Marathi language Indian Film Sthal- A Match with cast of non-actors creates buzz at TIFF 2023

Debutante director Jayant Digambar Somalkar’s Marathi feature film Sthal- A Match, is gaining the limelight at the premiere of the Toronto International Film Festival. The film has heaped praise at the film festival in Toronto.

The film has a cast of no actors. All the actors in the film are real life characters who are facing the camera for the first time in their lives. The film has been shot in the director’s own house in his native village situated in Dongargaon, Maharashtra, since the film has been made on a shoe-string budget.

The film is the powerful story of young girl Savita (played by Nandini Chikte), who is on the verge of graduating from college and dreams of building her own future.

But the oppressive patriarchy comes in the way of dreams as she is forced to face humiliating but comical interviews from the families of the potential grooms.

Though the film’s main focus is on the stifling patriarchy, it also highlights the pervasive hypocrisy in Indian society. The film also lays bare the crisis farmers face in India.

Comical moments during Savita’s interviews by the families of her potential grooms and a WhatsApp-triggered brawl in the village add some lighter moments to the otherwise poignant story.

A Match is competing for the Toronto festival top honour People's Choice Award.