When a viewer downloads Chandramukhi (2022) for free from Khatrimaza, they disassociate the cost of the art from the labor of the actor, writer, or music director. This creates a "poverty trap" where Marathi artists cannot command fees comparable to their Hindi counterparts, leading to a brain drain to Bollywood.

Websites like have frequently trended in search results by users looking to access Marathi movies for free. Here is an analysis of the phenomenon, the risks involved, and the legal landscape.