| Ashtavinayak | |
| Director: | Rajdutt |
| Producer: | Sharad Pilgaonkar |
| Starring: | |
| Music: | Anil-Arun |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Marathi |
Ashtavinayak is a Marathi-language film released on 9 February 1979. The film was directed by Rajdutt and produced by Sharad Pilgaonkar under the banner of Manorama Films.[1] The film is based on the family from Ichalkaranji which took place in 1975.[2] [3] [4]
Nana is the owner of a paper mill and a devotee of lord ganesh. The wealthy mill owner's son, Bal, returns from studying abroad with a grudge against God. He blames a cruel fate for his mother's death and a cold stepmother. Taking over the family business, Bal clashes with tradition by canceling the annual Ganesh festival, angering the workers. Nana is not happy with Bal's decision but he keeps calm. Tragedy strikes when his father dies. Bal falls in love with Veena, daughter of a veteran singer. He soon proposes her. She accepts it and promises lord ganesh that they both will do the pilgrimage of 8 famous ganesh temples. Despite his atheism, Bal soon marries Veena, a devout believer. With blessings from their elder, Sathe Kaka(manager at mill), they begin life together. However, tensions rise as Bal removes the Ganesh temple from the mill for its expansion. Veena is not happy with this decision. The couple's strained relationship is further marred by a miscarriage and Veena's health deteriorates. Doctors too lose any medical hope in her case. As misfortune continues with a fire at the mill and Bal is in serious debt. Sathe Kaka urges Veena to seek divine help by completing the pilgrimage, she had promised before marriage. They both start the pilgrimage even if Bal is hesitant in the beginning. As the pilgrimage continues, Veena's health starts improving. At the last temple, Sathe kaka arrives with a good news that they have won the suit against insurance company and their claim will soon get accepted. Bal then realises the divine power of God and starts believing in it.
| 1979 | Filmfare Awards Marathi | Best Actor | Sachin | |
| Vandana Pandit | ||||
| Best Director | ||||
| Best Second Film | Sharad Pilgaonkar | |||
| Vandana Pandit | ||||
| Anil-Arun | ||||
| Best Playback Singer – Male | Vasantrao Deshpande | |||
| Best Playback Singer – Female | Anuradha Paudwal | |||
| Shantaram Nandgaonkar |
| Ashtavinayak | |
| Type: | Soundtrack |
| Artist: | Anil-Arun |
| Released: | 1979 |
| Genre: | Feature film soundtrack |
| Language: | Marathi |
| Label: | Saregama |
The lyrics were penned by Shanta Shelke, Jagdish Khebudkar, Shantaram Nandgaonkar and Madhusudan Kalelkar. The songs were sung by Vasantrao Deshpande, Anuradha Paudwal, Rani Varma and Jaywant Kulkarni.[6]