Narbachi Wadi

I wish great little films like this got wider appreciation; in a Western context these kind of films would have a niche core audience that could provide ample financial returns for the backers. Marathi cinema suffers from a mix of very good films ('Natrang', 'Balgandharva' etc.) and unfortunately the extremely mediocre efforts; whether films like this ultimately prove financially viable is unclear - which probably explains why only a handful of them get made every year. While the story line and marketing machine of 'Narbachi Wadi' can't match the two films mentioned above, I would probably class this as the best Marathi release of last year. The plot is uncomplicated but it makes no difference because this is all about the people and situation. Don't expect twists and turns; this is a satirical light comedy that is very well acted and wholly satisfying to watch. It didn't and won't set the world on fire but it's an example of where a good script and strong performances can make a film. I won't repeat the plot of the story (that can be found on this page anyway), but I would recommend this film to anyone tired of all the glitzy, cheesy and/or violent dearth of releases coming out of Bollywood today.