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{{Short description|2023 Marathi-language movie}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2026}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Follower
| image = Follower film.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Harshad Nalawade]]
| writer = Harshad Nalawade
| producer = Vinay Mishra Raghavan Bharadwaj Preety Ali Harshad Nalawade Charulata Maitra Pratik Moitro Anubhav KR Pallavi Rohatgi Maulik Sharma 
| starring = {{plainlist|
*Raghu Prakash
*Donna Munshi
*Harshad Nalawade
}}
| cinematography = Saket Gyani
| editing = Maulik Sharma
| studio = Orangepixel Studios Visica Films A HumaraMovie Causality Films production
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2023|01|29|[[International Film Festival Rotterdam]]|ref1=<ref name=":0" />|2025|03|21|India}}
| runtime = 100 minutes
| country = India
| language = Marathi Hindi Kannada English
| budget = {{INR|22 [[lakh]]}}<ref name=":5" />
}}

'''''Follower''''' is a 2023 Indian [[Marathi language|Marathi]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2025-03-22 |title=Kannada activists stop screening of Marathi film Follower |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/kannada-activists-stop-screening-of-marathi-film-follower/article69359567.ece |access-date=2026-03-13 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>{{Efn|The film is primarily in Marathi, with some dialogues in Kannada, Hindi, and English.<ref name=":1" />}} drama film written and directed by [[Harshad Nalawade]] in his feature film debut.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biswas |first=Tunir |date=2022-12-25 |title=Harshad Nalawade's debut film 'Follower': Glimpses of Dispute |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2022/Dec/25/harshad-nalawades-debut-film-follower-glimpses-of-dispute-2531723.html |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The film features Raghu Prakash, Donna Munshi, and Nalawade in leading roles. The film follows a Marathi-speaking youth in [[Belgaum|Belagavi]] who becomes increasingly radicalised while working for a Marathi political leader amid the border [[Belagavi border dispute|dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra]]. His political beliefs eventually create tensions with his close friends.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Film about Kannada-Marathi border row and friendship |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/film-about-kannada-marathi-border-row-and-friendship-2756235 |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

The film was premiered on 29 January 2023 in [[International Film Festival Rotterdam]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=2023-01-28 |title=Rotterdam Selection ‘Follower’ Tackles Radicalization of Indian Youth |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/festivals/rotterdam-follower-radicalization-indian-youth-1235504199/ |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> and many other domestic and international film festivals and was theatrically released on 21 March 2025.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-19 |title=बेळगाव सीमा वादावर प्रकाश; ‘फॉलोअर’ चित्रपट २१ मार्चला प्रदर्शित होणार |url=https://www.loksatta.com/mumbai/marathi-movie-follower-to-be-released-on-21st-march-based-on-belgaon-border-dispute-mumbai-print-news-css-98-4901569/ |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=Loksatta |language=mr}}</ref> The film was produced on a modest budget of ₹22 lakh but could not recover its investment.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Indie Cinema in India Lost Theatres First. Then, Streaming Too |url=https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/features/insight/indie-cinema-in-india-has-lost-the-support-of-both-streaming-and-theatres |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=The Hollywood Reporter India |language=en}}</ref>

== Plot ==
The film follows Raghu, a young Marathi-speaking man living in Belagavi, a city at the center of the long-running border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra. Raghu works in the IT cell of a Marathi political leader, spreading online propaganda about the alleged mistreatment of Marathi speakers.

As political tensions and language-based identity issues grow, Raghu becomes increasingly radicalised. His strong ideological beliefs begin to strain his friendship with two close friends, creating emotional and ideological conflicts. The film explores themes of identity, friendship, political polarisation, and the feeling of alienation within one's own homeland.

== Cast ==

*Raghu Prakash as Raghavendra "Raghu" Pawar
*Donna Munshi as Parveen Mujawar
*[[Harshad Nalawade]] as Sachin Sanikop

== Release ==
===Film festivals===
''Follower'' was officially selected for several domestic and international film festivals in 2023. The film was screened at the [[International Film Festival Rotterdam]], the [[Off Camera International Festival of Independent Cinema|International Festival of Independent Cinema Off Camera in Krakow]], the [[New York Indian Film Festival]], and the Noordelijk Film Festival in the [[Netherlands]]. It was also selected for major Indian festivals including the [[MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023|JIO MAMI Mumbai Film Festival]], the [[Dharamshala International Film Festival]], and the [[International Film Festival of Kerala]].<ref name=":4" />

===Theatrical===
The film was theatrically released on 21 March 2025.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Harshad Nalawades Follower to Release on March 21, 2025, Explores Belagavi Border Dispute |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/business/harshad-nalawades-follower-to-release-on-march-21-2025-explores-belagavi-border-dispute/ |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

== Reception ==
===Critical reception===
[[Saibal Chatterjee]] of [[NDTV]] gave 4 out of 5 stars and wrote "Follower is a finely textured, gentle essay, even non-judgmental in a way that such 'argumentative' films rarely are, but the statement that it makes about the perils of radicalisation is unwaveringly firm and pointed."<ref>{{Cite news |title=''Follower'' Review: Insightful Film Maps A Socio-Political Landscape That Breeds Unthinking Intolerance |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/follower-review-insightful-film-maps-a-socio-political-landscape-that-breeds-unthinking-intolerance-4-stars-3745771 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250725114925/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/follower-review-insightful-film-maps-a-socio-political-landscape-that-breeds-unthinking-intolerance-4-stars-3745771 |archive-date=2025-07-25 |access-date=2026-03-13 |work=NDTV |language=en}}</ref> Sneha Bengani of [[CNBC TV18]] praised ''Follower'' for its sharp social commentary and realistic portrayal of everyday harassment and social hypocrisy, highlighting its multilingual setting and symbolic storytelling.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-03-21 |title=Follower movie review: A thought-provoking origin story of a troll |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/entertainment/follower-movie-review-belgaum-a-thought-provoking-origin-story-of-a-troll-19577527.htm |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=CNBCTV18 |language=en}}</ref>

Mihir Bhanage of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as a portrayal of contemporary social realities, particularly how youth can be influenced by baseless allegations from those in power. He noted that Harshad Nalawade connects multiple subplots to build a cause-and-effect narrative that culminates in the climax.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Follower Movie Review: Realistic, relatable and hard-hitting |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movie-reviews/follower/movie-review/119302126.cms |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> Debanjan Dhar of [[Outlook (Indian magazine)|''Outlook'']] gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, praising Harshad Nalawade's balanced storytelling and Raghu Prakash's nuanced performance, describing Follower as a focused and confident debut that examines the protagonist's ideological transformation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=Follower Review: The making of a troll |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/follower-review-the-making-of-a-troll |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=Outlook India |language=en}}</ref>

Alaka Sahani of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, noting that it portrays how unemployed youth in small towns can be drawn into hate-driven narratives on social media. She praised Harshad Nalawade's mature storytelling, the film's multilingual setting in [[Belgaum|Belagavi]], and the performances of Raghu Prakash and Donna Munshi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-21 |title=Follower review: A deep dive into the life of a troll |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/follower-review-a-deep-dive-into-the-life-of-a-troll-9898429/ |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Controversy ==
In March 2025, Members of the [[Karnataka Rakshana Vedike]] halted a screening of Follower at an INOX Cinema in [[Belgaum|Belagavi]], alleging that the film could disturb peace due to its depiction of the Kannada–Marathi linguistic dispute. Some activists also demanded a ban on the film, claiming it misrepresented facts and could provoke tensions between Kannada and Marathi-speaking communities. Director Harshad Nalawade and the film's associates responded by urging critics to watch the film before forming an opinion, stating that it is a work of fiction centered on the lives of three friends.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kannada activists stall screening of Marathi film 'Follower' in Belagavi |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/kannada-activists-stall-screening-of-marathi-film-follower-in-belagavi-3457442 |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{IMDb title|id=21364060}}
* [https://www.followerthefilm.com/ Official site]

[[Category:2023 Indian films]]
[[Category:2023 Marathi-language films]]
[[Category:2023 Kannada-language films]]
[[Category:Indian independent films]]
[[Category:Marathi-language drama films]]
[[Category:Films about language]]
[[Category:Films about friendship]]
[[Category:Films about social media]]
[[Category:2023 drama films]]
[[Category:Films set in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Indian multilingual films]]
[[Category:2025 controversies]]

Follower film - Revision history

Nxtleveledit at 10:49, 28 April 2026