Khwada

Plot

Fighting a legal battle for over 10 years in the hope of getting back his land from the forest department, the film narrates the story of Raghu Karhe who along with his wife and two sons - Panda and Balu, his daughter-in-law and grandson, all of whom wander, shepherding sheep from one village to another.

Balu, a budding wrestler and a daydreamer, foreseeing prosperity and good future in agriculture hopes to find his family a permanent settlement instead of day-to-day wandering.

Fate brings them to a village headed by the rowdy, Ashokrao, who along with his fellow wrestlers terrorizes all the adjoining villages and very often creates trouble by picking up the sheep of poor shepherds. Balu and his family bear everything silently.

In one of the wrestling competitions, Balu defeats Ashokrao's academy's wrestlers, which leads to animosity between him and Balu. Ashokrao compels Balu to a wrestle with his ace wrestler. Feeling the pain of Ashokrao's separatist remarks, Balu applies his full strength and breaks the wrestler's spine and runs away. This further hurts Ashokrao's ego who vows to finish him. Balu's angst for finding resolution culminates in a heart-wrenching climax of the film.

Through its protagonist, the film talks about the entire shepherd community and how their lives are unstable, full of challenges and how at times, they have to pay a heavy price for survival with dignity.

Cast

Production

Executive Producer Mangesh Bhimraj Jondhale & Bhaurao Karhade unable to find producers sells his land for the funding of the film. Everyone in his family was shocked at the idea but Bhaurao Karhade managed to influence his family members. Bhaurao from the draught-hit Shrigonda taluka of Ahmednagar district sold his land to raise Rs 85 lakh to produce a movie.

Publicity

Khwada used innovative publicity design to promote the film. The cartoons are drawn by famous cartoonist Uday Mohite. The cartoons have become instantly viral on social media platforms. Uday Mohite has earlier done some publicity cartoons for films like Balak Palak and Timepass 2

Awards and festivals

Official Selections:

Reception

Film received extremely positive reviews from critics. ABP Majha gave 4 out of 5 stars and declared movie 'Survival of the fittest'. The Pune Mirror gave it 4 out of 5 stars and said "For films like this climax always prove to be tricky. It can be either depressing or unrealistic in most cases. Khwada successfully manages to avoid both and reaches a satisfactory conclusion; it keeps the narrative real and yet takes things to a higher level". The Maharashtra Times gave it 4 out of 5 stars and called it a "spicy desi Maharshtrian dish ". The Times of India also gave it 4 out of 5 stars, saying it was "a realistic look at the life of a shepherd family and the obstacles they face while struggling to make ends meet".