Mumbai | September 17 | Ram Kondilkar
Chhatrapal Ninawe’s Marathi film Ghaath, which had its world premiere at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival, is now being screened in theaters across Maharashtra. The film is set in a forested area surrounded by Maoist rebels, unfolding against the tense and mysterious backdrop of conflicts between Maoist insurgents, ordinary citizens, and the police.
Produced by Shiladitya Bora’s Platoon One, Manish Mundra’s Drishyam Films, and Milapsingh Jadeja, Samyukta Gupta, and Kunal Kumar, Ghaat features a strong cast, including acclaimed Marathi actors Jitendra Joshi, Milind Shinde, Suruchi Adarkar, Dhananjay Mandavkar, and Janardhan Kadam. The cinematography, skillfully executed by Udit Khurana, adds to the movie’s compelling visual storytelling. Khurana recently worked on the Netflix documentary The Hunt for Veerappan and Huma Qureshi’s Baayan.
Writer-director Chhatrapal Ninawe is particularly excited about the film’s release in India. “Ghaath is a film with deep content. Depicting both trust and betrayal, it is set in a remote part of Maharashtra where the rule of law is fragile. Life in this world is fraught with fear, where danger lurks at every step. Despite this, there is a pulse of life moving forward. The morality and immorality of life there is unique, and their dilemmas shape their lives in profound ways. I invite the audience to experience this multi-emotional story. Ghaath is an ambush of trust, where faith is rare and life is constantly at risk.”
The 124-minute crime thriller was selected for the Work-in-Progress Lab at Film Bazaar, India, where it won the Lab Award. It was also nominated for the GWFF Best First Feature Award at the Berlin Film Festival. Ghaat premiered in India at Jio MAMI 2023 and was subsequently screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).
Producer Shiladitya Bora remarks, “Ghaath is a diamond in the rough. As a producer, I am always drawn to films that offer something unique. Ghaath is one of those films, a project that brings to light a story deeply rooted in our soil. I believe that watching it in theaters will be an experience as raw and real as the story itself.”
Bora has produced notable films such as Newton (India’s official entry for the 90th Academy Awards), Picasso (National Film Award winner), To, Ti and Fuji (a Marathi-Japanese romcom), and the upcoming Baayan, starring Huma Qureshi.
Oscar Aspirations:
The Ghaath team has its eyes set on the Oscars. Efforts are underway to officially submit the film as India’s entry for the Academy Awards. The movie is set for full release in Maharashtra on September 27, 2024, with wider distribution in major Indian cities and theaters across North America in the following weeks. The film’s connections to prestigious names in cinema, including its director, producer, and cinematographer, who are all alumni of the Berlin International Film Festival, only strengthen its chances.Ninawe explains, “The story of Ghaath revolves around the delicate relationship of trust, which can both save and destroy lives. The word ‘Ghaath’ in Marathi has dual meanings: ‘betrayal’ and ‘assault.’ The film is a journey through these concepts, where betrayal strikes at the heart, and relationships are tested in brutal and unpredictable ways. Set against the rugged backdrop of Maharashtra, it explores a world where the line between good and evil is blurred. Generations of locals in this region have fiercely protected their land, water, and forests, and their lives are shaped by these unique struggles.”The film focuses on three central characters: a mysterious wanderer, a cunning traitor, and a disillusioned legal scholar. Each of these figures is paired with a native companion—a man with no past seeking liberation, a know-it-all, and a young tribal girl in search of her place in the world. Their lives intertwine in unexpected ways as they navigate a world where trust is both a necessity and a risk, and fear governs survival.
About Chhatrapal Ninawe :
Chhatrapal Ninawe is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was a participant in the Berlinale Talents 2022. Ghaath is his first feature film, which won the WIP Lab Award at NFDC Film Bazaar in 2020 and was selected for the Berlinale Panorama 2023. It was also nominated for the GWFF First Feature Award. Ninawe received the Giuseppe Becce Award for Best Director at Berlinale 2023, organized by Cineclub Verona and FEDIC Magazine. His short film A Check of Death (2007), based on a farmer suicide case in Central India, won an award at the Filmaka India competition.
About Platoon One and Shiladitya Bora :
Platoon One is a boutique film studio based in Mumbai, founded by Shiladitya Bora. Bora is known for his work with PVR Director’s Rare, the indie release banner of PVR Cinemas, which has successfully released over 85 films. Bora, a Berlinale Talents alumnus (2015), has been involved in various aspects of filmmaking, from directing and producing to marketing and distribution. His contributions to Indian independent cinema include acclaimed films such as Court, Masaan, Newton, and SIR. Platoon One’s next project, Baayan, starring Huma Qureshi, was produced during the LA Residency of Global Media Makers – Film Independent and has won the Hubert Bals Fund title.
The studio is also expanding into the North American market, having recently established Platoon One Inc in Oakland, California.
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