Manache Shlok becomes first Marathi film to complete shooting after lockdown

After the state government allowed film production houses to resume work after the 75-day countrywide lockdown, the shooting of films and television serials has restarted in Maharashtra. Mrunmayee Deshpande's Manache Shlok (2020) has now become the first Marathi film for which shooting has been completed in the post-lockdown phase.

Manache Shlok is the second directorial venture of actress Deshpande after Mann Fakira (2020) and stars her and Rahul Pethe.

Mann Fakira, which was released on 6 March, could not have a proper theatrical run as the Maharashtra government ordered malls and cinema halls shut in the second week of March to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In a statement to the ANI news agency, Deshpande said: “I didn’t know when the rest of the filming would be done, but I didn’t want to waste any time, so I had already made half the preparations. We also had a plan for how to set up everything and how to work with fewer people and so the rest of the filming was completed in just two days.”

The film is being produced by Ganraj Associates and Sanjay Davara Films. Shreyas Jadhav, one of the producers, said, "We all started working when we found out that the government has allowed filming. After getting complete information about the location of the shooting, I met the district officials and reminded them that we would shoot according to all the rules and we got permission.”

The shooting was completed at Garud Machi village on Mulshi road in Pune district adhering to all the rules and regulations set by the government. All the artistes and technicians reached the village and were quarantined for a few days before shooting began. The artistes had to carry and do their own make-up.