Mahesh Kothare
Mahesh Kothare | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kothare at Filmfare Awards Marathi 2014 | |
| Born | 28 September 1953 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1964 – present |
| Spouse |
Nilima Kothare (m. 1980) |
| Children | Adinath Kothare (son) |
| Relatives | Urmilla Kothare (daughter-in-law) |
Mahesh Kothare (Marathi pronunciation: [məɦeːʃ koʈʰaːɾe], born 28 September 1953), is an Indian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter widely regarded as a revolutionary figure in Marathi cinema. He began his career as a child actor in Hindi films during the 1960s, appearing in classics such as Raja Aur Runk, Chhota Bhai, and Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani. In the mid-1980s Kothare became a pioneering filmmaker in Marathi cinema, introducing several technological innovations such as Dolby Digital sound and 3D formats. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he has received numerous accolades, including the Maharashtra State Film Award and the National Film Award for Best Children's Film.
Kothare made his directorial debut with Dhum Dhadaka (1985), a box-office hit that set the tone for his signature style—mixing comedy, fantasy, and action. He followed it with successful films like Thartharat (1989), De Danadan (1987), Dhadakebaaz (1990), and Zapatlela (1993), which introduced the iconic villain Tatya Vinchu, a ventriloquist’s dummy that became a cultural phenomenon. His sequel Zapatlela 2 (2013) was the first Marathi film shot in 3D. Kothare is credited with pioneering several technological advancements in Marathi cinema, including the use of CinemaScope (Dhadakebaaz), Dolby Digital sound (Chimani Pakhar), and 3D filmmaking (Zapatlela 2). These innovations elevated the production standards of regional films and expanded their audience reach.
Over his career, Kothare has received numerous accolades, including the Maharashtra State Film Award and the National Film Award for Best Children's Film for Chimani Pakhar (2003). He is founder of Kothare Vision, a production company primarily focused on creating mythological television series. Kothare published autobiography Damn It Ani Barach Kahi in 2023.[1][2]
Career
[edit]Kothare started his career in his teens, in Hindi movies with roles in Raja aur Runk and Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. He later switched to Marathi cinema, where he worked with well known stars and directors while continuing to make Hindi films without any noteworthy success. Kothare became a top Marathi director with hits including Dhum Dhadaka, Zapatlela, Zapatlela 2, Khatarnak and Khabardar.
In films Ghar Ka Bhedi and Lek Chalali Sasarla, he played negative character.[2]
Kothare, along with, Laxmikant Berde, Sachin Pilgaonkar and Ashok Saraf formed a successful quartet, giving hits after hits in the Marathi Cinema Industry in the 1980s and 1990s.
He also owns the Kothare Vision production house.[3]
In the mid-1980s, Kothare and another young actor, Sachin Pilgaonkar, helped to revolutionize the Marathi film industry with their directing. Pilgaonkar directed Navri Mile Navryala, while Kothare directed Dhoom Dhadaka. Both films became box office hits, but Dhum Dhadaka became a trendsetter which brought young audiences to recognize the Marathi style of movie-making. Kothare then went on to make comedies which also became major hits. He also made Dhadakebaaz, the first Marathi film shot in CinemaScope and brought a number of innovations such as Dolby Digital sound to Marathi cinema with the film Chimani Pakhar. He made Pachhadlela in 2004, which was the first Marathi film with computer-generated effects. Kothare was also the first Marathi filmmaker to produce science-fiction films.[4]
In the film Gupchup Gupchup and Thorali Jau he played supporting, character roles.[2]
In the Marathi movies, he played supporting characters in films such as Devata, Jabardast, Majah Chakula, De Dandan, Khatarnak, Tharthrat, Zapatlela, Zapatlela - 2, Shubha Mangal.[2]
In 2013, Kothare made the film Zapatlela 2 in 3D with his son Adinath Kothare in the lead. The film was the sequel to his 1993 box office hit Zapatlela, which has acquired a cult following amongst Marathi audiences and features a doll named Tatya Vinchu created by Ventriloquist and Puppeteer Ramdas Padhye and voiced by Dilip Prabhavalkar that comes to life. Kothare revived Tatya Vinchu with 3D, animatronics and state of the art CGI in the sequel Zapatlela 2, which was the first Marathi film shot in 3D using split beam technology produced by Spanish stereographer Enrique Criado.[5][6] The film was shot at ND Studios, Karjat and released on 7 June 2013, going on to become a big hit over its 100-day run.
Personal life
[edit]Kothare is married to Nilima Kothare since 1980.[7] His son Adinath Kothare is an actor married to Urmilla Kothare.
Filmography
[edit] | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (November 2021) |
As an actor, Kothare appeared primarily as a Police Inspector with his first name Mahesh.
| Year | Title | Actor | Director | Producer | Role | Notes | Language | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Chota Jawan | Yes | No | No | Jawan | Marathi | [8] | |
| 1967 | Upkar | Yes | No | No | Younger Bharat | Hindi | ||
| 1968 | Raja Aur Runk | Yes | No | No | Yuvraj Narendradev / Raja | Hindi | ||
| 1970 | Safar | Yes | No | No | Feroz Khan's Younger Brother Montu | |||
| 1971 | Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani | Yes | No | No | Ravi | |||
| 1975 | Prit Tuzi Mazi | Yes | No | No | Ravi | Marathi | ||
| 1982 | Sant Gyaneshwar | Yes | No | No | Dnyaneshwar | |||
| Thorli Jaau | Yes | No | No | Avinash | ||||
| Chandane Shimpit Ja | Yes | No | No | |||||
| 1983 | Devta | Yes | No | No | Sunil | |||
| Paaygoon | Yes | No | No | Dhanaji Jadhav/Nagesh Patil | ||||
| Gupchup Gupchup | Yes | No | No | Ashok | ||||
| 1984 | Sage Soyare | Yes | No | No | Hemant | |||
| Gharcha Bhedi | Yes | No | No | Ramesh | ||||
| Lek Chalali Sasarla | Yes | No | No | Vilas Inamdar | ||||
| 1985 | Dhum Dhadaka | Yes | Yes | Yes | Mahesh Javalkar | [9] | ||
| 1987 | De Danadan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Sub-Inspector Mahesh Danke | |||
| 1989 | Thartharat | Yes | Yes | Yes | CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav | |||
| 1990 | Dhadakebaaz | Yes | Yes | Yes | Mahesh Nemade | |||
| 1992 | Jiwlaga | Yes | Yes | Yes | Guest appearance | |||
| 1993 | Zapatlela | Yes | Yes | Yes | CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav | [10] | ||
| 1994 | Majha Chakula | Yes | Yes | Yes | Inspector Mahesh Jadhav | |||
| 1996 | Masoom | No | Yes | No | Guest appearance | [11] | ||
| 1998 | Dhangad Dhinga | Yes | Yes | Yes | Advocate Mahesh Mithare | [12] | ||
| 1999 | Lo Main Aagaya | No | Yes | No | Hindi | |||
| 2000 | Khatarnak | Yes | Yes | No | CID Inspector Mahesh Choudhary | Marathi | ||
| 2001 | Chimani Pakhar | No | Yes | No | ||||
| 2004 | Pachhadlela | Yes | Yes | Yes | Inspector Mahesh Jadhav | Cameo | [10] | |
| 2005 | Khabardar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Mahesh Kothare (Himself) | |||
| 2006 | Shubh Mangal Savdhan | No | Yes | No | [13] | |||
| 2007 | Zabardast | Yes | Yes | No | Professor Bramhanand Bharadwaj | Cameo | ||
| 2008 | Full 3 Dhamaal | Yes | Yes | No | Mahesh Kothare (Himself) | Guest appearance | ||
| 2010 | Ved Laavi Jeeva | No | Yes | No | [14] | |||
| 2010 | Ideachi Kalpana | Yes | No | No | Commissioner Mahesh Thakur | |||
| 2011 | Dubhang | No | Yes | No | ||||
| 2013 | Zapatlela 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Mahesh Jadhav | [15] | ||
| Welcome to the Jungle | Yes | No | No | IB Chief | English | |||
| 2024 | Paani | No | No | Yes | Marathi |
Awards and recognition
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Filmfare Awards Marathi | Best Film | Dhum Dhadaka |
| Best Director | |||
| 1994 | Maharashtra State Film Awards | Best Film | Majha Chakula |
| Best Director | |||
| Screen Awards | Best Film - Marathi | ||
| Best Director - Marathi | |||
| 2000 | Best Director - Marathi | Khatarnak | |
| 2005 | Maharashtra State Film Awards | Best Film | Khabardar |
| Best Director | |||
| Best Screenplay | |||
| 2009 | V. Shantaram Special Contribution Award | Overall Contribution | |
| 2018 | 3rd Filmfare Awards Marathi | Limelight Award | |
| 2021 | 5th Filmfare Awards Marathi | Excellence in Marathi cinema |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Marathi Actor-Director Mahesh Kothare Releases His Autobiography, 'Damn It Aani Barach Kahi'". News18. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d शिकलगार, स्वालिया न (28 September 2021). "HBD महेश कोठारे : इन्स्पेक्टर महेश जाधव आजही मराठी मनात..!". Pudhari News (in Marathi). Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ^ "Kothare Vision". Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- ^ Srinivas 2022, p. 208.
- ^ "The Third Dimension of Marathi Cinema". Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "Terror in a new form". Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "35 वर्षांपूर्वी जमली महेश कोठारेंची निलीमा यांच्यासोबत जोडी, अशी आहे दोघांची Love Story". Divya Marathi. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Mahesh Kothare Incidence : 'पोस्टरवर माझा फोटो कोपऱ्यात, ही खूप मोठी चूक होती' महेश कोठारेंनी सांगितला तो किस्सा". Ittsmajja (in Marathi). 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ "Ashok Saraf's films that you must watch". The Times of India. 29 August 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Happy Birthday Mahesh Kothare: 'Zapatlela' to 'Pachhadlela'; FIVE must-watch comedy movies of actor-director". The Times of India. 28 September 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "I regret not listening to Aamir Khan". The Times of India. 16 February 2015. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Dhangad Dhinga - Movie". Moviefone. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Shubh Mangal Savdhan (2006) | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "'Ved Laavi Jeeva' fame Vaidehi Parashurami reminisces about her journey as she completes 10 years in Marathi cinema". The Times of India. 20 May 2019. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "M-Town is ready to scare with 'Zapatlela 2'". The Times Of India. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
Cited works
[edit]- Srinivas, Manjula (2022). Undergraduate Research in Mass Media UgRIMM 2021. Shineeks Publishers (published 21 April 2022). ISBN 9781632789341.
