Amaltash

Amaltash is a 2024 Indian Marathi-language musical drama film written and directed by Suhas Desale, from a screenplay by co-writer Mayuresh Wagh. It stars Rahul Deshpande, Pallavi Paranjape, Pratibha Padhye, Deepti Mate, Trisha Kunte. It is produced by Darshan Productions Pvt. Ltd., Medium Strong Productions and One Fine Day.

The film was theatrically released on 8 March 2024 throughout Maharashtra, open with positive response from critics, praising several aspects of the film, including its refreshing and heartfelt cinematic experience, portrayal of sibling dynamics, acting, music, cinematography, and authentic portrayal of characters connected to music.

Plot
Rahul, a retired pianist residing in Pune, finds his quiet existence disrupted when Keerthi, an NRI, becomes fascinated by his exceptional Absolute Pitch.

Cast

 * Rahul Deshpande as Rahul Watve
 * Pallavi Paranjape as Keerthi Potdar
 * Pratibha Padhye as Ajju, Keerthi's grandmother
 * Deepti Mate as Deepti
 * Trisha Kunte as Dimple
 * Bhushan Marathe as Pawan
 * Jacob Panicker as Oak
 * Sudhir Phatak as Dr. Deshmukh
 * Anil Khopkar as Ramesh
 * Sunil Janeja as Old man
 * Mayuresh Wagh as Ganu
 * Swapnil Patil as Anaesthetist
 * Raghunandan Kulkarni as Amol
 * Bhushan Mate as Lic
 * Sagar Karpe as Barkya
 * Sandhya Bade as Assistant doctor

Production
Suhas Desale said that once the decision to create a film is made, the team typically spends the next 2 months crafting the script. Following this, they delve into pre-production, a phase that typically lasts between 4–6 months. Shooting commences 6 months thereafter. Following these initial stages, a month-long break ensues to accommodate jamming sessions integral to the film. During this hiatus, all musicians convene to perform together, with their live performances being recorded. Subsequently, shooting resumes to capture the remaining segments of the film. Post-production, including editing, extends over a year. Additionally, the team opted to shoot the songs in authentic locations for added realism, foregoing the use of playback for the musical sequences.

The major part of the film was shot in Pune, Maharashtra.

Release
The film was theatrically released on 8 March 2024.

Critical reception
Kalpeshraj Kubal of Maharashtra Times awarded 3.5 stars out of 5 stars and believes that Amaltash offers a refreshing and heartfelt cinematic experience, urging viewers to embrace life's uncertainties and continue moving forward. Mihir Bhanage of The Times of India rated 3 stars out of 5 stars and wrote "Amaltash is like breeze of freshness that makes you pause, breathe in, process and move on. Despite its flaws, the film manages to put a smile on your face." Santosh Bhingarde of Sakal praised various aspects of the film, including the dialogue, acting, music, cinematography, and overall plot. She specifically highlight Deepti Mate's performance, the portrayal of sibling dynamics, the music composed by Bhushan Mate, and the quality of cinematography. Reshma Raikwar of Loksatta praised the film for its authentic portrayal of characters who are deeply connected to music, both in their roles and in real life. She highlight the seamless integration of music into the storytelling, creating a genuine and immersive experience for the audience.