It was beautiful to watch two successful actors speak about their career and personal journeys -- the highs and lows -- with such mutual admiration, notes Divya Nair.
Directed by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is set in rural Maharashtra and explores a traditional ritual.
Sanjay Dutt's confession about his inability to learn Marathi, even after six years in Yerwada jail, has inadvertently sparked controversy and put Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik in an awkward position, given Sarnaik's stringent policy on Marathi proficiency for auto and taxi drivers.
Researchers at IIT Indore have developed HGAST, an AI tool designed to correct gender-specific errors in translations from English to Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati. The tool acts as a correction layer, identifying and rectifying masculine verb forms often used by AI systems when translating female speech, significantly improving accuracy for female speakers without retraining existing models.
The Maharashtra government has extended the deadline for autorickshaw and taxi drivers to acquire working knowledge of Marathi by one year, a decision welcomed by unions who say it removes the immediate threat to their livelihoods.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a one-year grace period for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to learn functional Marathi. This decision comes after the Transport Department issued notices to drivers who failed a Marathi test, prompting driver organisations to request more time due to varying age groups and educational backgrounds. During this period, no action will be taken, and Marathi classes and study materials will be provided.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's decision to grant a one-year extension to autorickshaw and taxi drivers to learn Marathi, alleging it was due to 'pressure from Delhi' and a message to BJP's ally Shiv Sena.
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced that autorickshaw and taxi drivers will be given an opportunity to learn Marathi before any action is taken against them for non-compliance with the language requirement. This move softens the state's earlier stance, which had evoked mixed reactions and concerns about livelihoods.
Widespread fear amongst autorickshaw and taxi drivers over rumoured steep fines linked to a state government Marathi proficiency drive erupted into street protests in parts of Mumbai on Monday, forcing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to step in and address the panic. During protests, some drivers tried to prevent other members from transporting passengers, inconveniencing common people in the morning hours.
'I was always open to those who wanted to teach me the intricacies of singing.' 'Naushad Saab would tell me which notes to stress during singing.' 'Anil Biswas would tell me where to breathe in and breathe out while singing and where to pause.'
Maharashtra's Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced a drive against auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers lacking a 'working knowledge' of Marathi, with penalties ranging from licence suspension to cancellation, sparking fears among non-Marathi speaking drivers.
Maharashtra's transport department has initiated a statewide drive to assess taxi and autorickshaw drivers' working knowledge of Marathi, issuing notices to 1,268 drivers on the first day. Those who fail the initial 16-question test will receive a one-month notice to learn Marathi, with subsequent failure leading to a three-month badge suspension.
The Maharashtra government has proposed amendments to the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, making 'working knowledge of Marathi language' mandatory for cab drivers, with non-compliance potentially leading to suspension or revocation of driving licences.
Bollywood joined their counterparts in Marathi cinema and cheered them on, at the Filmfare Awards Marathi 2026, held in Mumbai.
Penguin India has announced the English translation of "Tukaram," a Marathi biography of Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. The book, originally by Shafi Pathan and translated by Vikrant Pande, details Mundhe's life from a challenging childhood to his impactful civil service career, known for his strict enforcement of food safety regulations.
Maharashtra minister Dada Bhuse on Monday said teaching of Marathi language and conduct of examination of the subject have been legally made mandatory in schools of all mediums across the state, and those institutions that fail to comply could face cancellation of recognition.
Six professors from Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University (SRTMU) in Nanded have secured a patent for a 'Handheld Script Translation Device'. This innovation aims to overcome language barriers caused by different writing systems, allowing users to understand scripts they are unfamiliar with, even if they know the language. The device is expected to particularly benefit Marathi readers and researchers by making historical and cultural texts more accessible.
A prayer meet was held in Mumbai to honour Nana Patekar, with Rohini Hattangadi, Shivaji Satam and Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe attending to pay their respects.
Indian cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have expressed their condolences following the passing of veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at 75 after a cardiac arrest. Both cricketers remembered Patekar's significant contributions to Indian cinema and his impactful personality.
Cast and crew of Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam watch the film together.
Looking back at Nana Patekar's remarkable life and illustrious career through a collection of photographs.
'Nana Patekar gave Gaman a powerful flavour of the soil, an authenticity that could not have been manufactured or imagined. There was an anger in him, a restlessness, a turmoil that belonged to the streets and the people he embodied. He was not merely playing a character; he was bringing an entire world into the film.'
Nana Patekar has passed away in Goa after suffering a heart attack on Thursday morning.
Nana Patekar's anger and intensity were as real in life as they were in his performances. He was as brutally honest as the characters he portrayed.
Marathi actress Prajaktta Mali made a significant appearance at Cannes 2026 as part of a delegation to champion Marathi cinema on the global stage.
'...He would have hated to be ill or to be hospitalised.'
'The FFI jury said Gondhal is the best film in terms of overall quality -- the sound, background music and cinematography.' 'In every aspect, I don't think this film can be compared to other Indian films. This may sound like overconfidence, but we know what we have done.'
From Shahid to Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, these films bring real-life lawyers, landmark courtroom battles and extraordinary fights for justice to the screen.
'I had narrated a script to Nana Patekar, and four days before the end, he told me that once he returned from Goa, he would take the project forward. I still can't believe he is never coming back. He was always so fit, proudly flexing his muscles and urging me to work out.'
He was intense on screen, equally intense on stage, and yet, from what I remember of those early days, remarkably at ease amongst ordinary people, remembers Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).
'Nana left Mumbai, its luxuries and all the roles he could have played, and moved to Pune, where he lived like a farmer.'
That voice, that intensity, that honesty in every performance he was completely his own. Nana Patekar was truly one of a kind.'
Some people leave behind a business. A rare few leave behind a place in people's hearts. Appa leaves behind both.
'People started fearing Nana Patekar's frankness. Kuchh bhi bol sakta hai yeh. He once pointed to a major respected politician's belly and asked 'Kya hai yeh?''
Following the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar, a Maharashtra village, Dhondalgaon, recalls how his NAAM Foundation funded a water conservation project ten years ago, transforming it from a drought-prone area to a 'tanker-free' and economically thriving community. The project, which involved desilting barrages, boosted agriculture and dairy farming, and eliminated farmer suicides.
'India is a large source of Spotify's future audience growth because it is the largest market in the world.'
'Nana Patekar's dedication and passion were unmatchable. I remember there was a dinner sequence and the chicken had gone stale. He ate the stale chicken instead of wasting time waiting for fresh food.'
Marathi singer Anand Prahlad Shinde has filed a police complaint alleging that a woman, her brother, and her mother extorted money from him by threatening to frame him in a false sexual exploitation case.
From angry young men and ruthless gangsters to comic dons and broken patriarchs, Nana Patekar made almost every shade of a character his own.
'She was not burdened by the knowledge of her craft and the world. She just was a child till her last days.' 'When she smiled, everybody in the room would light up.'
