Swwapnil Joshi’s dark comedy thriller Vaalvi, directed by Paresh Mokashi, has won Best Marathi Film at the 70th National Film Awards 2024. Released on January 13, 2023, Vaalvi surprised moviegoers with its entertaining yet spine-chilling narrative, starring Swwapnil Joshi alongside Anita Date Kelkar, Subodh Bhave, and Shivani Surve in pivotal roles. The film garnered positive reviews from both critics and audiences alike, and now, Vaalvi wins Best Marathi Film earning its place at this prestigious event.
The winners were announced at the National Media Center in New Delhi on Friday by the chairpersons of the respective juries: Rahul Rawail for the Feature Film Jury, Nila Madhab Panda for the Non-Feature Film Jury and Gangadhar Mudalair for the Best Writing on Cinema Jury. Marathi cinema made a significant mark at the 70th National Film Awards 2024, winning four major awards in the Non-Feature Film category and one in the Feature Film category.
Vaalvi tells the story of Aniket and Avani, a couple who decide to end their lives together. However, the seemingly foolproof plan, orchestrated by Aniket and his girlfriend Devika, leads to an intriguing twist—is it a suicide or a murder being planned? Swwapnil Joshi expressed his pride in being part of the film and shared his emotions on winning his first National Award. In an interview with ETimes, he thanked director Paresh Mokashi, the entire film team, and the audience for their immense support and applause for his portrayal.
Following the success of the original film, Vaalvi has also seen the announcement of its sequel, which will begin shooting soon. The sequel announcement was made on the occasion of director Paresh Mokashi’s birthday, adding another layer of excitement for fans of the film.
While Vaalvi wins Best Marathi Film, the Marathi film industry has been honoured with four more National Awards in the Non-Feature Film categories. The documentary Murmurs of the Jungle, directed by Sohil Vaidya, which explores the stories of gods and ancestors whispered by the trees of a small village in the Western Ghats, won the prestigious awards for Best Documentary and Best Narration/Voice Over for Sumant Shinde.
Another notable win was for Varsa, produced and directed by Sachin Balasaheb Suryawanshi, which tied with the Kannada film Ranga Vaibhoga for Best Arts/Culture Film. Additionally, Aanakhi Ek Mohenjo Daro, a powerful documentary directed by Ashok Rane, won the award for Best Biographical / Historical / Reconstruction / Compilation Film.
The 70th National Film Awards 2024 have once again recognized the outstanding achievements in Indian cinema, making it one of the most anticipated events in the industry. With 309 feature films submitted in 32 languages and 130 non-feature films in 17 languages, the awards continue to celebrate the diversity and excellence of Indian filmmaking.
