Chhatrapal Ninawe’s internationally acclaimed film Ghaath to release theatrically in India on September 27

Chhatrapal Ninawe’s internationally acclaimed debut feature Ghaath (Ambush) which had its World Premiere at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival 2023 in Panorama is slated for theatrical release in India. The Marathi-language film, a slow-burn thriller set on the fringes of India’s jungles occupied by Maoist rebels and revolves around the tense interplay between guerrillas, civilians and the police.

Produced by Shiladitya Bora’s Platoon One and Manish Mundra’s Drishyam Films along with Milapsinh Jadeja, Sanyukta Gupta and Kunal Kumar the film stars Jitendra Joshi and Milind Shinde, as well as Suruchi Adarkar, Dhananjay Mandaokar and Janardan Kadam.

The film is shot by Udit Khurana whose recent work includes popular Netflix documentary ‘The Hunt for Veerappan’ and Huma Qureshi starrer ‘Bayaan’ whose principal photography concluded recently. Ghaath boasts a talented crew; three of them, the director, producer, and cinematographer, are alumni of the prestigious Berlinale Talents.

The 124-minutes-long crime thriller was selected for the Work-In-Progress Lab at India’s Film Bazaar where it won the Lab Award and at Berlinale it was also nominated for GWFF Best First Feature Award endowed with 50,000 euros. The film had its India premiere at Jio MAMI 2023 followed by International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).

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Sharing his excitement about the India release, writer-director Chhatrapal Ninawe says, “Ghaath is an intense and personal film and a thrilling exploration of trust and betrayal, set against the raw, untamed backdrop of Maharashtra’s remote regions, where the rule of law is fragile, and danger lurks in every shadow.  And You never know when an ambush might happen. The characters are shaped by their surroundings—constantly navigating moral dilemmas and survival instincts. I’m excited to finally bring this story to Indian audiences, and I believe its gripping narrative and layered characters resonate with viewers from all walks of life. Ghaath invites you to experience a world which is very real – where trust is rare and survival comes at a price.”

“Ghaath is a diamond in the rough, a story that stands out from the crowd. As a producer, I have always been drawn to bold and exciting narratives. Be it Newton, which was India’s official entry to the 90th Academy Awards; Picasso, Indian National Film Award-winning film, Prime Video India’s first Marathi direct to digital acquisition); upcoming Marathi-Japanese romance drama Him, Her & Fuji, and Bayaan, starring Huma Qureshi, developed under Film Independent and mentored by Craig Mazin; I have always been committed to bringing these groundbreaking stories to the forefront.  Ghaath is a testament to this commitment, a story that deserves a global audience. I hope that viewers will give Ghaath a chance to shine and experience how it’s meant to be experienced, in the cinema halls, where it truly comes alive.” says Producer Shiladitya Bora.

The team has submitted the film for consideration for India’s Official Entry for the Oscars. The makers are planning a staggered release: on 27th September 2024 they will release in cinemas across Maharashtra, followed by metros and key cities across India in the subsequent week, and North America theatrical in November 2024.