Mumbai is a city of contrasts. Towering skyscrapers rise beside sprawling slums. Glitzy malls share streets with street vendors. And, ambition often collides with survival. The new Marathi film ‘Ticha Shahar Hona’ dives deep into this layered cityscape. It gives a voice to the unheard and shows how a city shapes its people in addition to how its people, in turn, shape the city.
Directed and written by Rasika Agashe, the film is a 98-minute journey. It blends social realism with emotional storytelling. It has already earned critical acclaim winning accolades at international film festivals including Istanbul, Vancouver, Sweden and Bhutan.
‘Ticha Shahar Hona’ plot
At the heart of the film is Archana played by Sonali Kulkarni. She is an upper-middle-class working woman who lives seemingly content life in a luxurious high-rise in Mumbai. She has a loving husband and a six-year-old daughter. And, she has a daily routine that for her looks perfectly balanced.
Archana’s life goes on to take unexpected turn when she meets Kiran Pawar. She is a confident and outspoken house help who challenges social norms that Archana has always accepted.
Kiran’s fearless nature imprints impression on Archana. But then she dies in a road accident right before Archana’s eyes.
Archana is now haunted by guilt and seeking answers. She then visits Kiran’s home in the slum. This is that world she had long ignored from her high-rise Mumbai apartment. Here she discovers lives that are full of struggles, dreams, resilience. And then, something within her transforms.
‘Ticha Shahar Hona’ cast
Alongside Sonali Kulkarni, performances by Prasad Dak, Chhaya Kadam, Omkar Gowardhan, Hemangi Kavi, and Sagar Deshmukh add depth to this narrative.
Cinematographer Harshvardhan Waghdhare captures the city’s contrasts. Vijay Gavande, Chaitanya Adkar, and Rahul Ranade provide a score that complements the story. Roby Abraham Daniel’s background music, sound design by Abhijeet Shesh and Abhishek Kothari bring in layers to the movie experience.
‘Ticha Shahar Hona’ trailer:
If you want to watch the full movie, it is available for members on Bharatiya Digital Party’s official YouTube channel.
More details about the movie
– Runtime: 98 minutes
– Language: Marathi
– Genre: Drama/social
– Director: Rasika Agashe
– Producer: Siddharth Miskra, Ajay G Rai
– Co-Producer: Sonali Kulkarni, Rasika Agashe
Accolades and recognition
– Istanbul Film Awards: Best Narrative Feature Film, Best First-Time Director, and Best Actress
– Druk International Film Festival, Bhutan: Bust Film
– DIFF, Sweden: Best Film
– Florence Film Awards: Special Mention
The film also received multiple Maharashtra State Awards including Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Debutant Director.