Boyz (film)

Lore & Background

The film follows Kabir Panigrahi, raised by his mother Gayatri, who avoids discussing his father, causing tension. Kabir is sent to a boarding school, where he excels but remains haunted by his father's identity. Two mischievous village boys, Dhungya and Dhairya, become his roommates and help him confess love to classmate Grace, while revealing their own secrets: Dhungya's father died by suicide due to loan debt, and Dhairya's parents work in a brick kiln.

Reader's Guide

Boyz achieved surprise blockbuster status, collecting ₹8.40 crore in its first week after release on 8 September 2017. Its success led to two sequels: Boyz 2 (5 October 2018) and Boyz 3 (16 September 2022). The film is notable for launching the acting careers of Sumant Shinde and Pratik Lad, and for featuring a cameo item number by Sunny Leone. Its soundtrack was composed by Avadhoot Gupte, who also presented the film.

Did You Know?

• Sumant Shinde and Pratik Lad made their acting debuts in Boyz.
• The film collected approximately ₹2.5–3 crore in its first week at the box office.
• Sunny Leone appears in an item number titled 'Kutha kutha jayacha honeymoon'.

Production & Debut Cast

Boyz arrived in Marathi cinema in 2017 as a coming-of-age comedy helmed by director Vishal Devrukhkar. The project was brought to life by producers Lalasaheb Shinde and Rajendra Shinde, with the well-known singer Avadhoot Gupte lending his name as the film's presenter. At its core, the movie leaned heavily on fresh faces: Sumant Shinde and Pratik Lad both made their acting debuts in this very production, stepping into the roles of Kabir and Dhairya respectively. Parth Bhalerao rounded out the trio as the mischievous Dhungya, while Ritika Shrotri played Grace, the love interest who anchors Kabir's emotional arc. Supporting performances came from Shilpa Tulaskar as Kabir's mother, Sharvari Jamenis as the aunt Radhika, and Santosh Juvekar as the school's Mandar sir. The film's release on 8 September 2017 set the stage for what would become one of the most talked-about Marathi comedies of that year, proving that a low-key boarding-school premise could carry enormous emotional weight.

A Story of Broken Families and Found Brothers

The heart of Boyz beats around three young men who, despite their differences, become each other's anchor at a strict boarding school. Kabir, a top-performing student, carries the quiet wound of never knowing his father's identity; his mother, Gayatri, deflects every question, and the resulting silence has driven a wedge between them. His only lifeline is his aunt Radhika. Then arrive Dhungya and Dhairya, two village boys whose relentless mischief has driven their communities to dump them at the school. Their carefree spirit initially clashes with Kabir's ambition, but gradually the trio bonds. Their friendship deepens when they share their deepest secrets: Dhungya's farmer father took his own life over an unpayable loan, while Dhairya's parents toil in a brick kiln, dreaming of a better future for him. When Gayatri's terminal breast cancer is revealed, it is Dhungya and Dhairya who orchestrate a video call that finally shatters the wall between mother and son. The film also takes a sharp stance against authoritarian school discipline, culminating in students flooding the principal's complaint box with defiant letters.

A Surprise Blockbuster

Few in the Marathi film industry would have predicted the commercial trajectory of Boyz when it opened on 8 September 2017. Yet the numbers told a different story. The film grossed over ₹3.72 crore (approximately US$390,000) in its opening weekend alone, a strong start that hinted at broader audience appeal. By the end of its first week, total collections had climbed to ₹8.40 crore (roughly US$870,000), cementing Boyz's status as a surprise blockbuster. For a modest coming-of-age comedy built around debut actors and a boarding-school setting, that figure was remarkable. The film's blend of humor, heartfelt family drama, and a rebellious spirit resonated with audiences well beyond the typical Marathi cinema demographic. Its box-office success validated the creative choices of director Vishal Devrukhkar and the producers, and it set the financial benchmark that made a sequel not just possible but commercially inevitable. In a landscape where Marathi films often struggle to break through to wider audiences, Boyz proved that a well-crafted story about friendship and family could cross those boundaries effortlessly.

Franchise, Soundtrack & Cultural Footprint

The success of the original Boyz launched what would become a multi-installment franchise in Marathi cinema. Boyz 2 hit theaters on 5 October 2018, less than a year after the first film, riding the momentum of its predecessor. The third chapter, Boyz 3, arrived on 16 September 2022, demonstrating the franchise's staying power over a five-year span. Musically, the original film was shaped by Avadhoot Gupte, who composed the score and co-wrote the lyrics alongside Vaibhav Joshi. Gupte's dual role as composer and presenter gave the project a distinctive personal stamp. The soundtrack also featured a high-profile item number, "Kutha kutha jayacha honeymoon la," performed by Sunny Leone, adding a layer of mainstream visibility to the film. Beyond the screen, the trio of Kabir, Dhungya, and Dhairya became recognizable figures in Marathi pop culture, their friendship narrative echoing through sequels and fan discussions. The franchise collectively stands as one of the more consistent comedy series in recent Marathi cinema, with each installment building on the emotional foundation laid by the 2017 original.

Gallery