2025 in Marathi cinema refers to an overview of Marathi-language films produced and released during the year, including their commercial performance, and industry developments. The industry witnessed a notable decline in box-office performance, with total collections dropping to ₹99.46 crore from approximately ₹177 crore in the previous year. Despite the downturn, numerous films achieved critical appreciation and gained international visibility, with multiple films being screened and recognised at domestic and international film festivals.
Overview A total of 110 Marathi films were released theatrically in 2025. The year considered challenging and characterised by a significant decline in box office performance alongside continued creative experimentation. According to Ormax Media, the main reason for the downturn of Marathi cinema was the absence of any successful franchise films. Industry observers attributed the downturn to increasing competition from large-scale Hindi and international productions, and structural issues related to distribution and screen allocation. The recovery of Marathi theatre was also a factor in the decline in attendance at theatres. During the year, Dashavatar, Jarann, SuSheela SuJeet, Gulkand and Ata Thambaycha Naay! emerged as some of the biggest commercial successes. Social dramas, thriller and family-oriented narratives and comedies continued to dominate Marathi cinema during the year. Several Marathi films secured screenings and accolades at domestic and international film festivals during the year.
Genres and trends
In 2025, Marathi cinema saw a notable presence of thrillers and horror films. Jarann examined supernatural beliefs, mental sicknesses and other fearful occurrences while Dashavatar used folk art and folklore to create mystery. Crime thrillers like P. S. I. Arjun, Jilabi and Asambhav successfully appealed to urban audiences, marking a diversification of genres away from the traditionally popular light-hearted narrative and family dramas. Several romantic dramas explored different dimensions of relationships were released in 2025. For example, Zapuk Zupuk, Majhi Parthana, Aarpar, Sajana, Bin Lagnachi Goshta, Ek Radha Ek Meera, Tu Bol Na and Premachi Goshta 2 represent different aspects of loving relationships.
At the same time, family comedies and emotional dramas occupied a large number of release dates in Marathi Cinema. Fussclass Dabhade issued its impetus toward family relationships and wedding celebrations, whereas Gulkand used comedy to convey the good and bad sides of marriage life. SuSheela SuJeet created situation comedies using closed sets.
In addition to mainstream commercial releases, Marathi cinema in 2025 reflected thematic diversity across genres. Sabar Bonda, an LGBTQ-themed film, became the first Marathi film to be screened at the Sundance Film Festival. The film was also featured among the best Indian films of the year by publications such as Scroll.in, The Hollywood Reporter India, Rediff.com, and The Telegraph. Social dramas such as Sthal, Sa La Te Sa La Na Te and Asha further expanded the industry's narrative scope by addressing contemporary social concerns.
Notable performances
Dilip Prabhavalkar received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Babuli Mestry in Dashavatar. Reviewers praised his nuanced performance at the age of 81, emotional depth, and strong screen presence, considering it one of the standout performances of the year. Alongside Prabhavalkar, several veteran actors appeared in Marathi films, including Ashok Saraf and Vandana Gupte (Ashi Hi Jamva Jamvi), Mahesh Manjrekar and Renuka Shahane (Devmanus), Nivedita Saraf (Fussclass Dabhade), and Prashant Damle (Mu. Po. Bombilwaadi).
The year further featured notable performances by Amruta Subhash and Anita Date appeared in Jarann, with Scroll.in describing Subhash as “terrified, terrifying, and terrific.” Subhash won Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Actress for his role Radha. Bharat Jadhav and Siddharth Jadhav in Ata Thambaycha Naay! also praised for their roles. In its review, The Times of India wrote, "Bharat Jadhav takes a role that's in complete contrast to his well-known comic characters and shows why more filmmakers need to look beyond comedy when it comes to casting him. Ditto for Siddharth Jadhav, who doesn't go off-track even once in his portrayal."
Sai Tamhankar, Samir Choughule and Esha Dey in Gulkand, Siddharth Bodke (Devmanus, Punha Shivajiraje Bhosale) also received appreciation for their performances. Hruta Durgule and Lalit Prabhakar (Aarpar), Abhinay Berde (Uttar), and Rinku Rajguru (Asha) were among other actors noted during the year. Sajiri Joshi, who appeared in April May 99, won Best Debut Actress at the Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar.
Events January 10 January – 10th Ajanta Ellora Film Festival was held at the Rukmini Auditorium of MGM University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
February 10 February – Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar announced plans to establish a grand museum at Kolhapur Film City dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of Marathi cinema. 13 February – The Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) commenced with a theme celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of Raj Kapoor. 14 February – At PIFF, Swati Mhase Patil of Film City, Mumbai announced major initiatives to boost Marathi cinema, including the Grand Film City in Goregaon, the Single Window Scheme, the ‘Kalasetu’ portal for writers, financial grants and subsidies for filmmakers, the launch of IICT training institute, green initiatives, and plans to promote Marathi films at international platforms.
March 28 March – Following the delay in obtaining censor certification for Mee Pathishi Aahe, its release was postponed. The film's team met Amey Khopkar, who directly demanded the establishment of a separate censor board for Marathi films, citing recurring certification delays affecting the industry.
April 23 April – From April 21–24, Chitrapataka—the first International Marathi Film Festival in Maharashtra—will be held at the PL Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Mumbai, featuring 41 films and related events.
May 1 May – The Maharashtra government granted industry status to the Marathi film sector and announced the restart of the Translation Academy.
July 25 July – The second NAFA Marathi Film Festival was held in San Jose from 25 to 27 July.
August 5 August – The 60th and 61st Maharashtra State Film Awards held in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium, Worli, Mumbai. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the formation of a government committee to address issues affecting Marathi cinema. 9 August – The 14th Goa Marathi Film Festival was held at INOX and Maquinez Palace in Panaji.
September 23 September – The 71st National Film Awards ceremony was held in New Delhi, presenting awards for films and artists from the year 2023. Marathi films and artists received five awards at the ceremony.
October 9 October – The Maharashtra government has approved the creation of a film industry in Igatpuri, Nashik on the lines of Goregaon Chitranagari under the Nashik Division Development Program 2009.
December 18 December – The two-day Orange City Marathi film festival organised Orange City Cultural Foundation (OCCF), Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Nagpur University, NFDC, Mukta Arts, Cine Montage, Saptak, and Persistent Systems started in Nagpur.
International screenings and accolades In 2025, Marathi films received critical acclaim and recognition at domestic and international film festivals.
In January 2025, the 22nd Third Eye Asian Film Festival was held in Mumbai, where eleven Marathi films were screened in the Marathi Competition section. The selected films included April May 99, Gondhal, Sabar Bonda and Uttar. Other films that were theatrically released in 2025 and had been selected for the same festival in the previous year included Asha and Bhera. Bhera was also screened at the Chennai International Film Festival, the Pune International Film Festival, as well as the Cannes Film Festival in 2024. Ria Nalwade's starrer film Teen Payancha Ghoda (Three-Legged Horse), which received a theatrical release in 2025, was also recognized at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
The film Sthal premiered at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival, it become the only Marathi film that was selected under the Discovery Programme. It was subsequently screened at 29 Indian festivals, including the 22nd Pune International Film Festival (where it was presented as the opening film at the Habitat Film Festival), the 46th Moscow International Film Festival, the 25th Jeonju International Film Festival, and the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala. Sthal also secured a screening slot at the Cannes Film Festival, alongside other Marathi films such as Snow Flower, Khalid Ka Shivaji, and Juna Furniture.
The Ram Malik directorial film Uut was also featured at several domestic and international film festivals, including the Malaysia Film Festival, Eastern Europe Film Festival, East Village New York Film Festival, Cincine Film Festival, Sri Lanka International Film Festival, Manchester Film Festival, Ahmedabad International Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival. In November 2025, the films Ata Thambaycha Naay! and Gondhal were officially selected at the 56th International Film Festival of India. Gondhal was featured in the Indian Panorama (Golden Peacock) section, and its director won the Best Director award at the festival.
Notable accolades AwardYear Category Recipient(s)/Film ResultSundance Film Festival2025World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: DramaticSabar BondaInside Out Film and Video FestivalBest Narrative FeatureBengaluru International Film Festival2024Second Best Film (Asian Film Competition)SthalNew York Indian Film FestivalBest Film Best Debut FilmJayant Digambar Somalkar Best ActressNandini Chikte Pune International Film FestivalBest International Marathi Film (Marathi Competition)Sthal Best Screenplay (Marathi Competition)Jayant Digambar Somalkar (Sthal) Third Eye Asian Film FestivalBest Film (Marathi Competition)Sthal 2026Sabar Bonda2024Best Actress (Marathi Competition)Nandini Chikate (Sthal) 2025Shraddha Khanolkar (Bhera)2026Renuka Shahane (Uttar)Best Director Rohan Kanawade (Sabar Bonda), Santosh Davakhar (Gondhal)Best ActorSuraj Suman, Bhushan Manoj (Sabar Bonda) Toronto International Film Festival2023 NETPAC Award Jayant Digambar Somalkar (Sthal) Srilanka International Film Festival 2025Best Feature FilmUutInternational Film Festival of IndiaBest DirectorGondhal
Commercial performance
In 2025, the industry recorded one of its worst box office performances, with overall revenue of ₹99 crore and footfalls of 70 lakh — the lowest figures in the last ten years of recorded data, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic period. Only 10 films constituted 9 percent of the total, earned approximately 75 percent of the total box office revenue, which was ₹74.46 crore. The Marathi film industry recordethehue compared to other major Indian language industries. Around 10 average-performing Marathi films, which earn between Rs 1 and 2 crore each, collectively earned ₹14 crore. In contrast, the remaining 90 films collectively earned just ₹11 crore, resulting in an average of ₹12 lakh per film. The revenue dropped by 46 percent compared to 2024, when the industry had earned ₹177 crore.