Ata Thambaycha Naay!

''Ata Thambaycha Naay!'' () is a 2025 Indian Marathi-language drama film co-written and directed by Shivraj Waichal, and produced by Chalk and Cheese Films, Film Jazz, and Zee Studios. The film stars an ensemble cast including Bharat Jadhav, Siddhartha Jadhav, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Prajakta Hanamghar, Kiran Khoje, Parna Pethe, Om Bhutkar and Rohini Hattangadi. Based on a true incident, the story highlights the dedication and lives of employees of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. The story has been inspired by an incident that took place in BMC in 2017.

The film was officially announced in December 2024 and was theatrically released on 1 May 2025, coincide with Maharashtra Day.

Cast

* Bharat Jadhav as Sakharam Manchekar
* Siddhartha Jadhav as Maruti Kadam
* Ashutosh Gowarikar as Udaykumar Shirurkar
* Prajakta Hanamghar as Jayashree Kamble
* Kiran Khoje as Apsara Jadhav
* Rohini Hattangadi as Udaykumar's Mother
* Parna Pethe as Seema Mali
* Om Bhutkar as Nilesh Mali
* Pravin Dalimbkar
* Rupa Borgaonkar
* Shrikant Yadav

Production

In mid-December, the film was officially launched at an event attended by Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Deputy Commissioner Kiran Dighavkar, Zee Studios executives Umesh K. Bansal and Bavesh Janwalekar, producers Nidhi Parmar Hiranandani and Dharam Walia, retired Municipal Officer Udaykumar Shiroorkar, and members of the cast, who were also present at the launch.

The story is inspired by the real-life journey of Udaykumar Shiroorkar, a retired Assistant Municipal Commissioner (AMC), who motivated 23 Class IV workers of the BMC to complete their basic school education.

The renowned actors Bharat Jadhav and Siddhartha Jadhav, who have previously worked together in several successful films and are much loved by audiences, are reuniting on screen after many years.

Soundtrack

Marketing and release

The title motion poster was unveiled on 1 February 2025, featuring the film's title painted in three bold colors on a wall along a busy road. The first look of the film was revealed in the form of a pre-teaser on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, prior to which it was launched at the 25th Zee Chitra Gaurav Purashkar ceremony. In the teaser, people are seen joyfully running in one direction, holding leaves in their hands, suggesting a symbolic or significant moment in the film. On Women’s Day 2025, a special teaser was released, depicting a woman entangled in responsibilities—someone who puts her family first, finds her identity across fields, and symbolizes non-violence and inspiration. On the occasion of Gudi Padwa, the Marathi New Year, a new poster featuring the entire ensemble cast—with joyful expressions and a sense of triumph—was unveiled during the Shobha Yatra in Dombivli.

A grand premiere was held in Mumbai on 29 April 2025, attended by numerous industry personalities including Mahesh Manjrekar, Anjali Patil, Amey Wagh, Rinku Rajguru, Ankush Chaudhari and Chhaya Kadam. The film was released in theatres on 1 May 2025, coinciding with Labour Day, which is also celebrated as Maharashtra Day.

Reception

Critical reception

Mihir Bhanage of ''The Times of India'' rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "a heartfelt story that makes you smile and leaves you teary-eyed too." He added, "On the technical side too, ''Ata Thambaycha Naay'' displays a strong case with a good screenplay, camerawork, sound, music and production design. These attributes along with the performances hold the audience’s attention throughout." Nandini Ramnath of ''Scroll.in'' wrote, "The 144-minute film isn’t preachy, but it does get a little carried away with its progressive messaging. Some judicious snipping could have created a punchier, more effective result." Kalpeshraj Kubal of ''Maharashtra Times'' awarded the film 3 out of 5 stars and noted, "a visual narrative that journeys from 'Vasa' to 'Suvasa' is presented in this film by the trio of writers Shivraj Waichal, Omkar Gokhale and Arvind Jagtap," while commending the direction, casting, and the film’s core theme.

Box office

The film earned ₹45 lakh on its opening day and ₹1.57 crore in the first week. The film collected ₹2.9 crore in nine days. After 13 days, the collection reached ₹3.77 crore and ₹5.67 crore in seventeen days.

The film earned ₹7.44 crore.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 35851696, Ata Thambaycha Naay!
2020s Indian films
2020s Marathi-language films
2025 films
Films set in Mumbai
Films shot in Mumbai
Indian survival films
Marathi-language films based on actual events
Indian films based on actual events
Drama films based on actual events