Dhappa Explained

Dhappa
Director:	Nipun Dharmadhikari
Screenplay:	Girish Kulkarni Nipun Dharmadhikari
Story:	Girish Kulkarni
Producer:	Sumatilal Shah
Cinematography:	Swapnil S. Sonawane
Editing:	Suchitra Sathe
Music:	Gandhaar
Studio:	Ink Tales
Distributors:	-->
Country:	India
Language:	Marathi

Dhappa is a 2019 Indian Marathi-language drama film directed by Nipun Dharmadhikari in his directorial debut.^[1] The film features several debutante child actors and was inspired by a true incident.^[2] The film was shown at various film festivals including Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival.^[3]

Cast

• Deepali Borkar
• Sharav Wadhawekar
• Sharavi Kulkarni
• Shrihari Abhyankar
• Akash Kamble
• Jyoti Subhash
• Girish Kulkarni
• Iravati Harshe
• Vrushali Kulkarni as Anuradha

Reception

A critic from The Times of India rated the film out of 5 and opined that "Dhappa is not an aesthetically outstanding film and it has some loose ends as well. But what it lacks there, the film makes up for through its execution and performances".^[4] A critic from Firstpost rated the film out of 5 and said that "The film may set out to charm the viewer, but it does so with a bracing quality, and it is all put together in a palette that mashes whimsy with socio-political commentary, all in a non-cynical, positive sense".^[5] A critic from Lokmat rated the film out of 5.^[6] A critic from Scroll.in wrote that "Nipun Dharmadhikari’s Marathi-language movie fires its message of inter-faith tolerance and the need for free speech over the shoulders of children".^[7]

Awards and nominations

• Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration - Won^[8]
• Indian Panorama section of International Film Festival of India^[9]
• Critics’ Choice Film Awards 2020^[10]
  • Best Director - Nominated
  • Best Film - Nominated
  • Best Writing - Nominated

Notes and References

1. Web site: Moment of glory for Marathi debutant filmmakers at National Film Awards. Alifiya. Khan. 14 April 2018. The New Indian Express. This year also saw the release of Baapjanma, touted as Dharmadhikari's first feature film, though he clarified that Dhappa was made before it.
2. Web site: 7 films to watch on Children's Day. Deccan Herald. Joseph. Krupa. 14 November 2020.
3. Web site: Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival Day 4: Ghode Ko Jalebi Khilane Le Ja Riya Hoon, Woman At War and serpentine queues. Kusumita. Das. Firstpost. 30 October 2018.
4. Web site: DHAPPA MOVIE REVIEW. 1 February 2019. The Times of India.
5. Web site: Dhappa movie review: This Marathi film benefits from a rare narrative, completely devoid of cynicism. Mihir. Fadnavis. Firstpost. 1 February 2019.
6. Web site: Dhappa Marathi Movie Review : एकात्मतेचा हलका फुलका 'धप्पा'. तेजल गावडे. Marathi. 31 January 2019. Lokmat.
7. Web site: 'Dhappa' film review: A simplistic and yet winning parable of childhood. 1 February 2019. Scroll.in. Ramnath. Nandini.
8. Web site: Sridevi wins posthumous National Award for 'Mom': Here is the full list of awardees. 13 April 2018. The Hindu.
9. Web site: A child's perspective, but not a children's film: Nipun Dharmadhikari on his award-winning 'Dhappa'. Scroll.in. 24 November 2018. Das. Arti.
10. Web site: Critics' Choice Film Awards nominations out: Ranveer Singh, Vijay Sethupathi among nominees. Cinema Express. 3 March 2020. Mitra. Shilajit.