Marathi cinema, like every other Indian cinema, is filled with outstanding performances and unforgettable characters, but many of these great films never got the kind of attention they truly deserved. Hence, this list brings together some of the best Marathi films that somehow ended up hidden from the mainstream audience. No matter what type of movies you enjoy, you should definitely add these underrated gems to your watchlist.
1. Samna (1974)
A gripping socio-political drama where a former school teacher and a drunkard get entangled in a battle of wits with a powerful local figure. Their confrontation slowly exposes the corruption and moral decay hidden beneath the village’s calm surface.
Director: Jabbar Patel
Year: 1974
Star Cast: Nilu Phule, Shreeram Lagoo and Smita Patil
2. Sinhasan (1979)
A political thriller that explores Machiavellian politics, corruption, and media influence, which is relevant even today. The story revolves around the power struggle for the post of chief minister.
Director: Jabbar Patel
Cast: Nilu Phule, Dr. Mohan Agashe and Sulabha Deshpande
Year: 1979
3. Ek Ratra Mantarleli (1989)
A cult horror-thriller that unfolds unexplained events and disappearances when the will is read 20 years after the owner’s death.
Director: Kumar Sohoni
Cast: Ashwini Bhave, Prashant Damle
Year: 1989
4. Tingya (2008)
A heartbreaking rural drama that explores the deep bond between a boy and his injured bull, Chitangya, highlighting issues like debts and other hardships farmers face in Maharashtra.
Director: Mangesh Hadawale
Cast: Sharad Goyekar
Year: 2008
5. Harishchandrachi Factory (2009)
A cheerful and inspiring biographical movie about Dadasaheb Phalke and his struggle to create India’s first feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913). The movie is known for its lighthearted portrayal of how Dadasheb overcame all financial and technical challenges and achieved success.
Director: Paresh Mokashi
Cast: Nandu Madhav, Vibhavari Deshpande
Year: 2009
6. Balak Palak (2013)
A group of teenagers sets out to unravel the mysteries of adulthood, discovering friendship, confusion, and life lessons along the way in this honest and humorous coming-of-age gem.
Director: Ravi Jadhav
Cast: Prathamesh Parab, Ketaki Mategaonkar
Year: 2013
7. Killa (2014)
A sensitive portrayal of how an introverted young boy had to move away from a big city like Pune to a coastal village in the Konkan region after his father’s demise and how he adapts to his new life.
Director: Avinash Arun
Cast: Archit Deodhar, Parth Bhalerao
Year: 2014
8. Kaasav (2016)
A soul-touching film about mental health, healing, and human connection. India’s official entry to many festivals. The story centers on Manav and Janaki struggling with loneliness, depression and anxiety attacks.
Director: Sumitra Bhave & Sunil Sukthankar
Cast: Alok Rajwade, Irawati Harshe
Year: 2016
9. The Disciple (2020)
Directed by Chaitanya Tamhane and executive produced by Alfonso Cuarón (winner of four Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, seven BAFTA Awards and one Golden Lion), this film explores an Indian classical vocalist’s lifelong pursuit of achieving perfection.
Director: Chaitanya Tamhane
Cast: Aditya Modak, Arun Dravid
Year: 2020
10. Ghar Banduk Biryani (2023)
A genre-bending action-comedy-thriller set in the backdrop of rural Maharashtra, where the lives of a dacoit leader, a police inspector and a chef intersect.
Director: Hemant Awtade
Cast: Nagraj Manjule, Sayaji Shinde
Year: 2023
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What makes a Marathi film a “hidden gem”?
When a film receives all the critical appreciation but not the commercial success, we can call it one of the best Marathi movies to watch that has been hiding in plain sight. These types of movies often surprise us with strong storytelling, unique themes and outstanding performances.
2. Where can I watch these underrated Marathi films?
Most of these films are available across popular streaming platforms such as Zee5, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube. Availability may vary by region and platform.
3. Are these hidden gem films suitable for all audiences?
Some of these best Marathi movies to watch are family-friendly, while the rest of them, especially political dramas or psychological thrillers, may be better suited for a mature audience. We advise you to check ratings and content advisories before watching.
4. Why should I explore older Marathi films from the ’70s and ’80s?
Some of the best Indian movies were made in the ’70s and ’80s across all languages and Marathi cinema was not an exception. These movies featured powerful storytelling, brilliant acting and socially relevant themes that are still relevant today.
5. Do newer Marathi films also make it to the hidden gems list?
Yes, many recent Marathi popular movies, despite being so good, didn’t get the mainstream visibility they deserved. They are an amalgamation of modern filmmaking with strong narratives, which makes them great additions to the best Marathi movies list.
