Marathi film outsmarts 8x10 Tasveer

Something like this happens rarely! Imagine a regional film taking on a big-budget Hindi film or a Hollywood biggie at the box-office? Well, that's what happened this week. Everyone was pinning hopes on 8x10 Tasveer to lure audiences back to cinema halls. But the talked-about film failed to ignite the box-office.

This may come as a surprise to many, but Fast & Furious fared much better than 8x10 Tasveer at several screens. However, the film that overshadowed both 8x10 Tasveer and Fast & Furious is Mahesh Manjrekar's Marathi film Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy. The film has taken Maharashtra by storm, it's running to packed houses everywhere.

Mahesh Manjrekar, its producer, is thrilled by the response. "I've been flooded with congratulatory calls. I haven't received such feedback ever," he says. Ask Manjrekar if he plans to start a Hindi film next and pat comes the reply, "Of course, but not with stars."