Marathi Film Festival to Take Place in Vengurla!

A grand “Marathi Film Festival 2026” has been organized to celebrate the Vengurla Municipal Council’s sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary and to showcase the town’s cultural heritage. The four-day festival will run from 23–26 May 2026 at the “Natakkaar Madhusudan Kaleelkar Multipurpose Hall,” Vengurla, and will screen eight acclaimed and content-rich Marathi films. This is the first time a film festival of this kind is being held in Vengurla, generating great excitement among cinephiles.

The festival lineup features films that explore Marathi culture, relationships, emotions, and social themes. The festival will open with a special screening of the popular Marathi film Gharat Ganpati. Other notable films in the program include Butterfly, Baplyok, Gulkand, April May 99, Phulvanti, Sthal, and Dvidha.
As part of the celebrations, the festival will honor prominent figures from Vengurla’s cinematic and literary traditions. Renowned personalities such as playwright Madhusudan Kaleelkar, Padma Bhushan awardee Mangesh Padgaonkar, and poet Aarti Prabhu (Chint. Try. Khanolkar) helped put this region on the cultural map, and remembering their immortal works will make the festival especially memorable.

The festival aims to pass Marathi cinema’s rich artistic legacy to the next generation and will be an important cultural milestone for Vengurla. Festival director and veteran writer–director Purushottam Berde said the event is not just a celebration of films but a revival of Marathi art, literature, and culture—an effort to reconnect young audiences with stories, emotions, and values rooted in their homeland. He added that the festival will be a memorable cultural chapter in Vengurla’s 150-year journey.

Vengurla Municipal Council has a proud 150-year history, established on 25 May 1876 during the British era. Known as a trading port and cultural hub, Vengurla has contributed significantly to urban development, education, health, and the preservation of arts and culture. This sesquicentennial celebration honors that legacy.

Organizers invite film lovers to attend in large numbers and enjoy the festival.
Festival screening schedule:
Gharat Ganpati — Saturday, 23 May 2026, 4:00 PM (Opening film)
Baplyok — Saturday, 23 May 2026, 7:00 PM
April May 99 — Sunday, 24 May 2026, 4:00 PM
Butterfly — Sunday, 24 May 2026, 7:00 PM
Phulvanti — Monday, 25 May 2026, 4:00 PM
Sthal — Monday, 25 May 2026, 7:00 PM
Gulkand — Tuesday, 26 May 2026, 4:00 PM
Dvidha — Tuesday, 26 May 2026, 7:00 PM (Closing film)

By Keerti Kadam