vidyalaya. He started writing during his school days and won many prizes in inter-school competitions.
After pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science and master's degree in communication and journalism, he developed an avid interest in writing. While working with Setu Advertising in Pune, he earned a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)–Laadli National Award for Creative Excellence for Social Change for writing a print advertisement about stopping sex selection. He won this award again for a Hindi song that he wrote.
Theatre Patwardhan's first Marathi commercial play, Nava Gadi Nava Rajya, was a hit with the youth audience. It ran for 475 shows and earned more than 25 awards.
In 2015, he adapted a short story by Hanumant Moreshwar Marathe into the play Don Special; the play became a modern classic of Marathi theatre. It had a successful run of 225 shows and won more than 30 awards.
He also wrote and directed the first children's play, Aajjibai Jorat, in Marathi theatre which was created using artificial intelligence, starring Nirmiti Sawant and Abhinay Berde.
He wrote the Marathi theatre play Bhumika starring Sachin Khedekar, which was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike.
Films and series Patwardhan's first film was Aaghat (2010), which he wrote with Sameer Vidwans. He then wrote the dialogue of the youth-centric film Satrangi Re with Hemant Dhome.
He penned romantic comedies like Time Please, Lagna Pahave Karun and Timepass 2. He wrote the screenplay and dialogues for Classmates, released in 2015. The same year, the film Double Seat, which he conceptualized and wrote, was released. It became one of the most successful Marathi films of 2015.
In 2016, Patwardhan wrote the coming of age Marathi film called YZ, which was praised by critics. In 2017 he, along with director Aditya Sarpotdar, created the first Marathi teenage detective film, Faster Fene. In 2018, he wrote Mauli (2018), a Marathi-language action drama film. He wrote the Marathi political thriller film Dhurala in 2020, Taali in 2023, Singham Again in 2024, and Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video in 2023. He made his directorial debut with the Marathi-language film Uttar,https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38840387/ for which he also wrote the screenplay, dialogues, and song lyrics.
Songs Patwardhan has written more than 150 songs for approximately 70 Marathi and Hindi films including chart buster numbers like "Dhaga Dhaga" from Daagdi Chaawl, "Awaz vadav DJ" from Poshter Girl, and "Aaya re Toofan" from Chhaava. For the Hindi-dubbed version of the Marathi film Ved he wrote the Hindi lyrics for all the songs, "Phisal Jaa tu" and "Mila tu" from Haseen Dillruba, four songs from the musical film Rocket Gang, "Mohini" from Double Seat, "Mana shevantiche Phool" from Baapjanma, and "Chalu Chal" and "Rubab Pahije" from Half Ticket.
Advertising Patwardhan has written multiple campaigns for popular brands across Maharashtra and India. His work includes the campaigns for Pro Kabaddi League 2015 and 2017, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale, Saraswat Co-operative Bank, and Buldana Urban Cooperative Credit Society.
Publishing In 2017, Patwardhan produced and published an illustrated novel in Marathi called Darya. It was written by his brother Vikram Patwardhan.
Filmography
As screenwriter and director YearNameWriterDirector Ref.2026EethaYes2025UttarYesYes2024Singham AgainYes2023TaaliYes2023 Sajini Shinde Ka Viral VideoYes2020DhuralaYes2018MauliYes2017Faster FeneYes2016YZYes2015ClassmatesYes2015Double SeatYes2015Timepass 2Yes2013Lagna Pahave KarunYes2013Time PleaseYes2012Satrangi ReYes2010AaghaatYes
As lyricist YearFilmSongs Ref.2026Adkitta"Baby Bomb" "Gheun Ye" "Mann Dhavate" "Chandawa"2025Uttar (film)"Ho Aai" "Asen Mi"https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mDTliuTsAisq4PQ4Gcif76FQRv5-VpF082025AsambhavAll songs2025Chhaava"Aaya Re Toofan" "Rudra" Co-lyricist for "Aaya Re Toofan" with Irshad Kamil2025Ashi Hi Jamva Jamvi"Mastikhor""Phulala Phul"2024Like Aani Subscribe"Limbu Firawla" 2023 Jhimma 2 "Marathi Pori" "Butti Maar" "Punha Jhimma" "Ranga Jarasa Ola" 2022Rocket Gang"Hawaon Mein""Har Baccha Hai Rocket""Duniya hai maa ki godi me" 2022Daagadi Chawl 2"Raghu Pinjryat Aala" "Mann Dhaga Dhaga" "Samjun Ghena" "Sangava Aalaya"2021Haseen Dillruba"Phisal Jaa Tu" "Mila Tu" 2021 Jhimma"Jhimma Title Song""Maze Gaon""Alvida"2020Kesari"Rujala"2020Dhurala"Rada Dhurala" "Jalmachi Vaari" "Baari Baari"2020Mann Fakiraa"Ghari Gondhal"2019Khari Biscuit"Khari" "Tula Japnar Ahe"2019Girlfriend"Love Story" "Kode Sope Thode" "Querida Querido" "Nacha Got A Girlfriend"2019Ye Re Ye Re Paisa 2"Paisa Paisa" "Un dos Tres"2018Ani Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar"Katarweli"2018Youngraad"Vay Youngraad Zhalay" "Saye"2018Barayan"Charger Laav"2018Farzand"Tumhi Yetana Kela Eshara"2017Deva"Roj Roj Navyane" "Lamana" "Deva Anthem"2017Baapjanma"Man Shevantiche Phool" "Gandha Ajunahi"2017Fugay"Party De"2017Baghtos Kay Mujra Kar"Ti Talwar" "Tu Disate" "Majhya Raja Ra" "Gavran Kombda"2016Poshter Girl"Awaaj Vadhav DJ" "Simple Dimple"2016Half Ticket"Chal Chal Chal Chal" "Rubab Pahije" "Bharle Re" "Labbad Gabbad"2016YZ"Aare Krishna Aare Kanha" "O Kaka" "Priyakara" "Michi Maja Vyalo"2015Daagdi Chaawl"Dhaga Dhaga"2015Classmates"Saang Na" "Aala Re Raja" "Swapna Chalun Aale"2015Double Seat"Mohini"2015Timepass 2"Dagadu Savdhan"2014Bhatukali"Tara Tara"2013Time Please"Nava Gadi Ana Rajya Nava" "Aas Tu" "Kadhi Na Kadhi" "Butterfly Man"
Plays
As director and writer NameYearWriterDirectorNava Gadi Nava Rajya2010YesDon Special2015YesYesAaji Bai JoratAaji Bai Jorat Natak Review, VeryFirstTale 20242024YesYesBhumika2025Yes
Awards YearAwardCategoryWork Result Ref.2011MIFTABest PlaywrightNava Gadi Nava Rajya2015IMFFABest Screenplay and DialoguesClassmates2015Zee Gaurav AwardBest Theatre DirectorDon Special2016Maharashtra State AwardBest Screenplay and DialoguesDouble Seat2016Master Dinanath Mangeshkar SanmanDon Special2018Filmfare Marathi AwardsFilmfare Award for Best Screenplay – MarathiFaster Fene2019Sakal PremierBest Lyricist"Tula Japnar Ahe"2020Filmfare Marathi AwardsFilmfare Award for Best Lyricist – Marathi"Tula Japnar Aahe" – Khari Biscuit2015 "Man Dhaga Dhaga" from Dagadi Chawl"Ritya Sarya Disha" from Double Seat2016"Rubaab Pahije" – Half Ticket2020 "Kode Sope Thode" – Girlfriend2021"Alvida" – Jhimma2023"Rang Jarasa Ola" – Jhimma 22026"Asen Mi" from Uttar (film)"Dis Sarale" from Fussclass Dabhade2024Zee Chitra Gaurav PuraskarZee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Lyricist"Yeda Mandola" – Unaad"Marathi Pori" – Jhimma 22025Chaitraban PuraskarFor overall contribution to the field2026Filmfare Awards MarathiFilmfare Award for Best Story – MarathiUttar (film)202636th Maharashtra State Marathi Professional Theatre CompetitionBest WriterBhumika Playhttps://newswires.in/kshitij-patwardhans-modern-classic-play-bhumika-gets-a-big-honour-included-in-mumbai-universitys-t-y-b-a-syllabus/ https://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/Articles/26/may/marathi-theatres-proud-moment-bhumika-included-in-mumbai-universitys-tyba-curriculum.asp#https://www.loksatta.com/maharashtra/maharashtra-state-government-marathi-drama-competition-tickets-ticketalay-app-minister-ashish-shelar-mumbai-ocd-94-5939740/2026Ma Ta SanmaanBest WriterBhumika Play https://marathimovieworld.com/tag/bhumika/https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/mata-sanman-2026-tv-film-natak-web-series-award-winners-full-list-ata-thambaycha-naay-dev-manus-tops/articleshow/129535812.cms
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