Zapatlela | |
---|---|
Created by | Mahesh Kothare |
Original work | Zapatlela (1993) |
Owner | Kothare and Kothare Vision |
Years | 1993–present |
Films and television | |
Film(s) | Zapatlela (1993) Zapatlela 2 (2013) Zapatlela Mi Tatya Vinchu (2025) |
Audio | |
Soundtrack(s) | |
Miscellaneous | |
Budget | ₹8.5 crore (2 films) |
Box office | ₹15 crore (2 films) |
Zapatlela is an Indian Marathi-language comedy horror film series created by Mahesh Kothare. The first film, Zapatlela , was released in 1993, followed by the second installment, Zapatlela 2 , in 2013. The third installment Zapatlela Mi Tatya Vinchu is set to begin production in December 2024 and is expected to be released in 2025. [1] [2]
Film | Released | Director | Cast | Producer | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zapatlela | 16 April 1993 [3] | Mahesh Kothare | Mahesh Kothare, Laxmikant Berde, Pooja Pawar, Madhu Kambikar, Kishori Ambiye, Ravindra Berde, Jairam Kulkarni, Vijay Chavan, Raghavendra Kadkol, Bipin Varti, Dilip Prabhavalkar | Mahesh Kothare | |
Zapatlela 2 | 7 June 2013 [3] | Adinath Kothare, Sonalee Kulkarni, Mahesh Kothare, Makarand Anaspure, Sai Tamhankar, Madhu Kambikar, Vijay Chavan, Deepak Shirke, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Abhijeet Chavan, Vishakha Subhedar, Raghvendra Kadkol | Mahesh Kothare, Adinath Kothare |
The first installment in the series, directed and produced by Mahesh Kothare under Jenma Films International. It is inspired from the 1988 American film Child's Play, directed by Don Mancini. The film stars Mahesh Kothare, Laxmikant Berde, Pooja Pawar, Kishori Ambiye, Madhu Kambikar, Jairam Kulkarni, Vijay Chavan, Ravindra Berde, Raghavendra Kadkol, and Bipin Varti, with Dilip Prabhavalkar making a cameo appearance and providing the voiceover for the puppet character Tatya Vinchu. The practical effects for the puppet were created by Ramdas Padhye. The film's music was composed by Anil Mohile, while cinematography was handled by Suryakant Lavande. Zapatlela became a notable success in Marathi cinema, blending elements of horror and comedy.
The film was also dubbed in Hindi as Khilona Bana Khalnayak. [4]
Zapatlela 2, the second installment in the series, was released 20 years later in 2013 in 3D format. Around ₹1.7 crore was invested in 3D and visual effects. [5] Directed and co-produced by Mahesh Kothare, the film features an ensemble cast including Adinath Kothare, Sonalee Kulkarni, Mahesh Kothare, Makarand Anaspure, Sai Tamhankar, Madhu Kambikar, Vijay Chavan, and Deepak Shirke. Dilip Prabhavalkar returned to reprise the voice role of Tatya Vinchu. The music was composed by Avadhoot Gupte, while cinematography was handled by Suresh Deshmane. Despite the high production values, the film underperformed at the box office, grossing ₹12 crore in its entire theatrical run. [6]
Actor/Actress | Film | ||
---|---|---|---|
Zapatlela (1993) | Zapatlela 2 (2013) | Zapatlela Mi Tatya Vinchu (2025) | |
Mahesh Kothare | Mahesh Jadhav | ||
Laxmikant Berde | Laxmikant Bolke | Laxmikant Bolke | |
Adinath Kothare [7] | Aditya Bolke | ||
Dilip Prabhavalkar (voice actor) | Tatya Vinchu | ||
Bipin Varti | Kubdya Khavis | ||
Raghvendra Kadkol [8] | Baba Chamatkar | ||
Pooja Pawar | Aavdi | ||
Madhu Kambikar | Parubai Bolke | TBA | |
Abhijeet Chavan | Kubdya Khavis | ||
Makarand Anaspure | Makarand Vatvate | TBA | |
Kishori Ambiye | Gauri Ghatge | ||
Jairam Kulkarni | Jairam Ghatge | ||
Vijay Chavan | Constable Sakharam | ||
Sonali Kulkarni | Megha Satarkar | TBA | |
Sai Tamhankar | Gauri Wagh | ||
Ramdas Padhye | Himself (Cameo) |
Mahesh Jadhav is a CID Inspector in the films, serving as the primary law enforcement officer chasing down the notorious crime lord Tatya Vinchu, portrayed by Mahesh Kothare. He is dedicated, skilled, and deeply involved in the investigation surrounding Tatya Vinchu's criminal activities, especially after the death of the crime lord. He is also shown as a determined, no-nonsense character who doesn't believe in the supernatural but is forced to confront it due to Tatya Vinchu's reincarnation in a puppet. Throughout the story, Mahesh works alongside others, including Gauri, to uncover the truth and bring justice. His persistence and bravery ultimately lead to the defeat of Tatya Vinchu, though the film leaves room for his role to continue in the investigation of the villain's severed head.
Laxmikant Bolke, also known as Lakshya, is a central character in the story. He is a young man from the village of Shrirangpur, Maharashtra, who works as a shopkeeper and has a passion for ventriloquism. He is in a relationship with Aavdi, the daughter of Constable Tukaram, but their relationship faces obstacles due to Aavdi's forced marriage arrangement with another constable, Sakharam. Lakshya becomes unwittingly entangled in the supernatural events when his sister, Gauri, sends him a puppet from the US, which is later revealed to be possessed by the soul of the notorious crime lord, Tatya Vinchu. Lakshya is initially unaware of the puppet's dark nature and believes it to be a harmless ventriloquist's prop, but soon finds himself at the center of a deadly struggle as Tatya Vinchu attempts to possess his body.
Tatya Vinchu is the main antagonist in the films, a notorious crime lord who is deeply feared for his ruthlessness and criminal intelligence. He is initially introduced as a villain involved in various illegal activities, including theft and murder. His character is marked by a desire for power and immortality, which leads him to seek out a magical "Mrityunjay Mantra" from a magician named Baba Chamatkar. This mantra has the power to transfer the soul of the person chanting it into any living or non-living object.
Tatya Vinchu's quest for immortality drives the central conflict of the story. After being fatally shot during a police encounter with CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav, he uses the mantra to transfer his soul into a ventriloquist puppet, which allows him to continue his life as a puppet-controlled entity. His goal becomes to possess the body of Lakshya, the son of his previous adversary, in order to regain a human form and continue his reign of terror.
Tatya Vinchu is a malevolent and manipulative figure who relentlessly pursues his goal of using the body of the innocent to return to life, creating chaos and danger for those around him. Even after his defeat, his severed head hints at the possibility of his return, leaving a lingering sense of menace.
Kubdya Khavis is a key antagonist in the film played by Bipin Varti in Zapatlela (1993) and by Abhijeet Chavan in Zapatlela 2 (2013). He is the former sidekick Tatya Vinchu. After Tatya Vinchu is fatally shot and believed to be dead, Kubdya Khavis escapes from prison and is determined to resurrect his master. He seeks out Baba Chamatkar, the magician who initially gave Tatya Vinchu the "Mrityunjay Mantra," which allows the soul to transfer into any living or non-living object.
Kubdya Khavis attempts to revive Tatya Vinchu in exchange for a share of diamonds that were stolen by him and Tatya. However, Baba Chamatkar refuses to help him, and in a fit of rage, Kubdya Khavis tries to kill the magician. In an accidental turn of events, Kubdya Khavis' blood lands on the puppet that Tatya Vinchu had possessed, leading to the resurrection of Tatya's soul. Kubdya Khavis, despite his role in the resurrection, ends up being killed by Baba Chamatkar, setting the stage for the ongoing conflict between Tatya Vinchu and the protagonists.
Kubdya Khavis serves as a loyal but misguided character who is instrumental in bringing Tatya Vinchu back, but ultimately meets his demise in the process.
Aavdi is the daughter of Constable Tukaram in the film. It was played by Pooja Pawar. She is in a romantic relationship with Lakshya, the protagonist, who is a shopkeeper and Puppeteer in Shrirangpur. [9] However, her marriage has been arranged with Constable Sakharam against her wishes. Throughout the story, Aavdi supports Lakshya, and by the end of the film, she is set to marry him after the conflict with Tatya Vinchu is resolved.
Baba Chamatkar is a wizard in Mumbai who possesses knowledge of powerful spells, including the "Mrityunjay Mantra" which allows the character's soul to inhabit other objects. Initially fearful of the notorious crime lord Tatya Vinchu, he reluctantly provides the mantra, setting off the events of the story. After Tatya Vinchu's revival, Baba Chamatkar reveals that to transfer his soul into a human body, Tatya Vinchu must use the mantra on the person to whom he first confessed his identity. Chamatkar ultimately resists assisting Tatya Vinchu further, leading to his confrontation with Kubdya Khavis, where he kills Khavis in self-defense before being threatened by Vinchu again.
Parubai Bolke is a key supporting character portrayed by Madhu Kambikar in the both films. She is the mother of Lakshya and the grandmother of Aditya Bolke. Parubai lives in the village of Shrirangpur, where she plays a central role in the family dynamics. As a widow, she is portrayed as a caring and protective matriarch who looks after her family, especially her son and later her grandson.
In the story, Parubai is closely involved with the events surrounding the puppet possessed by the soul of the Tatya Vinchu. She is unaware of the puppet's sinister nature at first but becomes a key figure in trying to protect her family from Tatya's influence. When Tatya Vinchu seeks to possess the body of her son Lakshya, and later her grandson Aditya, Parubai becomes a crucial part of the story, trying to safeguard them from the malevolent spirit.
Aditya Bolke is the main protagonist in Zapatlela 2 . It was played by Adinath Kothare, the son of Mahesh Kothare. He is the son of Lakshya and Aavdi, a key characters from the previous installment. Aditya is a mechanical engineer who is currently unemployed and lives with his grandmother, Parubai, in the village of Shrirangpur. Despite being trained in engineering, he shares his father's passion for ventriloquism. Aditya is introduced as a young man who gets involved with the events surrounding the revival of the villainous character, Tatya Vinchu, when he inadvertently becomes the target for Tatya Vinchu's soul migration.
Aditya is the key to Tatya Vinchu's plan, as Tatya seeks to transfer his soul into Aditya's body, given that Aditya is the son of Lakshya (who had a connection to Tatya Vinchu's past). Throughout the story, Aditya navigates his life, his budding romance with Megha, and his encounters with various characters, including Makarand (the ventriloquist), while also facing the growing threat from Tatya Vinchu, who is seeking to use Aditya's body to resurrect himself fully.
Occupation | Film | ||
---|---|---|---|
Zapatlela (1993) [10] | Zapatlela 2 (2013) [11] [12] | Zapatlela Mi Tatya Vinchu (2025) [13] [3] | |
Director | Mahesh Kothare | ||
Producer(s) | |||
Story | |||
Screenplay |
| ||
Dialogues | Ashok Patole | ||
Music Composer(s) | Anil Mohile | Avadhoot Gupte | TBA |
Lyricists | Pravin Danve | Guru Thakur | |
Cinematography | Suryakant Lavande | Suresh Deshmane | |
Editors | Vishwas–Anil | Shashank Shah | |
Production Designers | Nivrutti Dalwi | Nitin Desai | |
Choreographers | Subal Sarkar |
| |
Action Directors |
| Andalib Pathan | |
Production companies | Jenma Films International | Jenma Films International | |
Distributors | Adinath Film Distributors | Moving Pictures | Select Media Holdings |
Film | Release date | Budget | Box office revenue |
---|---|---|---|
Zapatlela | 16 April 1993 [3] | ₹4 crore | ₹3 crore [15] |
Zapatlela 2 | 7 June 2013 [3] | ₹4.5 crore [16] | ₹12 crore [17] |
Total | ₹8.5 crore | ₹15 crore |
In 2017, Mahesh Kothare announced his plans to create "Zapatlela 3." [18] Then, in 2024, he confirmed the project again under the title Zapatlela Mi Tatya Vinchu, revealing that it is scheduled for a theatrical release in 2025. [19]
Laxmikant Berde was an Indian Marathi language film actor who appeared in Marathi and Hindi movies. Known for his highly energetic slapstick performances, Berde started his career as an employee in the production company Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh and then played supporting roles in a few Marathi stage plays. In 1983–84, he first became famous with the Marathi play Tur Tur.
Ashok Saraf is an Indian actor and comedian, known for his work in Marathi and Hindi films along with theatre in both languages. Saraf has received several awards including eleven Maharashtra State Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards Marathi. He is referred to as the Mahanayak, Ashok Samrat or Mama of the Marathi film industry. In 2023, he received the Maharashtra Bhushan, the highest civilian honour in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Nivedita Saraf is an Indian film, television and theatre actress. She made her film debut as a child in the 1977 Hindi film Apnapan. and started her career in lead roles as a teen-adult in 1984, when she was cast in the Marathi film Navri Mile Navryala. She quickly established herself as one of the prominent and leading female stars of Marathi cinema, with the roles in Gharcha Bhedi (1984), Dhoom Dhadaka (1985), De Danadan (1987), Thartharat (1989) and Majha Chakula (1994) with Mahesh Kothare, Kiss Bai Kiss (1988), Gholat Ghol (1988), Pheka Pheki (1989), De Dhadak Be Dhadak (1989) with Laxmikant Berde, Balache Baap Brahmachari (1989), Tuzhi Mazhi Jamli Jodi (1990), Aamchyasarkhe Aamhich (1990), Tu Sukhakarta (1993), Dhamaal Jodi (1995) with Ashok Saraf, and Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi (1988) with Siddharth Ray.
Priya Arun Berde is an Indian actress who has worked in several Marathi language films. She is the wife of the actor Laxmikant Berde and is the daughter of actress Lata Arun. She joined Bharatiya Janata Party in 2023.
Marathi Cinema, also known as Marathi film industry, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Marathi language widely spoken in the state of Maharashtra. It is based in Mumbai. It is the oldest film industry of India and one of the leaders in filmmaking in the Indian film industry.
De Danadan is a 1987 Indian Marathi-language action comedy film directed and produced by Mahesh Kothare under the banner of Jenma Films International. The film stars Laxmikant Berde, Mahesh Kothare, Nivedita Joshi, Prema Kiran, Jairam Kulkarni, Deepak Shirke and Ambar Kothare.
Mahesh Ambar Kothare is an Indian film actor, director and producer of Marathi and Hindi films. He started his acting career as child artist. Kothare acted in well-known movies such as Raja Aur Runk, Chhota Bhai, Mere Laal, and Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. The well known Hindi song Tu Kitni Achhi Hain from the film Raja Aur Runk features Kothare as Master Mahesh.
Zapatlela 2 is a 2013 Indian Marathi-language horror comedy thriller film written and directed by Mahesh Kothare. Produced by Kothare and Kothare Vision, it was distributed by Viacom18 Motion Pictures. A sequel to the 1993 film Zapatlela, it stars Adinath Kothare, Sonalee Kulkarni, Mahesh Kothare, Makarand Anaspure, Sai Tamhankar, Madhu Kambikar, Vijay Chavan, Deepak Shirke, and features Dilip Prabhavalkar providing the voice for Tatya Vinchu. This film is notable for being the first Marathi movie shot entirely with a 3D camera. Mahesh Kothare has also announced plans for a third installment, set for theatrical release in 2025.
Adinath Kothare is an Indian actor, producer, and director, who predominantly works in Marathi films. His directorial debut film, 'Paani', won the 'National Film Award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation' at the 66th National Film Awards and also won him the 'Best Actor' award at the New York Indian Film Festival. His father, Mahesh Kothare, is a veteran film director of Marathi films.
Zapatlela (transl. Possessed) is a 1993 Indian Marathi-language horror comedy film directed and produced by Mahesh Kothare under Jenma Films International. The film stars an ensemble cast of Mahesh Kothare, Laxmikant Berde, Pooja Pawar, Kishori Ambiye, Madhu Kambikar, Jairam Kulkarni, Vijay Chavan, Ravindra Berde, Raghavendra Kadkol, Bipin Varti, and Dilip Prabhavalkar made a cameo appearance and provided the voiceover for the puppet Tatya Vinchu in the film. The practical effects for the puppet were created by Ramdas Padhye, a renowned ventriloquist and puppeteer. A sequel titled Zapatlela 2 was released 20 years later in 2013 in 3D format. The movie was also dubbed in Hindi as Khilona Bana Khalnayak.
Dhum Dhadaka is a 1985 Indian Marathi-language comedy buddy film directed and produced by Mahesh Kothare under the production banner of Jenma Films International. The film stars an ensemble cast of Ashok Saraf, Mahesh Kothare, Laxmikant Berde, Nivedita Joshi, Surekha Rane, Prema Kiran and Sharad Talwalkar. The film is a remake of the Tamil movie Kadhalikka Neramillai (1964), which was also remade earlier in Telugu as Preminchi Choodu (1965), in Hindi as Pyar Kiye Jaa (1966) and in Kannada as Preethi Madu Thamashe Nodu (1979).
Khabardaar is a 2005 Marathi-language comedy film produced and directed by Mahesh Kothare and starring Bharat Jadhav, Sanjay Narvekar and Nirmiti Sawant.
Thartharat (transl. Tremble) is a 1989 Indian Marathi-language action comedy film co-written and directed by Mahesh Kothare and produced by Arvind Samant. The film stars Mahesh Kothare, Laxmikant Berde, Nivedita Joshi, Priya Arun, Deepak Shirke, Jairam Kulkarni and Rahul Solapurkar. The music was composed by Anil Mohile.
Dhadakebaaz (transl. Powerful) is a 1990 Indian Marathi-language action comedy film directed and produced by Mahesh Kothare under Jenma Films International. The screenplay was written by Vasant Sathe and Kothare, while Kothare also provided the story and Purushottam Berde wrote the dialogues. The film features Laxmikant Berde in a dual role, alongside Mahesh Kothare, Deepak Shirke, Prajakta Kulkarni, Ashwini Bhave, Bipin Varti, Ravindra Berde, and Chandrakant Pandya. It was a commercial success.
Majha Chakula is a 1994 Indian Marathi-language drama film directed by Mahesh Kothare. It stars Adinath Kothare (debut), Nivedita Joshi, Laxmikant Berde, Mahesh Kothare and Bipin Varti. The film was remade in Hindi as Masoom by same director.
Tatya Vinchu, also known as Tatya Bichoo, is a fictional character and antagonist from the Marathi-language comedy horror Zapatlela franchise. Created by Mahesh Kothare, designed by Ramdas Padhye, and voiced by Dilip Prabhavalkar, Tatya Vinchu is a possessed puppet who seeks to find the son, Aditya Bolke of his former prey Laxmikant Bolke, with the goal of becoming human once again.
Damn It Ani BarachKahi is a 2023 Indian autobiography book authored by Mahesh Kothare and published by Mehta Publishing House.
Lek Chalali Sasarla is a 1984 Indian Marathi-language drama film directed by N. S. Vaidya in his directorial debut. The film is produced by Annasaheb Deulgaonkar, who co-wrote screenplay and dialogues with N. G. Karmarkar. The film stars Mahesh Kothare, Alka Kubal, Laxmikant Berde. The film is about the problem of bride–burning for dowry has created a stir all over Maharashtra.
Khatarnak (transl. Dangerous) is a 2000 Indian Marathi-language action comedy film directed by Mahesh Kothare and produced by Vidya Bacchewar featuring Mahesh Kothare, Laxmikant Berde, Johnny Lever, Bharat Jadhav, Avinash Narkar, Nutan Jayant, Aarti Chandorkar, Sadashiv Amrapurkar in lead roles. The music is composed by Raamlaxman.
Kavtya Mahakal is a fictional antagonist from the 1990 Indian film Dhadakebaaz. Created by Mahesh Kothare, the character was portrayed by Bipin Varti who also provided the voiceover, and Chandrakant Pandya, along with eight other uncredited actors.