antagonist
An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the main enemy or rival of the protagonist and is often depicted as a villain.Dhadakebaaz
''Dhadakebaaz'' () is a 1990 Indian Marathi-language action comedy film directed and produced by Mahesh Kothare under Jenma Films International. The screenplay was written by Vasant Sathe and Kothare, while Kothare also provided the story and P ...
''. Created by
Mahesh Kothare
Mahesh Ambar Kothare (Marathi pronunciation: əɦeːʃ koʈʰaːɾe born 28 September 1953) is an Indian film actor, director and producer of Marathi and Hindi films. He is regarded as a revolutionary figure in the Marathi film industry, know ...
, the character was portrayed by Bipin Varti who also provided the voiceover, and Chandrakant Pandya, along with eight other
uncredited
In the creative arts and scientific literature, an acknowledgment (British English also acknowledgement is a ...
actors. The name Kavtya Mahakal was inspired by Kavathe-Mahankal, Kavathe Mahankal, a village in the Sangli district of Maharashtra. Kothare cast Gujarati actor and friend Chandrakant Pandya after a chance encounter, and Pandya's creative input greatly contributed to the character's popularity, even though he remained largely unrecognized during his lifetime.
mask
A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment, and often employed for rituals and rites. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes, ...
ed until the film's climax. Initially, Kothare had a different idea in mind – he wanted a talking skull. While exploring
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, he came across a 'skull mask' and purchased four of them. The role of Kavtya Mahakal was portrayed by eight actors, with Bipin Varti being the first. Varti provided the voiceover for the character throughout the film.
In his autobiography, Damn It Ani Barach Kahi, published in Mumbai, Mahesh revealed that the Gujarati actor and his friend Chandrakant Pandya got the role of Kavtya Mahakal after their chance meeting, where he offered Pandya a project despite the character requiring a mask. Pandya initially worked closely with Mahesh but later infused his own creativity, making the character popular, even though he wasn't widely recognized during his lifetime. Chandrakant Pandya appeared in numerous Gujarati films and is well known for his role as Nishad Raj in the popular Indian series ''Ramayan''. He passed away on 21 October 2021, at the age of 72.
Fictional biography
Kavtya Mahakal, a ruthless and sadistic crime lord, was the mastermind behind various criminal activities in Shivapur. His real name remains unknown, but his alias struck fear in the hearts of the villagers. With a mysterious past, Kavtya Mahakal's early life was marked by involvement in crime from a young age. He built a vast network of henchmen and associates, including Divtya, and rose to power through brutal and cunning tactics.
Kavtya Mahakal's notorious crimes included the murder of Sub-Inspector Uma Jadhav's parents, funding crime in Shivapur, and attempting to murder Lakshya and his friends. He terrorized Shivapur during the festival of Mahashivratri, leaving a trail of destruction and fear. Driven by a desire for power and control, Kavtya Mahakal sought revenge against Uma Jadhav for pursuing him. He also aimed to acquire the magical bottle containing Gangaram to further his criminal empire.
Kavtya Mahakal's personality was defined by his ruthlessness, cunning, and sadistic nature. He was power-hungry and manipulative, using his intelligence and strategic thinking to evade capture. However, his downfall came when he was defeated by Lakshya, Mahesh, and Bappa with Gangaram's help. Ultimately, Kavtya Mahakal was killed by Sub-Inspector Uma Jadhav in revenge for her parents' murder.
Reception
Maharashtra Times
''Maharashtra Times'' (), colloquially referred to as 'Ma Ta' (मटा) from its Marathi initialism, is a Marathi newspaper based in Mumbai, India.https://www.mediawire.in/user/corporate/Maharashtra-Times992 It is one of the largest selling d ...
featured Kavtya Mahakal as one of the most iconic villains in
Marathi cinema
Marathi cinema is the segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Marathi language, which is widely spoken in the state of Maharashtra. It is based out of Mumbai. It is the oldest film ind ...
. The Marathi news websites such
Loksatta
''Loksatta'' is an Indian newspaper. It was established on 14 January 1948. ''Loksatta'' gained notability through its coverage of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination and subsequent developments; the founder of the Indian Express Group, Ramnath Goen ...
,
Lokmat
''Lokmat'' ( ) is a Marathi-language newspaper published in Maharashtra, India. Founded in 1971 by Jawaharlal Darda, it is the largest read Marathi-language newspaper in India. and has presence in print, digital, TV and events.Divya Marathi have noted that the character of Kavtya Mahakal remains prominent in the audiences.