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Godavari
VIFF premiere poster
Directed by	Nikhil Mahajan
Written by	Prajakt Deshmukh Nikhil Mahajan
Produced by	Jitendra Joshi Mitali Joshi Pavan Malu Nikhil Mahajan
Starring	Neena Kulkarni Jitendra Joshi Vikram Gokhale
Cinematography	Shamin Kulkarni
Edited by	Hrishikesh Petwe
Music by	AV Prafullachandra
Production companies	Blue Drop Films Jitendra Joshi Pictures
Distributed by	Jio Studios
Release dates	4 October 2021 (2021-10-04) (VIFF) 11 November 2022 (2022-11-11) (India)
Running time	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. 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.

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. 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

• Neena Kulkarni as Nishikant's mother
• Jitendra Joshi as Nishikant Deshmukh
• Sanjay Mone as Nishikant's father
• Vikram Gokhale as Nishikant's grandfather
• Gauri Nalawade as Gautami, Nishikant's wife
• Saniya Bhandare as Sarita, Nishikant's daughter
• Priyadarshan Jadhav as Keshav
• Ameet Dograa
• Pavan Malu
• Sakhi Gokhale as Nishikant's Sister
• Mohit Takalkar as The Balloon Man

Release

Godavari was initially slated to release on May 1, 2021, commemorating Maharashtra Day, but was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. 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, and its theatrical release in India was scheduled on 3 December 2021.

The film was also invited at the New Zealand International Film Festival for its Wellington edition to be screened on 10 November 2021, and at 52nd International Film Festival of India in the film category of 'Indian Panorama' section for screening in November. It was also selected for Golden Peacock Awards category. 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. It was released theatrically on 11 November 2022 after delays.

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."

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".

Awards and nominations

References

1. "Jio Studios unveils slate of Marathi films, series". The Times of India. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
2. "69th National Film Awards: Nikhil Mahajan Bags Best Director For Marathi Film Godavari". TimesNow. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
3. Joshi, Jitendra (8 December 2021). "'गोदावरी'चा अंत:स्थ प्रवाह." Loksatta (in Marathi). Retrieved 8 December 2021.
4. ^ "VIFF 2021 Films Godavari". VIFF. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
5. "69th National Film Awards 2023 complete winners list: Rocketry, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Allu Arjun win big". The Indian Express. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
6. Mihir Bhanage (10 April 2021). "Bali, Jhimma and Godavari release dates postponed following stricter COVID guidelines". Times of India. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
7. "'Godavari': Jitendra Joshi releases 'the International trailer' of his film ahead of its world premiere at Vancouver International Film Festival". Times of India. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
8. "Jitendra Joshi and Gauri Nalawade's 'Godavari' to hit the screens on December 3, 2021". Times of India. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
9. "Godavari 2021 - New Zealand International Film Festival". NZIFF. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
10. Frater, Patrick (12 October 2021). "Strong Asian Selection Characterizes New Zealand Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
11. "IFFI's Indian Panorama line-up includes India's Oscar entry Koozhangal, regional films lead again". The Indian Express. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
12. Shemin Joy (11 November 2021). "Three Indian films in IFFI's international competition section". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2021 – via Press release.
13. ^ "Marathi film 'Godavari' selected as the opening film for New York Indian Film Festival". Times of India. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
14. Sugandha Rawal (12 May 2022). "Indian flavours at Cannes 2022: Six Indian films to screen at the film festival". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
15. "Jitendra Joshi's 'Godavari' to have world premiere at Cannes; deets inside". Times of India. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
16. Mahajan, Nikhil (11 November 2022), Godavari (Drama), Blue Drop Films, Jitendra Joshi Pictures, retrieved 15 March 2023
17. "Godavari Movie Review : A beautiful story and strong performances help the film shine". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
18. Charlie Smith (27 September 2021). "VIFF review: Nikhil Mahajan's character study in Godavari offers thoughtful alternative to Bollywood fare". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
19. "Godavari Movie Review : A beautiful story and strong performances help the film shine". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
20. "Ringu Wandering, Jitendra Joshi and Angela Molina win big at 52nd IFFI". The Indian Express. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
21. Marathi, TV9 (20 September 2022). "प्रवाह पिक्चर पुरस्कार सोहळ्यात 'या' चित्रपटाचा बोलबाला; मिळाले 7 पुरस्कार". TV9 Marathi (in Marathi). Retrieved 27 August 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
22. "Zee Chitra Gaurav 2023: कुणाला मिळणार 'झी चित्र गौरव' २०२३ पुरस्कार.. नामांकन यादी जाहीर." eSakal - Marathi Newspaper (in Marathi). Retrieved 27 August 2023.
23. "69th National Film Awards: Nikhil Mahajan Bags Best Director For Marathi Film Godavari". TimesNow. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
24. Sujata (1 April 2023). "Planet Marathi presents Filmfare Awards Marathi 2022 lauds the outstanding achievements in Marathi Cinema". Business News This Week. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
25. मुंबई, ब्युरो रिपोर्ट, साम टीव्ही (5 September 2023). "कलाकारांच्या सन्मानासाठी रंगणार 'फक्त मराठी सिने सन्मान' सोहळा". Saam TV | साम टीव्ही (in Marathi). Retrieved 6 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
26. Navarashtra (18 September 2023). "Fakt Marathi Awards | फक्त मराठी सिने सन्मान सोहळ्यात 'वाळवी' ठरला सर्वोत्कृष्ट चित्रपट,सचिन पिळगावकर यांच्या कारकिर्दीला सलाम | Navarashtra (नवराष्ट्र)". Navarashtra (in Marathi). Retrieved 18 November 2023.
27. Marathi, TV9 (8 November 2023). "Aapla Bioscope 2023 : कोण ठरणार 'आपला बायोस्कोप २०२३' पुरस्कारांचे मानकरी?". TV9 Marathi (in Marathi). Retrieved 18 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
28. "TV9 Marathi - Aapla Bioscope, Marathi TV and Film Awards 2023". TV9 Marathi (in Marathi). Retrieved 18 November 2023.
29. Marathi, TV9 (9 December 2023). "टीव्ही 9 मराठीच्या 'आपला बायोस्कोप अवॉर्ड्स 2023'मध्ये या कलाकारांनी मारली बाजी". TV9 Marathi (in Marathi). Retrieved 11 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links

• Godavari at IMDb

• 2021 films
• 2020s Marathi-language films
• Marathi-language drama films
• Films postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Indian drama films
• Films shot in Maharashtra
• Films set on rivers
• Films scored by AV Prafullachandra