Ravi Bhagchandka on adapting the National Award-Winning Marathi film Funral in Hindi!

Producer Ravi Bhagchandka is bringing the acclaimed Marathi film Funral to Hindi audiences, with the adaptation currently in the writing stage. Known for backing stories with strong emotional resonance, Ravi believes Funral stood out because of its honesty, universality, and rare perspective on life and death.

Speaking about what drew him to the film, Ravi shares, “What really stayed with me about Funral was its emotional honesty and the universality of its theme. Death is something every human being experiences in some form, but cinema rarely explores it with warmth, celebration, and humanity.”

He further explains that unlike most narratives around death that are rooted purely in grief and loss, Funral offered a refreshing emotional lens. “The film had a very unique emotional perspective – it looked at how a passing can also become a moment of reflection, connection, and even celebration of a life lived,” he says.

The original Marathi film, which received immense critical acclaim including a National Award, deeply impacted Ravi because of how rooted yet universal it felt. “Despite being deeply rooted in Marathi culture and sensibilities, the emotion felt completely universal. That’s usually the sign of a powerful story – when it travels beyond language and region,” he adds. “I felt this was a story that deserved to reach a wider audience in Hindi while still retaining its soul and authenticity.”

At a time when regional cinema continues to shape mainstream storytelling across industries, Ravi believes strong stories transcend labels and formats. “I don’t think there’s any fixed formula for where a story should come from. It can begin with an original idea, a ready script, a book, or even an adaptation. For me, what matters most is the emotional connect,” he says. “At the end of the day, audiences connect with honesty and strong storytelling, irrespective of where the story originated.”

While the Hindi adaptation is still in development, Ravi reveals that conversations with directors are currently underway, with initial interest already coming in from an actor as well. “Writing is in process, but no timelines can be defined yet,” he confirms.

With Funral, Ravi Bhagchandka aims to bring a deeply moving and culturally rich story to a wider audience – one that celebrates life, relationships, and human connection in the most heartfelt way.

By Keerti Kadam