Duniyadari is a 2013 Marathi film directed by Sanjay Jadhav. The film is about the journey of every one which eventually makes them realize the true face of life. It has been acclaimed by Marathi audience. Critical reception was positive. The film is based on a book of the same name by the author Suhas Shirvalkar. This film gave a boost to the Marathi film industry. This is the only Indian film of the dacade which has completed 40 weeks in Cinemas. It had the most collection at box office for a film in Marathi which was broken by Timepass in 2014 and again by Lai Bhaari. The film was remade in Kannada in 2017 as Noorondu Nenapu and in Gujarati in 2017 as Duniyadari. It ran for more than 100 days in Maharashtra.
Plot
Duniyadari opens with grandma Shirin with a streak of grey accompanying grandpa Pritam to Pune, grandchildren in tow. The story traces itself back to presumably the late 1970s. Nothing is spelt out, but each character and its relevance in the plot is unveiled through the narrative that revolves around Shreyas Talwalkar. He is thrown into college in Pune on his mother's insistence. Under circumstances which are reminiscent of college life in the Hindi cinema of the 80s, Shreyas makes friends with DSP aka Digya and his Katta gang. A do-gooder standing tall for friendships in the face of a creepy Saai, Shreyas becomes the voice of reason for the rustic gang. He finds himself attracted to Shirin, but Meenu get attracted to Shreyas which creates a love triangle. Shirin is a student of Medical college and sister of Pritam. They are children of an MLA from Kolhapur, who hates Shirin, his own daughter. Shreyas accepts Meenu's proposal out of spite for Shirin but is not sure about their future. Saai fixes his marriage with Shirin against her wish. Meenu later understands that Shreyas is deeply in love with Shirin. On Saai and Shirin's wedding day, Shreyas and his friends fight with Saai's gang. Finally Shirin marries Shreyas. She is aware that Shreyas is a patient of a deadly disease and has only few remaining months of life. They are about to enter parenthood. The film ends with a touching scene where all the friends, now in their early 50s, meet at the same katta of their college on Shreyas's birthday and express their feelings for him.
ace cameraman of films like Dombivali Fast, Jogwa, Mumbai Meri Jaan and director of Checkmate, Ringa Ringa, Fakta Ladh Mhana is the man behind the production house Dreaming 24/7. What makes Duniyadari more special with Jadhav's directing is the plot inspired from one of the all-time best seller's Duniyadari by eminent writer late Shri Suhas Shirvalkar. Though it is set in the 1970s, it remains related to today's youth.
Soundtrack
Release
Duniyadari was released in Maharashtra and Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka etc. acclaiming huge success outside Maharashtra. The film had a record 710 shows daily and more than 5,000 shows weekly across 270 theatres. Upon the release, the movie had slow start at the box office but positive word of mouth led to sold-out showings even after the tenth week of its release and the movie became the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time at that time, grossing. The film had run in cinema for 40 weeks. This is a unbroken record for the Indian film released in the decade 2010-2020.
Reception
The film has received highly positive reviews. Duniyadari is a huge financial success in Marathi film industry and an all-time blockbuster. ABP Maaza, a Marathi news channel, gave 4 out of 5 stars acclaiming film for its story, direction and brilliant acting of all the actors.