The film was theatrically released on 12 September 2025. The film received positive response from critics, grossed over ₹28.44 crore at the box office and emerged as highest grossing Marathi film of 2025.[3]
Plot
In the Konkan region of Maharashtra, veteran Dashavtari performer Babuli Mestri (Dilip Prabhavalkar) has dedicated his entire life to preserving the traditional theatre form of Dashavatār. Despite advancing age and failing eyesight, he stubbornly continues to perform, earning both ridicule and affection from the villagers, who call him “half mad”. His son Madhav (Siddharth Menon) worries about his health and urges him to retire, but Babuli promises to step away once Madhav secures stable employment.
When Madhav finally gets a job, Babuli agrees to deliver one last performance during the Mahashivratri festival, while Madhav plans to propose to his girlfriend Vandana (Priyadarshini Indalkar) on the same day. However, the night takes an unexpected turn when Babuli, in the middle of the play, appears to embody the fierce Rudra avatar. This blurs the line between performance and reality, leading him into a struggle that reflects both personal sacrifice and the community’s battle to protect their natural and cultural heritage.
Structured like a traditional Dashavatār play, the narrative begins with a purva-ranga that introduces the cultural and familial context, and builds into an uttar-ranga where myth and present-day conflicts intertwine. Themes of love, faith, sacrifice, revenge and environmental consciousness are woven into Babuli’s journey, emphasising the continued relevance of the Dashavatār tradition as both a spiritual metaphor and a form of resistance in contemporary society.
Early reports suggested that the lead role in Dashavatar had initially been offered to Rajinikanth, but director Subodh Khanolkar later clarified that these were only rumours.[8][7][9] According to him, the role of veteran Dashavatar performer Babuli Mestri was conceived specifically for Dilip Prabhavalkar, and had he declined, the project would have been shelved. Khanolkar added that "for me, Dilip Prabhavalkar is no less than Rajinikanth in Marathi cinema."
The film was shot across multiple locations in the Konkan region, including Kudal, and was completed in 50 days.[10][11] Khanolkar stated that his vision was to preserve the folk-theatrical essence of Dashavatari plays while making it accessible to modern audiences. To achieve this, the production employed extensive VFX and integrated the traditional performance style with contemporary cinematic techniques.[12]
The trailer was released on 18 August 2025.[14][13]
Release
Theatrical
The film was theatrically released on 12 September 2025.[10] The premiere event was attended by several notable personalities including Aaditya Thackeray, which gained media attention.[15]
Dashavatar is scheduled to be released in Malayalam on 21 November 2025.[16]
Home media
The film will set to be released on 14 November 2025 on ZEE5.[17]
Reception
Critical reception
Dashavatar received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. Critics praised the film's cultural authenticity, performances and visuals, while pointing to pacing issues and a less impactful second half.
Kalpeshraj Kubal of Maharashtra Times rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, praising its breathtaking cinematography of Konkan’s landscapes and the blend of traditional and modern music.[18] Mihir Bhanage of The Times of India rated the film 3 out of 5, describing it as a "visual spectacle" that effectively captures Konkan’s scenic beauty, theatre traditions and spiritual beliefs.[19]
Lokmat offered a more mixed take, acknowledging the film’s effective use of local dialect, costumes, music and traditions while pointing out its occasional melodramatic tone and uneven pacing.[20] A review in Sakal commended Subodh Khanolkar’s direction for blending Dashavtari folk theatre with contemporary concerns. He described first half as "gripping and engaging," and noted that the second half lost some narrative grip, leading to slight disappointment.[21]
Amol Karhadkar of The Hindu noted that Dashavatar shows how a story grounded in local culture can speak to universal human emotions.[22] Anupama Gunde of Pudhari highlighted the film's environmental messaging, noting how it connects Konkan’s threatened ecology with the personal struggles of its protagonist.[6]
Box office
On its opening day, the film collected ₹65 lakh.[23] Over the first three days, it grossed more than ₹5.22 crore, marking the biggest opening weekend for a Marathi film in 2025.[24][25] The film grossed ₹9.25–12 crore in its opening week.[26][27][28] It collected 15.85 by the second weekend.[29]
It collected ₹21.3 crore in its second week,[2] and by the end of the fourth week, its worldwide gross reached ₹26.43 crore.[30] The film earned ₹27.94 crore in thirty nine days.[31]
The Stone Age rock carvings spread across nearly 900 kilometers from Ratnagiri to Goa are often seen as the footprints of early human civilization and are now protected monuments. In Ratnagiri district alone, over 1,500 carvings have been found at about 70 sites. An agreement has been signed between the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and the Nisargayatri organization for their preservation and conservation in the Konkan region.[33]
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