Mumbai, the city that never sleeps—especially when it comes to cinema—just added another feather to its cap. The BMC and UNESCO joined hands to throw a proper film festival vibe at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), celebrating Mumbai’s UNESCO City of Film status with a Marathi Cinema Weekend. And trust us, the energy was off the charts!
Marathi Cinema Takes Centre Stage At NGMA
The event, part of the larger ‘Celebrating Mumbai – A UNESCO Creative City of Film’ programme, brought together filmmakers, artists, and cinema lovers for a weekend of screenings, workshops, and discussions. The highlight? A dedicated Marathi Chalchitrapat Weekend on May 30 and 31, 2026, featuring acclaimed films like Sthal, Baapya, Maay Bapache Aashirvad, and Tighee. Picture this: iconic film posters curated by archivist S.M.M. Ausaja, and a crowd buzzing with excitement.
Award-winning actor Rajshri Deshpande, who attended the screening of her film Baapya, couldn’t hide her excitement. She said, “This is a great initiative and I am very thankful for my film being shown at the Marathi Cinema programme. The collaboration between BMC and UNESCO celebrating Mumbai as a city of films is a great opportunity for our industry to celebrate our talent from across the country.” Kya baat hai, Rajshri!
Director Jayant Somalkar, whose film Sthal was screened, echoed the sentiment. He said, “Since Mumbai is the birthplace of Indian cinema and to celebrate movies from all over the country especially Marathi cinema is a great initiative. And we are thankful for being able to showcase our film Sthal at the event and wish many more collaborations in the coming years.”
Filmmakers And Actors Celebrate The Initiative
Director-producer-actor Shefali Bhushan also showered praise on the event. She said, “It’s a great initiative because Mumbai is a city of cinema. And having a Marathi cinema weekend is icing on the cake as Mumbai is in Maharashtra, and Marathi cinema is known for its powerful storytelling. We hope that it will continue and keep rising to greater heights. We are grateful to be invited to present our film here. More power to this initiative.” Picture abhi baaki hai, indeed!
Senior curator and film critic Meenakshi Shedde added her voice to the chorus, lauding the collaboration between BMC, NGMA, and UNESCO. She said, “I would really like to congratulate the entire team behind this amazing event… for coming up with this deep and landmark collaboration.”
Mumbai’s UNESCO Status Gets A Cultural Boost
The event wasn’t just about films—it was about celebrating Mumbai’s identity. Mrs. Shashi Bala, Chief Business Development Officer at BMC, explained, “Marathi cinema has long been the heartbeat of Mumbai’s cultural imagination, bold, humane, and unafraid to experiment. As a UNESCO Creative City of Film, Mumbai is committed to nurturing that spirit and showcasing the contemporary voices shaping our stories today.”
The programme kicked off with a ceremonial lamp-lighting attended by Mumbai Mayor Smt. Ritu Tawde, who said, “Mumbai’s identity has always been shaped by its openness and creativity… Through cinema, generations of artists, musicians, filmmakers, technicians and storytellers have found not only a platform for expression but also meaningful livelihoods. This spirit of inclusion is what makes Mumbai truly special.”
Open to the public, the weekend was a reminder that Mumbai isn’t just a backdrop for cinema—it’s a living, breathing creative force. With more collaborations on the horizon, the city’s UNESCO City of Film status is set to shine even brighter. Yaar, we can’t wait for the next edition!