Dashavatar (2025 film)

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Dashavatar
Dashavatar Marathi movie.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySubodh Khanolkar
Written bySubodh Khanolkar
Produced bySujay Hande
Onkar Kate
Subodh Khanolkar
Ashok Hande
Aditya Joshi
Nitin Sahasrabudhe
Mrunal Sahasrabudhe
Sanjay Dubey
Vinayak Joshi
Starring Dilip Prabhavalkar
Bharat Jadhav
Sidharth Menon
Abhinay Berde
Priyadarshini Indalkar
Mahesh Manjrekar
CinematographyDevendra Golatkar
Edited byFaizal Mahadik
Music by AV Prafullachandra
Production
companies
Ocean Film Company
Ocean Art House
Distributed by Zee Studios
Release date
  • 12 September 2025 (2025-09-12)
CountryIndia
LanguageMarathi
Box office₹12.85 crore [1]

Dashavatar is a 2025 Indian Marathi-language suspense thriller film directed by Subodh Khanolkar and produced by Ocean Film Company and Ocean Art House. [2] The film featuring Dilip Prabhavalkar, Bharat Jadhav, Mahesh Manjrekar, Siddharth Menon, Abhinay Berde, and Priyadarshini Indalkar in the leading roles. [3] The film follows an ageing Dashavatāra performer whose final play turns into a spiritual and cultural battle, blending myth with reality to explore sacrifice, faith, and the struggle to protect heritage and nature. [4]

Contents

The film was theatrically released on 12 September 2025. The film received positive response from critics, grossed over ₹12.85 crore at the box office and emerged as highest grossing Marathi film of 2025. [1]

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.

Cast

Production

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. [6] [5] [7] 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. [8] [9] 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. [10]

Marketing

The trailer was released on 18 August 2025. [11] [12]

Release

The film was theatrically released on 12 September 2025. [8] The premiere event was attended by several notable personalities including Aaditya Thackeray, which gained media attention. [13]

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. He noted that while A. V. Prafullachandra’s work wasn’t at his usual best, Guru Thakur’s "Rangpuja" stood out as a gem. He concluded that Dashavatar offers a rare, visually rich experience in Marathi cinema, successfully marrying visuals with words. [14] 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. He praised Dilip Prabhavalkar’s performance, noting his expressive screen presence despite age, while also commending Siddharth Menon and Priyadarshini Indalkar. However, he criticised the lengthy setup, overuse of slow motion and the predictable climax, though he appreciated the environmental message in the ending. [15]

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. It nevertheless highlighted Prabhavalkar’s portrayal as the film’s standout element. [16] A review in eSakal commended Subodh Khanolkar’s direction for blending Dashavtari folk theatre with contemporary concerns. It praised the authentic portrayal of Konkan’s natural beauty, the use of VFX and cinematography, and performances by the ensemble cast, particularly Prabhavalkar. While the first half was described as "gripping and engaging," the review noted that the second half lost some narrative grip, leading to slight disappointment. [17]

Amol Karhadkar of The Hindu noted that Dashavatar shows how a story grounded in local culture can speak to universal human emotions. [18] 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. She praised the performances of Prabhavalkar, Priyadarshini Indalkar and Vijay Kenkre, and concluded that the film succeeds in blending folk art with ecological concerns. [4]

Box office

On its opening day, the film collected ₹65 lakh. [19] Over the first three days, it grossed more than ₹5.22 crore, marking the biggest opening weekend for a Marathi film in 2025. [20] [21] The film grossed ₹9.25–10 crore in its opening week. [22] [23]

Music

The music is composed by AV Prafullachandra and lyrics are penned by Guru Thakur. [12]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Aavshicho Gho"Onkarswaroop3:35
2."Paramparik Ganesh Stavan"Amol Mochemadkar4:11
3."Rutuchakra"Sahil Kulkarni, Swanandi Sardesai4:09
4."Rangpooja" Ajay Gogavale 3:21

References

  1. 1 2 "'दशावतार'ने करून दाखवलं! कोण म्हणतं मराठी चित्रपटांना थिएटर मिळत नाही?". TV9 Marathi (in Marathi). 21 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  2. ↑ शिकलगार, स्वालिया न (2 July 2025). "Dilip Prabhavalkar Dashavatar | कोकणच्या लाल मातीत रुजलेला 'दशावतार' येतोय". Pudhari News (in Marathi). Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  3. ↑ "पोस्टरमधल्या मराठी अभिनेत्याला ओळखलं का? महात्मा गांधींची भूमिका साकारून मिळवली लोकप्रियता". news18marathi.com (in Marathi). 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  4. 1 2 "कोकणचा निसर्ग अबाधित ठेवण्याचा संदेश : दशावतार". Pudhari News (in Marathi). 12 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 Chaoghule, Amrita (21 August 2025). "Dashavatar Marathi movie : 'दशावतार' बनणार होता रजनीकांतचा पहिला मराठी सिनेमा पण." Pudhari News (in Marathi). Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "Dilip Prabhavalkar shoots for 'Dashavatar' in Konkan". The Times of India. 12 December 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  7. ↑ Jagtap, Namdev (15 September 2025). "'दशावतार' सिनेमासाठी दिलीप प्रभावळकर नाहीतर, रजनीकांत होते पहिली पसंत? दिग्दर्शक म्हणाले..." ABP Majha (in Marathi). Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  8. 1 2 "कोकणातील गूढ कथेवर आधारित 'दशावतार' चित्रपट 'या' दिवशी प्रदर्शित होणार". Zee 24 taas (in Marathi). 23 June 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "दिलीप प्रभावळकरांचा गूढ अवतार, कोकणात सलग ५० दिवस चित्रीकरण, 'दशावतार' रुपेरी पडद्यावर अवतरणार". Loksatta (in Marathi). 22 June 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "Dashavatar Movie Review". Sakal (in Marathi). 14 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  11. ↑ "'Dashavatar' trailer: In Marathi thriller, murder is blamed on a supernatural force". Scroll.in. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  12. 1 2 Jagtap, Namdeo (19 August 2025). "'तो देवाचा माणूस, तुम्ही जमीन बडवत बसाल, तो पंजा मारून निघून जाईल';'दशावतार'चा हादरवणारा ट्रेलर". ABP Majha (in Marathi). Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  13. ↑ "Dashavatar Marathi movie premiere: Aaditya Thackeray present, this act caught attention". Zee 24 Taas (in Marathi). 12 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  14. ↑ "बाबुली मेस्त्रीचं शेवटचं सोंग अन् 'इपरीता'ची कहाणी... कसा आहे दिलीप प्रभावळकरांचा 'दशावतार'?". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  15. ↑ Bhanage, Mihir (12 September 2025). "Dashavatar Movie Review : A visual spectacle high on performances". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Dashavatar Movie Review : दशावतारमध्ये कोकणातील संस्कृतीची झलक, दिलीप प्रभावळकरांचा अभिनय ठरला ठळक वैशिष्ट्य". Lokmat (in Marathi). 13 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "Dashavatar Movie Review : दशावतार चित्रपटात दिलीप प्रभावळकरांचा दमदार अभिनय, कोकणातील संस्कृतीची देखणी मांडणी". eSakal (in Marathi). 13 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  18. ↑ Karhadkar, Amol (20 September 2025). "Not just local: How the Marathi film 'Dashavatar' became a pan-India hit". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  19. ↑ "दशावतार'ची धमाकेदार एंट्री; 'बिन लग्नाची गोष्ट' आणि 'आरपार'च्या कमाईवर पडला परिणाम!". Zee 24 Taas (in Marathi). 13 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  20. ↑ "Dashavatar Movie Box Office Collection: बॉक्स ऑफिसवर 'दशावतार'ची धूम! शोज हाऊसफुल्ल; किती झाली कमाई?". NDTV Marathi. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  21. ↑ "Dashavatar Surpasses Gulkand To Become Biggest Marathi Opener Of 2025, Earning Rs 4.37 Crore In Week 1". NDTV. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  22. ↑ "Dilip Prabhavalkar's Dashavatar Sees Steady Growth On Week 1, Next Stop Rs 10 Crore". News18. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  23. ↑ "Do Punekars Still Head To Theatres To Watch Marathi Films?". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
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