From Inter-School Dramas to National Glory: Pune’s Ashish Bende Wins Golden Lotus for Debut Film ‘Aatmapamphlet’
Kothrud, 25th September 2025: From performing in inter-school drama competitions to winning the prestigious Keshavrao Date Award at the iconic Purushottam Karandak theatre festival, Pune-born filmmaker Ashish Bende has come a long way. On Tuesday, he made the Marathi film industry proud by bagging the Golden Lotus for Best Debut Film of a Director at the 71st National Film Awards in Delhi for his movie Aatmapamphlet.
The film, released in 2023, is inspired by Bende’s own life journey, narrated through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy. With a satirical lens on the political and social events of the 1990s, Bende felt his story wasn’t grand enough for a full biography. Instead, he imagined it as a small pamphlet of memories—thus the title Aatmapamphlet (Self-Pamphlet).
Born and raised in Pune, Bende studied at Abhinav Marathi Medium School, where his passion for acting first bloomed. He later joined Fergusson College and became active in inter-college theatre competitions. His stage career included performing in the popular Marathi play Sangeet Lagna Kallol, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Paresh Mokashi.
After moving to Mumbai to pursue his dream in cinema, Bende was deeply influenced by Mokashi’s craft. Transitioning from acting to direction, he went on to assist Mokashi in landmark films such as Harishchandrachi Factory—India’s official entry to the Oscars—Elizabeth Ekadashi, and Vaalvi.
Reflecting on his journey, Bende recalled how his aspirations to study at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) remained unfulfilled despite four attempts, where his name only reached the waiting list.
“Since our school didn’t have a big ground, our annual sports day was held at ILS Law College. On the way, I would cross FTII, and the desire to join the institute only grew stronger. Though I never got admission, I feel proud that FTII later invited me for a special screening of Aatmapamphlet,” he said.
With the Golden Lotus now adorning his career, Ashish Bende’s cinematic journey has come full circle—from Pune’s theatre stages to the national spotlight.
