Baapya
| Baapya | |
|---|---|
 Official theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Sameer Tewari |
| Written by |
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| Screenplay by |
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| Story by | Priti Nair |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Rao Nandakishore |
Production company | Working I Films |
Release date |
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| Country | India |
| Language | Marathi |
Baapya is an Indian Marathi comedy drama film written and directed by Sameer Tewari[1] and produced by Muktal Telang and Sameer Tewari.[2] The film stars Rajshri Deshpande,[3] [4]Girish Kulkarni,[5] Shrikant Yadav, Devika Daftardar and Aaryan Menghji. The film is based on gender identity, family relationships and social acceptance in a rural Konkan region.[6][7]
Plot
Set in coastal Konkan, the film follows the return of Shailaja, who came to the village as Shailesh after undergoing gender reassignment surgery. The unexpected return disrupts the lives of the family and the close-knit community, forcing them to confront questions surrounding identity, acceptance and social norms.
Cast
- Rajshri Deshpande as Shailaja and Shailesh[8]
- Girish Kulkarni as Anil Borkar
- Shrikant Yadav as Shinde
- Devika Daftardar as Vishakha
- Aaryan Menghji as Sanju
- Varsha Dandale as Vishakha's mother
- Gauri Kiran as Shailaja's sister
- Ananda Karekar as Shailaja's brother-in-law
- Atharva Fadnis as Babadya
Production
The film was directed by Sameer Tewari, produced under the banner of Working I Films.[9]
Release
The film was released on 15 May 2026.[10]
Reception
Writing for The Times of India, Anub George the reviewer gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and described the film as "a breath of fresh air" and praised its performances and treatment of gender identity themes.[11]
Bryan Durham of varietyindia reviewed the film and said "Sparks a commendable conversation on gender dysphoria and leaves it at that"[12]
Nandini Ramnath of scroll.in revied the movie and commented "A gender bender about a man who loved a woman who was always a man".[13]
Santosh Bhingarde of sakal gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and stated "A dark portrayal of the complex emotional world in a relationship"[14]
Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India reviewed the movie and said "Rajshri Deshpande Rescues A Tonally Awkward Drama"[15]
Rajiv Vijayakar of South Asian Herald commended the film for addressing a significant social issue in an entertaining and accessible manner, while praising its performances and screenplay.[16]
Reshma Raikwar of Loksatta reviewed the movie and described as a good attempt to address the subject of gender transition in Marathi cinema. She praised director Sameer Tewari's effort to present a complex subject in an accessible and entertaining manner while highlighting the performances of Rajshri Deshpande and Girish Kulkarni.[17]
Daily Kesari described the movie as a sensitive yet courageous exploration of gender transition and personal identity.[18]
Subhash K. Jha of The Tribune reviewed the film as "bold, brave, beautiful".[19]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Pune International Film Festival | Best International Marathi Film | Baapya | Won | [20] |
| Best Actor | Girish Kulkarni | Won | [21] | ||
| Best Actress | Rajshri Deshpande | Won | [22] |
References
- ↑ "विवाहित स्त्रीची 'पुरुष' होण्याची आगळीवेगळी गोष्ट, कॅन्सरवर मात केलेल्या राजश्री देशपांडेचा सिनेमा बाप्या". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Baapya - Official Trailer". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "'अनेक 'ट्रान्समेन' सोबत वेळ घालवला, त्यातून शिकायला मिळालं', अभिनेत्री राजश्री देशपांडेनं उलगडला 'बाप्या'चा प्रवास". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Exclusive: The First Question Rajshri Deshpande, Playing Trans Man In Baapya, Asked Her Director".
- ↑ "Behind gender transition-themed film 'Baapya', an 'important journey from denial to acceptance'". Scroll.in. 12 May 2026. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Baapya Movie: मैत्री, प्रेम आणि नात्यांमधला गोंधळ; 'बाप्या'चं उत्कंठावर्धक कथानक, चित्रपटाची प्रेक्षकांना उत्सुकता". Lokmat (in Marathi). 13 May 2026. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "MSN". MSN. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Exclusive: The First Question Rajshri Deshpande, Playing Trans Man In Baapya, Asked Her Director".
- ↑ "Baapya Trailer : नात्याचा गुंता आणि मैत्रीची भन्नाट गोष्ट सांगणार 'बाप्या' ट्रेलरने वाढवली उत्सुकता".
- ↑ Information, Film (15 May 2026). "'BAAPYA' (MARATHI) REVIEW | 15 May 2026". Film Information. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Baapya Movie Review: Baapya' is a breath of fresh air". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ Durham, Bryan (16 May 2026). "'Baapya' Review: Sparks a commendable conversation on gender dysphoria and leaves it at that". Variety India. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ Ramnath, Nandini (15 May 2026). "'Baapya' review: A gender bender about a man who loved a woman who was always a man". Scroll.in. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ Bhingarde, Santosh (16 May 2026). "Movie Review : बाप्या- नात्यातील गुंतागुंतीच्या भावविश्वाचं गडद चित्र". Marathi News Esakal (in Marathi). Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ Desai, Rahul (16 May 2026). "'Baapya' Movie Review: Rajshri Deshpande Rescues A Tonally Awkward Drama". The Hollywood Reporter India. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ Vijayakar, Rajiv (15 May 2026). "Film Review: Baapya (Marathi) Takes a Crucial Issue and Deals With it in Entertaining Manner". South Asian Herald. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ Raikwar, Reshma (16 May 2026). "Bapya Marathi Movie Review: Rajshri Deshpande & Girish Kulkarni starrer Bapya film review". Loksatta. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "'ती'कडून 'तो'कडे जाणारा संवेदनशील पण धाडसी प्रवास". Daily Kesari. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ Jha, Subhash K. (13 May 2026). "Baapya is bold, brave, beautiful". The Tribune. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Pune International Film Festival 2026 : पुणे आंतरराष्ट्रीय चित्रपट महोत्सवात 'बाप्या'ने जिंकला सर्वोच्च मराठी चित्रपट पुरस्कार". Sakal. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "PIFF 2026 मध्ये मराठी चित्रपट 'बाप्या'चा डंका ! सर्वोत्कृष्ट चित्रपटासह पटकावले तीन मानाचे पुरस्कार". Navarashtra. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "PIFF 2026 मध्ये मराठी चित्रपट 'बाप्या'चा डंका ! सर्वोत्कृष्ट चित्रपटासह पटकावले तीन मानाचे पुरस्कार". Navarashtra. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.