# Godavari (2021 film)

Godavari is an Indian Marathi-language drama film directed by Nikhil Mahajan and produced by Jitendra Joshi, Mitali Joshi, Pavan Malu and Nikhil Mahajan under the banner of Blue Drop Films. Starring Jitendra Joshi in lead role along with Neena Kulkarni, Sanjay Mone, Vikram Gokhale and Gauri Nalawade in pivotal roles. The film tells a story of a family living on the banks of river Godavari in Nashik.
It had its world premiere at 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival on 4 October 2021, and was released theatrically on 11 November 2022. The film received positive reviews from critics and audiences upon release. At the 69th National Film Awards, Godavari won an award for Best Direction. At 7th Filmfare Awards Marathi, the film received a 12 nominations, Best Actor (Joshi) and Best Supporting Actor (Jadhav), and won a leading 5 awards, including Best Film, Best Director (Mahajan) and Best Actor Critics (Joshi).

## Cast

* Neena Kulkarni as Nishikant's mother
* Jitendra Joshi as Nishikant Deshmukh
* Sanjay Mone as Nishikant's father
* Vikram Gokhale as Nishikant's grandfather
* Gauri Nalawade as Gautami, Nishikant's wife
* Saniya Bhandare as Sarita, Nishikant's daughter
* Priyadarshan Jadhav as Keshav
* Ameet Dograa
* Pavan Malu
* Sakhi Gokhale as Nishikant's Sister
* Mohit Takalkar as The Balloon Man

## Release

Godavari was initially slated to release on May 1, 2021, commemorating Maharashtra Day, but was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. It was invited at 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival in 'Contemporary World Cinema' section of festival program. It had its world premiere on 4 October 2021, and its theatrical release in India was scheduled on 3 December 2021.
The film was also invited at the New Zealand International Film Festival for its Wellington edition to be screened on 10 November 2021, and at 52nd International Film Festival of India in the film category of 'Indian Panorama' section for screening in November. It was also selected for Golden Peacock Awards category. Later in March 2022, it was screened at Pune International Film Festival, where it won Best Director award, Best Cinematography award and Best Music Special Jury Prize. The film was also selected as opening film at 22nd edition of New York Indian Film Festival screened on 7 May 2022. The film was also screened at Cannes Film Festival in Marché du Film held along 2022 edition of the festival on 19 May at Palais des Festivals. It was released theatrically on 11 November 2022 after delays.

## Reception

Charlie Smith of The Georgia Straight reviewing the film at VIFF praised the music saying "Indian songs, amplify the misery of Nishikant's existence", and cinematography, writing, "Imaginative camera work also does its magic." Smith also appreciated the performances of cast and said, "The acting in Godavari is first-rate". He praised the acting of Jitendra Joshi for his portrayal of "fiery-eyed the troubled Nishikant", Priyadarshan Jadhav for his "pensive and plaintive performance", and Neena Kulkarni for her "subtle and authentic acting". He concluded, "This is Marathi arthouse cinema at its best."
Mihir Bhange, writing for The Times of India, praised the movie stating that "It’s an audio-visual experience fit for the big screen". He also called it, "one of the finest films to have been made in Marathi cinema in recent times".

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Recipient/ Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2021 | 52nd International Film Festival of India | IFFI Best Actor Award (Male) | Jitendra Joshi | Won |
| 2021 | 52nd International Film Festival of India | Special Jury Award | Nikhil Mahajan | Won |
| 2022 | Pune International Film Festival | Best Director | Nikhil Mahajan | Won |
| 2022 | Pune International Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Shamin Kulkarni | Won |
| 2022 | Pune International Film Festival | Best Music Special Jury Prize | AV Prafullachandra | Won |
| 2022 | New York Indian Film Festival | Best Actor | Jitendra Joshi | Won |
| 2022 | Pravah Picture Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Priyadarshan Jadhav | Won |
| 2022 | Pravah Picture Awards | Best Playback Singer – Male | Rahul Deshpande – "Khal Khal Goda" | Won |
| 2022 | Pravah Picture Awards | Best Story | Nikhil Mahajan, Prajakt Deshmukh | Won |
| 2022 | Pravah Picture Awards | Best Sound Designer | Baylon Fonseca | Won |
| 2022 | Pravah Picture Awards | Best Background Score | AV Prafullachandra | Won |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Film | Godavari | Nominated |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Director | Nikhil Mahajan | Nominated |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Actor | Jitendra Joshi | Nominated |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Supporting Actor | Sanjay Mone | Nominated |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Supporting Actress | Gauri Nalawade | Won |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Child Actor | Saniya Bhandare | Nominated |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Singer – Male | Rahul Deshpande – "Khal Khal Goda" | Won |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Lyricist | Jitendra Joshi – "Khal Khal Goda" | Won |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Story | Nikhil Mahajan, Prajakt Deshmukh | Nominated |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Screenplay | Nikhil Mahajan, Prajakt Deshmukh | Nominated |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Dialogue | Prajakt Deshmukh | Won |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Sound Recording | Baylon Fonseca | Nominated |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Background Score | AV Prafullachandra | Won |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Art Director | Amit Waghchaure | Nominated |
| 2023 | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar | Best Cinematography | Shamin Kulkarni | Won |
| 2023 | National Film Awards | Best Direction | Nikhil Mahajan | Won |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Film | Godavari | Won |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Film Critics | Nikhil Mahajan | Nominated |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Director | Nikhil Mahajan | Won |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Actor | Jitendra Joshi | Nominated |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Actor Critics | Jitendra Joshi | Won |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Priyadarshan Jadhav | Nominated |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Lyricist | Jitendra Joshi – "Khal Khal Goda" | Nominated |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Playback Singer – Male | Rahul Deshpande – "Khal Khal Goda" | Nominated |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Story | Nikhil Mahajan, Prajakt Deshmukh | Nominated |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Screenplay | Nikhil Mahajan, Prajakt Deshmukh | Won |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Dialogue | Prajakt Deshmukh | Nominated |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Cinematography | Shamin Kulkarni | Nominated |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Sound Design | Baylon Fonseca | Nominated |
| 2023 | Filmfare Marathi Awards | Best Background Score | A V Prafullchandra | Won |
| 2023 | Fakt Marathi Cine Sanman | Best Playback Singer Male | Shreyas Puranik – "Kojagiri" | Nominated |
| 2023 | Fakt Marathi Cine Sanman | Best Lyricist | Jitendra Joshi – "Khal Khal Goda" | Nominated |
| 2023 | Fakt Marathi Cine Sanman | Special Award – National Film Awards winner for Best Direction | Nikhil Mahajan | Won |
| 2023 | TV9 Aapla Bioscope Awards | Best Film | Godavari | Nominated |
| 2023 | TV9 Aapla Bioscope Awards | Best Director | Nikhil Mahajan | Nominated |
| 2023 | TV9 Aapla Bioscope Awards | Best Director (Jury) | Nikhil Mahajan | Won |
| 2023 | TV9 Aapla Bioscope Awards | Best Actor in a Lead Role | Jitendra Joshi | Nominated |
| 2023 | TV9 Aapla Bioscope Awards | Best Actor in a Lead Role (Jury) | Jitendra Joshi | Won |
| 2023 | TV9 Aapla Bioscope Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Priyadarshan Jadhav | Nominated |