In modern literature, P.L. Deshpande (popularly known as Pu La) redefined Marathi romantic comedy. His works — Batatyachi Chawl, Asa Mi Asami, and Tujhe Aahe Tujapashi — explore love within middle-class Maharashtrian families: the shy boy from Pune’s Shaniwar Peth, the spirited girl from Dadar, their romance blooming over a shared vada pav or a bharud (folk song). These storylines are less about grand gestures and more about shared silences, family approval, and the gentle erosion of social barriers.

A stark contrast to Sairat, Rampaat is a lighthearted, sexy, and urban romantic comedy about three friends navigating casual relationships, jealousy, and commitment in Mumbai. It highlights how Gen Z Maharashtrians are redefining love — swiping right, discussing consent openly, and breaking away from the ”aai-baba la sangu” (tell parents) anxiety that plagued earlier generations.

Set in the 1970s in a Pune college, Duniyadari captures the bittersweet romance between Shreyas (Uday Nimbalkar) and Renu (Swapnil Joshi? Actually, the female lead was Sneha Chavan). But the more compelling storyline is that of Shreyas and Renu’s mutual sacrifice. The film normalizes the idea that love isn’t always about possession — sometimes it’s about letting go for the friend you cherish more. The song Yaara Re became a millennials’ anthem for unspoken love.