Khwada (Obstacle) is a 2015 Indian Marathi-language film, written and directed by Bhaurao Karhade in a directorial debut. “Khwada” executive producer Mangesh Bhimraj Jondhale. In the 62nd National Award Ceremony the film received two awards; ‘Special Jury Mention’ and ‘Sync Sound’. It has also won 5 state awards, for Best Debut Film Production, Best Rural Film, Best Costume Design, Best Rural Director and Best Make-Up. In 2015’s edition of Pune International Film Festival, Karhade won the award for Best Director. The film also won Best Film, Best Director, Best Debutant Actor, and Best Actor in a Negative Role at Prabhat Film Awards. The film was released theatrically on Dussehra festival day (22 October 2015).
Fighting a legal battle for over 10 years in the hope of getting back his land from the forest department, the film tells the story of Raghu Karhe who, along with his wife, two sons Panda and Balu, his daughter-in-law and grandson, all wander while shepherding sheep from one village to another.
Balu, a budding wrestler and a daydreamer, foreseeing prosperity and a 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.