BMC organises “Marathi Chalchitrapat Weekend” to celebrate contemporary Marathi cinema as part of their initiative “Celebrating Mumbai — A UNESCO Creative City of Film” Held at NGMA Mumbai on May 30-31, the highlights included curated screenings of films including internationally acclaimed Sthal directed by Jayant Somalkar and produced by Shefali Bhushan, Baapya starring Rajshree Deshpane and Girish Kulkarni, Maay Bapache Aashirvad, and Tighee starring Sonalee Kulkarni followed by conversation with the filmmakers and actors

Mumbai : BMC in collaboration with the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) presented “Celebrating Mumbai – A UNESCO Creative City of Film,” a special public programme celebrating Mumbai’s enduring legacy as the film capital of India and its recognition as the country’s only UNESCO City of Film, at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai.

Presented alongside the ongoing exhibition under “Lens and Legacy: Cinema in Focus,” which features posters of Hindi and Marathi Films by noted film historian and archivist S.M.M Ausaja at NGMA Mumbai, the initiative brings together cinema lovers, filmmakers, artists, animators, educators, and cultural practitioners through screenings, conversations, workshops, and performances across multiple days of programming.

The initiative also featured the Marathi Chalchitrapat Weekend on May 30th and 31st May, 2026, a dedicated celebration of Marathi cinema and storytelling.Curated as a special segment within “Celebrating Mumbai — A UNESCO Creative City of Film,” the Marathi Chalchitrapat Weekend explores and celebrates contemporary Marathi Cinema through screenings and conversations with filmmakers, actors and creators.Highlights included screenings of the internationally acclaimed films Sthal, Baapya, Maay Bapache Aashirvad, and Tighee, along with interactions with actor Rajshri Deshpande, director Jayant Somalkar, Sonali Kulkarni among others.Award-winning actor Rajshri Deshpande who attended the screening of her film Baapya 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.”Sthal director Jayant Somalkar expressed his joy, “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 the coming years”Director-Producer-actor Shefali Bhushan added, “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.”Mrs. Shashi Bala (Chief Business Development, BMC) says “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 Marathi Cinema Weekend at NGMA Mumbai brings filmmakers, artists, and audiences together in a space of discovery and dialogue, celebrating the craft, the language, and the city that inspires it.”Senior curator and film critic Meenakshi Shedde said, “I would really like to congratulate the entire team behind this amazing event Shashi Bala, BMC’s Chief Business Development Officer, Nidhi Choudhury, who is Director of the NGMA, the National Gallery of Modern Art, and Anupama Bose, for coming up with this deep and landmark collaboration between the BMC, ,NGMA and the UNESCO Creative Cities of Film”The inaugural ceremony commenced with a ceremonial lamp lighting attended by dignitaries including Hon’ble Mayor of Mumbai Smt. Ritu Tawde and other dignitaries. In her inaugural speech, Smt. Ritu Tawde, Hon’ble Mayor of Mumbai said, “Mumbai’s identity has always been shaped by its openness and creativity. It is a city that allows people to dream beyond boundaries and offers opportunities to fulfil those dreams.

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.”Through “Celebrating Mumbai – A UNESCO City of Film”, BMC-UCCN at NGMA Mumbai continues to honour Mumbai not merely as a backdrop to cinema, but as a living and evolving cultural force that inspires stories, preserves legacy and shapes future generations of creators. Open to the public, the programme invited audiences of all ages to rediscover Mumbai through its films, memories, music, movement and stories. For further details and updates, follow BMC-UCCN and NGMA Mumbai on social media.