Actor Swapnil Joshi and producer Anand Pandit feel a well-told story in any language can be a pan-Indian success
Playing a cop on screen is a dream come true for any artiste and when a chance knocked on actor Swapnil Joshi’s door, he opened it with elan! Playing an encounter specialist in the recently released Anand Pandit production, Marathi film Jilabi, Swapnil says it was a whole new experience for him.
“I play Vijay Karmarkar, an undercover encounter cop in the film, who has many more dimensions than he reveals in the beginning. This character’s trajectory intrigued me and his take on life really drew me into his inner world. It is a crime thriller, but also a very compelling human story packed with powerful performances. It will remind you of the gritty world of cult hits like Satya and Company,” shares Swapnil.
Swapnil, who first appeared in the Ramanand Sagar show Uttar Ramayan as a nine-year-old, has been part of television shows such as Krishna, Eka Lagnachi Dusri Goshta, as well as films like Duniyadari and Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai. Swapnil believes the lines between regional and mainstream cinema are fast blurring with the advent of pan-Indian films.
“Regional languages are the heartbeat of India’s cultural and artistic diversity. It’s not just about entertainment, but about preserving and celebrating every language. Subtitles and also dubbing expand the reach of such stories, and blur the lines between regional and pan-Indian cinema,” he says.
He also holds the opinion that each industry has its unique strengths and comparing them isn’t always fair because the scale, resources and audience bases are vastly different. “The South Indian film industry is known for its larger-than-life storytelling, incredible technical finesse, and deeply rooted cultural pride. Marathi cinema has smaller budgets, but has a very unique resonance that makes it very distinctive. Cinema has its own language and if a theme attracts me, I go for it.”
Keen eye for talent
Anand Pandit, who is a well-known name in the world of production with projects like Total Dhamaal (2019), Missing (2018), Sarkar 3 (2018), and Great Grand Masti (2016), to his credit, says it was the compelling storyline that initially drew him to Jilabi. “It aligned perfectly with my vision of creating an edge-of-the-seat Marathi thriller. As a producer, I am always looking for something fresh and new, and this script struck the right balance by blending mystery, drama and relatability. The screenplay is not jaded or conventional; it will break new ground,” he shares.
Anand, who has produced movies in multiple regional languages alongside Hindi films, too believes regional and pan-Indian cinema are gradually merging. “Some of the biggest hits in recent times, including franchises like Baahubali, Pushpa and KGF, have set new benchmarks of success. Malayalam cinema too is breaking new ground with its brave themes and artistic heft. A well-told story in any language has the potential to be a pan-Indian success and this trend is only going to grow. The future of regional cinema is highly promising.”
So, how can the reach of regional films be expanded globally? “There is an audience today not just for lavishly mounted blockbusters, but also for related, rooted, human stories. The success of my Gujarati films Fakt Mahilao Maate, Tron Ekka and Fakt Purusho Maate speaks for itself. As a producer, I will continue to do my best to identify fresh talent across industries and back promising stories, so that they can reach a wider audience.”
