Drama

Baapya (The Man)

Marathi
134 Mins | 2026 | India Restricted to persons aged 15 and below unless accompanied by an adult
Australian premiere
BAAPYA is a warm, rooted comedy-drama set in coastal Konkan, India. When the ex-wife of a fisherman returns as a man after a gender transition, his close-knit family and community are forced to confront change, identity, and buried emotions. Blending humour and heart, the film explores masculinity, acceptance, and the courage to grow together through unexpected transformation.

Cast: Girish Kulkarni, Rajshri Deshpande, Shrikant Yadav, Devika Daftardar, Aryan Mengji, Gauri Kiran, Ananda Karekar, Varsha Dandale, Aasha Joshi, Raksha Naiga, Vaibhav Misal, Shravani Abhang, Atharva Fadnis, Ira Parvade, Aarush Chikhale, Ira Alshi

Director: Sameer Tewari

Sameer Tewari began his career as a copywriter at Lintas and FCB before writing and co-directing India’s first daily soap, Shanti. In 2005, he founded Working Films and has since directed commercials for leading Indian and international brands, earning recognition for campaigns including Danube, Cadbury, and Hyundai. His feature film Mr. Joe B. Carvalho streams on Amazon Prime, while his award-winning short Level 13 has received 35 international and domestic awards. His latest web series, Lalla, awaits release. His Marathi film BAAPYA released in 2026 and was featured at the PVR INOX PRIDE festival.

Festivals
Best Film, Best Actor and Best Actress - Pune International Film Festival 2026
Habitat Film Festival 2026