Sohla
Name: Sohla
English Title: Celebration Under the Grey Sky
Industry: Film, Cinema
Type: Marathi Feature Film
Genre: Drama, Coming-of-Age
Language: Marathi (with English subtitles)
Director & Writer: Saaikat Bagban
== Sohla at Third Eye: When a Film Didn’t End, It Stayed ==
At the 22nd Third Eye Asian Film Festival, Sohla – Celebration Under the Grey Sky emerged as a quietly powerful cinematic experience. Rather than demanding attention, the film invited stillness, allowing audiences to engage deeply with its emotional core. As the screening progressed, the atmosphere inside the theatre transformed into one of collective silence and reflection, with viewers visibly absorbed in the unfolding narrative.
The film resonated particularly strongly with older members of the audience, many of whom found echoes of their own lived experiences within its restrained portrayal of grief, memory, and tenderness. Subtle gestures and pauses evoked personal recollections, leading to moments of quiet emotion across the auditorium. Applause followed the screening slowly, marked by a contemplative silence as viewers took time to process the film’s emotional weight.
In post-screening discussions, Sohla continued to inspire thoughtful conversations. Festival attendees shared personal stories prompted by the film, speaking of family, loss, and transformation. Rather than loud acclaim, the film generated sustained and heartfelt recommendations, with viewers urging others to watch it with emotional preparedness.
At a festival known for reflective and questioning cinema, Sohla – Celebration Under the Grey Sky found a natural place. The film reinforced the idea that cinema can leave a lasting impact not through spectacle, but through honesty and emotional truth. Long after the lights came up, Sohla remained with its audience, lingering quietly in memory.
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Film Details
- Title: Sohla
- English Title: Celebration Under the Grey Sky
- Language: Marathi (with English subtitles)
- Duration: 01:45:50
- Year of Completion: November 2025
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Cast
- Pravin Dalimkar
- Devdatta Prashant Gone
- Varsha Sunil Malwadkar
- Vaishnavi Sanjay Godke
- Alessandra Tarawhelan Marediz
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Production
- Production Company: Carryon Films
- Producers: Sachin Srivastav, Kavita Bagban
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Direction
Sohla marks the debut feature film of Saaikat Bagban as both writer and director.
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Tagline
Between borrowed dreams and sudden grief, a boy discovers the weight of becoming a man.
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Logline
A flamboyant young boy inspired by Bollywood dreams of stealing the spotlight at his village’s coming-of-age ceremony (Sohla), until a family tragedy forces him to confront loss and discover what becoming a man truly means.
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Synopsis
When his father’s tragic downfall shatters his world, young Pashya must set aside his childhood dreams of flair and fandom to support his grieving family. As the village’s sacred Sohla ceremony approaches—a tradition marking the passage into manhood—Pashya faces a difficult choice: abandon the ritual or reclaim it in his father’s memory. Sohla is a tender coming-of-age story exploring grief, resilience, and the quiet transformation from boyhood to manhood.
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Director’s Statement
Director Saaikat Bagban describes Sohla as a deeply personal reflection shaped by his own experiences of growing up. The film explores the moment when a boy is compelled to become a man, not by choice but by circumstance. Through this story, Bagban sought to portray the silent struggle of loss, responsibility, and resilience.
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