Godavari (2022 film) explained

Godavari
Director:Nikhil Mahajan
Producer:Jitendra Joshi
Mitali Joshi
Pavan Malu
Nikhil Mahajan
Starring:Neena Kulkarni
Jitendra Joshi
Vikram Gokhale
Music:AV Prafullachandra
Cinematography:Shamin Kulkarni
Editing:Hrishikesh Petwe
Studio:Blue Drop Films
Jitendra Joshi Pictures
Distributor:Jio Studios[1]
Runtime:169 min
Country:India
Language:Marathi

Godavari is an Indian Marathi-language drama film directed by Nikhil Mahajan and produced by Jitendra Joshi, Mitali Joshi, Pavan Malu and Nikhil Mahajan under the banner of Blue Drop Films.[2] Starring Jitendra Joshi in lead role along with Neena Kulkarni, Sanjay Mone, Vikram Gokhale and Gauri Nalawade in pivotal roles. The film tells a story of a family living on the banks of river Godavari in Nashik.[3]

It had its world premiere at 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival on 4 October 2021, and was released theatrically on 11 November 2022. The film received positive reviews from critics and audiences upon release. At the 69th National Film Awards, Godavari won an award for Best Direction.[4] At 7th Filmfare Awards Marathi, the film received a 12 nominations, Best Actor (Joshi) and Best Supporting Actor (Jadhav), and won a leading 5 awards, including Best Film, Best Director (Mahajan) and Best Actor Critics (Joshi).

Cast

Release

Godavari was initially slated to release on May 1, 2021, commemorating Maharashtra Day, but was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.[5] It was invited at 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival in 'Contemporary World Cinema' section of festival program. It had its world premiere on 4 October 2021,[6] [7] and its theatrical release in India was scheduled on 3 December 2021.[8]

The film was also invited at the New Zealand International Film Festival for its Wellington edition to be screened on 10 November 2021,[9] [10] and at 52nd International Film Festival of India in the film category of 'Indian Panorama' section for screening in November.[11] It was also selected for Golden Peacock Awards category.[12] Later in March 2022, it was screened at Pune International Film Festival, where it won Best Director award, Best Cinematography award and Best Music Special Jury Prize. The film was also selected as opening film at 22nd edition of New York Indian Film Festival screened on 7 May 2022. The film was also screened at Cannes Film Festival in Marché du Film held along 2022 edition of the festival on 19 May at Palais des Festivals.[13] [14] It was released theatrically on 11 November 2022 after delays. [15]

Reception

Charlie Smith of The Georgia Straight reviewing the film at VIFF praised the music saying "Indian songs, amplify the misery of Nishikant's existence", and cinematography, writing, "Imaginative camera work also does its magic." Smith also appreciated the performances of cast and said, "The acting in Godavari is first-rate". He praised the acting of Jitendra Joshi for his portrayal of "fiery-eyed the troubled Nishikant", Priyadarshan Jadhav for his "pensive and plaintive performance", and Neena Kulkarni for her "subtle and authentic acting". He concluded, "This is Marathi arthouse cinema at its best."[16]

Mihir Bhange, writing for The Times of India, praised the movie stating that "It’s an audio-visual experience fit for the big screen". He also called it, "one of the finest films to have been made in Marathi cinema in recent times".[17]

Awards and nominations

width=5% Yearwidth=30% Award ceremonywidth=25% Categorywidth=25% Recipient/ Nominee(s) width=10% Resultwidth=5%
202152nd International Film Festival of IndiaIFFI Best Actor Award (Male)Jitendra Joshi[18]
Special Jury AwardNikhil Mahajan
2022Pune International Film FestivalBest Director [19]
Best Cinematography Shamin Kulkarni
Best Music Special Jury PrizeAV Prafullachandra
New York Indian Film FestivalBest ActorJitendra Joshi
Pravah Picture AwardsBest Supporting ActorPriyadarshan Jadhav[20]
Best Playback Singer – MaleRahul Deshpande – "Khal Khal Goda"
Best StoryNikhil Mahajan, Prajakt Deshmukh
Best Sound DesignerBaylon Fonseca
Best Background ScoreAV Prafullachandra
2023Zee Chitra Gaurav PuraskarBest FilmGodavari[21]
Best DirectorNikhil Mahajan
Best ActorJitendra Joshi
Best Supporting ActorSanjay Mone
Best Supporting ActressGauri Nalawade
Best Child ActorSaniya Bhandare
Best Singer – MaleRahul Deshpande – "Khal Khal Goda"
Best LyricistJitendra Joshi – "Khal Khal Goda"
Best StoryNikhil Mahajan, Prajakt Deshmukh
Best Screenplay
Best DialoguePrajakt Deshmukh
Best Sound RecordingBaylon Fonseca
Best Background ScoreAV Prafullachandra
Best Art DirectorAmit Waghchaure
Best Cinematography Shamin Kulkarni
2023National Film AwardsBest DirectionNikhil Mahajan[22]
2023Filmfare Marathi AwardsBest FilmGodavari[23]
Best Film CriticsNikhil Mahajan
Best Director
Best ActorJitendra Joshi
Best Actor Critics
Best Supporting ActorPriyadarshan Jadhav
Best LyricistJitendra Joshi – "Khal Khal Goda"
Best Playback Singer – MaleRahul Deshpande – "Khal Khal Goda"
Best StoryNikhil Mahajan, Prajakt Deshmukh
Best Screenplay
Best DialoguePrajakt Deshmukh
Best CinematographyShamin Kulkarni
Best Sound DesignBaylon Fonseca
Best Background ScoreA V Prafullchandra
2023Fakt Marathi Cine SanmanBest Playback Singer MaleShreyas Puranik – "Kojagiri"[24] [25]
Best LyricistJitendra Joshi – "Khal Khal Goda"
Special Award – National Film Awards winner for Best DirectionNikhil Mahajan
2023TV9 Aapla Bioscope AwardsBest FilmGodavari[26] [27] [28]
Best DirectorNikhil Mahajan
Best Director (Jury)
Best Actor in a Lead RoleJitendra Joshi
Best Actor in a Lead Role (Jury)
Best Actor in a Supporting RolePriyadarshan Jadhav

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jio Studios unveils slate of Marathi films, series. The Times of India. 7 September 2022. 1 July 2023.
  2. Web site: 2023-08-24 . 69th National Film Awards: Nikhil Mahajan Bags Best Director For Marathi Film Godavari . 2023-08-26 . TimesNow . en.
  3. News: Joshi . Jitendra . 'गोदावरी'चा अंत:स्थ प्रवाह.. . 8 December 2021 . . 8 December 2021 . mr.
  4. Web site: 2023-08-24 . 69th National Film Awards 2023 complete winners list: Rocketry, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Allu Arjun win big . 2023-08-27 . The Indian Express . en.
  5. Web site: Bali, Jhimma and Godavari release dates postponed following stricter COVID guidelines. Mihir Bhanage. 10 April 2021. 5 October 2021 . Times of India.
  6. Web site: VIFF 2021 Films Godavari . 2 October 2021 . VIFF . 2 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211002190056/https://viff.org/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=f45892-godavari . dead .
  7. Web site: 'Godavari': Jitendra Joshi releases 'the International trailer' of his film ahead of its world premiere at Vancouver International Film Festival . 2 September 2021. 2 October 2021 . Times of India.
  8. Web site: Jitendra Joshi and Gauri Nalawade's 'Godavari' to hit the screens on December 3, 2021 . 29 September 2021. 2 October 2021 . Times of India.
  9. Web site: Godavari 2021 - New Zealand International Film Festival. 23 October 2021 . NZIFF .
  10. Web site: Strong Asian Selection Characterizes New Zealand Film Festival. Patrick . Frater. 12 October 2021 . 23 October 2021. Variety.
  11. Web site: IFFI's Indian Panorama line-up includes India's Oscar entry Koozhangal, regional films lead again. 5 November 2021. 7 November 2021. The Indian Express. en.
  12. News: Three Indian films in IFFI's international competition section. Shemin Joy . 11 November 2021. 11 November 2021. Press release. Deccan Herald.
  13. News: Indian flavours at Cannes 2022: Six Indian films to screen at the film festival. Sugandha Rawal . 12 May 2022. 13 May 2022. The Hindustan Times.
  14. Web site: Jitendra Joshi's 'Godavari' to have world premiere at Cannes; deets inside. 13 May 2022. 14 May 2022. Times of India.
  15. News: Godavari Movie Review : A beautiful story and strong performances help the film shine . The Times of India . 2023-03-15 . 0971-8257.
  16. Web site: VIFF review: Nikhil Mahajan's character study in Godavari offers thoughtful alternative to Bollywood fare . 27 September 2021. 3 October 2021 . The Georgia Straight . Charlie Smith.
  17. News: Godavari Movie Review : A beautiful story and strong performances help the film shine . 2024-03-24 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  18. News: Ringu Wandering, Jitendra Joshi and Angela Molina win big at 52nd IFFI. 28 November 2021. 28 November 2021. The Indian Express.
  19. News: Marathi film 'Godavari' selected as the opening film for New York Indian Film Festival. 22 March 2022. 13 May 2022. Times of India.
  20. Web site: Marathi . TV9 . 2022-09-20 . प्रवाह पिक्चर पुरस्कार सोहळ्यात 'या' चित्रपटाचा बोलबाला; मिळाले 7 पुरस्कार . 2023-08-27 . TV9 Marathi . mr.
  21. Web site: Zee Chitra Gaurav 2023: कुणाला मिळणार 'झी चित्र गौरव' २०२३ पुरस्कार.. नामांकन यादी जाहीर.. . 2023-08-27 . eSakal - Marathi Newspaper . mr-IN.
  22. Web site: 2023-08-24 . 69th National Film Awards: Nikhil Mahajan Bags Best Director For Marathi Film Godavari . 2023-08-27 . TimesNow . en.
  23. Web site: Sujata . 2023-04-01 . Planet Marathi presents Filmfare Awards Marathi 2022 lauds the outstanding achievements in Marathi Cinema . 2023-08-27 . Business News This Week . en-US.
  24. Web site: मुंबई . ब्युरो रिपोर्ट, साम टीव्ही . 2023-09-05 . कलाकारांच्या सन्मानासाठी रंगणार 'फक्त मराठी सिने सन्मान' सोहळा . 2023-09-06 . Saam TV साम टीव्ही . mr.
  25. Web site: Navarashtra . 2023-09-18 . Fakt Marathi Awards फक्त मराठी सिने सन्मान सोहळ्यात ‘वाळवी’ ठरला सर्वोत्कृष्ट चित्रपट,सचिन पिळगावकर यांच्या कारकिर्दीला सलाम Navarashtra (नवराष्ट्र) . 2023-11-18 . Navarashtra . mr.
  26. Web site: Marathi . TV9 . 2023-11-08 . Aapla Bioscope 2023 : कोण ठरणार 'आपला बायोस्कोप २०२३' पुरस्कारांचे मानकरी? . 2023-11-18 . TV9 Marathi . mr.
  27. Web site: TV9 Marathi - Aapla Bioscope, Marathi TV and Film Awards 2023 . 2023-11-18 . TV9 Marathi . mr.
  28. Web site: Marathi . TV9 . 2023-12-09 . टीव्ही 9 मराठीच्या 'आपला बायोस्कोप अवॉर्ड्स 2023'मध्ये या कलाकारांनी मारली बाजी . 2023-12-11 . TV9 Marathi . mr.