Movie Review: Lalbaug PAREL

 

Movie Review “Lalbaug Parel – Zali Mumbai Sonyachi” (2010)

Genre: Drama

Director: Mahesh Manjarekar

Language: Marathi

Star Cast: Shashank Shende, Seema Biswas, Ankush Chaudhary, Vinit Kumar, Karan Patel, Veena Jamkar, Siddharth Jadhav, Sachin Khedekar, Vinay Apate, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Satish Kaushik, Kashmira Shah, and others

LALBAUG PAREL is a movie based on Marathi play “ADHANTAR”. I had seen this play and this play was shocked me terribly. The story and acting performances by Sanjay Narvekar, Bharat Jadhav and others made me feel helpless; feel angry and I felt like crying. I could feel the anguish of the characters in my heart; I was so moved by this play. I knew the facts of mills strike and read a lot about it before watching this play; but I felt their pain only after watching this play. So I was very happy and excited as well as very circumspect before watching this movie. Will the movie able to do the justice to the brilliant play?

Film is much bigger canvas than theatre so the director Mahesh Manjarekar made some changes and obviously he won’t have made it a copy of play. He also had to make sure it will look contemporary. But I am not impressed with his casting of Narya, just because he was making this movie in Hindi also, he casted non Marathi actor. He has been given voice by Santosh Juvekar in Marathi Version. And listening to him throughout the film I wondered why he was not casted. He could have given the passion and aggression needed for the role which the other actor lacked.

The movie turned out very well but wasn’t up to the mark compared to the play. Play was lot better. Director of Mahesh Manjarekar’s caliber should have able to do lot better with it. As for acting everyone did well but Vina Jamkar and Siddharth Jadhav gave amazing performances. They stood tall out in this big cast. If I have to rate this movie I will give it 7 out of 10. This movie is also released in Hindi with the name “CITY OF GOLD”

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Movie Review: "SHIKSHANACHYA AAICHA GHO"

Movie Review “Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho”

Genre: Drama, Social

Director: Mahesh Manjarekar

Story: Mahesh Manjarekar

Dialogues: Deepak Kulakrni

Producer: Sanjay Chabaria, Ashwami Manjarekar, Satya Manjarekar

Banner: Eros Entertainment

Language: Marathi

Star Cast: Bharat Jadhav, Siddharth Jadhav, Saksham Kulkarni, Gauri Vaidya, Kranti Redkar, Sachin Khedekar, Vaibhav Mangale, Kamalakar Satpute, Vijay Kenkare, and others

Music: Ajay – Atul - Samir

Release Date: 15 January 2010

After hugely successful “Mi Shivaji Raje Bhosale Bolatoy”, Mahesh Manjarekar and his team came back with “Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho”. The movie undermines the pathetic education system has been running in India for decades. Although we all survived it in our time, but concerning part is instead of improving it this system is going down in a deep hole. Many kids are not able to handle this pressure and attempting suicides every now and then. This movie talks about the rubbish education system we have and how the parents themselves piling on the pressure on their kids.

This is a story of a father (played by Bharat Jadhav) who ignores the talent of his son (Saksham Kulkarni) in Cricket. He want his son to study hard; so that he would make good career and good life instead of running behind distant dream of playing cricket for career. He tries to push his son to his limits so that he will earn scholarship. But his son’s heart is not in studies, he just loves cricket. So the son inevitably fails. His father, who has so many expectations from his son, could not take this and gets violent. And in this violent streak he accidently hurts his son to go in coma. After almost losing his son forever the father realizes his mistakes. And he starts to spread this message to other parents, to teachers, and to authorities, that recognize the inner talent of your kids and encourage them develop that. Not everyone has to be engineer and doctors.

The movie has good social message going on. But as a movie it is not that great. It has some high points and some very low points. It isn’t consistent throughout. I think screenplay could have better. It felt like story unfinished and climax unconvincing.

If I have to rate this movie I will give it 5 out of 10.

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Movie Review: "Galgale Nighale"

Movie Review: “Galgale Nighale”

Director: Kedar Shinde

Cast: Bharat Jadhav, Shiddharth Jadhav, Ramesh Deo, Ketakee Thatte, Santosh Mayekar, Kamalakar Saatpute, Vitthal Umap, Shahir Sable and others

Music: Ashok Patki, Vaishali Samant

Story, Screenplay, Dialogues: Mangesh Kulkarni

Producers: Bela Shinde

Presenter: Zee Talkies

“Galgale Nighale” is one of the biggest Marathi movie released this year. It had everything needed for any Marathi movie to be successful. To start with it is a comedy movie. Movie starred the two biggest comedy actors Bharat Jadhav and Siddharth Jadhav in Marathi cinema. Both of them are sure shot crowd puller. Bharat Jadhav’s Character ‘Galgale’ is lifted from a popular play “Sahi re Sahi” played by Bharat himself. This play and character Galgale is among the all time top in the popularity chart. So there was much more curiosity in people how will character Galgale is going to progress. Then this is Kedar shinde’s movie, who had brilliant past record. Then Siddharth Jadhav is in negative role first time in his career. Then the movie is presented by Zee Talkies. This one is there third movie after “Sade Made Tin”, and “De Dhakka”. Like these two movie Zee talkies made sure ‘Galgale’ will release in maximum theatres in Maharashtra, which is biggest task for any Marathi film makers. So this movie supposed to have everything in it to be successful entertaining movie.

All these factors do help to pull the crowd to theatres. But it could not fulfill their expectation. Frankly movie has been dragged unnecessarily so many occasions in the film you feel where this movie is going. After Sahi Re Sahi the character Galgale was adored by many people including me but it has been blown out of proportion in the movie so much so that it keep sour taste in the end. I sincerely hope that Kedar shinde won’t have touched it. In the opening introduction scene of Galgale only he was unbearable. There were some good moments but nothing new. I couldn’t see properly developed story. Of course Marathi movie never needed story what it needs is good screenplay and dialogues. And there is not much to rave about in these departments.

“Galgale Nighale” is a story of a insurance agent Galgale who has habit of to speaking to himself but in loud which he thinks no one else can listen. And this habit of his put him and peoples around him various strange situations. He falls in love with a girl played by Ketaki Thatte, who is from a gangster family. Then there is siddharth jadhav’s character who’s love for the Ketaki Thatte’s character is one sided and he goes all the notorious ways to win her love. Then there is a murder mystery in the movie.

Frankly there is nothing much to rave about this movie. Although there was some scope for the director and actors to create some hilarious moments but they fail to achive that. For the music part only one song was good and which had been used for promotion of the film. It was nice to see senior actor like Ramesh Deo and senior artist Shahir Sable being part of the film. It was also refreshing to hear some koli language in the movie; I am all in favor of using different flavors of Marathi language.

Overall I hope Kedar Shinde will come out of his bad form quickly and come back to his best. And I hope Bharat Jadhav will decide to come out of his image and will try something different next time, he is brilliant actors and much more potential to stick in one image. For the movie if I have to rate it I will give the movie 5 out of 10.

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Movie Review: Uladhal

Movie Review: ‘Uladhal’ - Marathi

Director: Viswas Sarpotdar

Cast: Bharat Jadhav, Makarand Anaraspure, Ankush Choudhary, Siddharth Jadhav, Madhura Velankar, Aaditi Sarangdhar, Subodh Barve and Others.

Gener: Comedy

Music: Ajay Atul

The Marathi movie industry follows for success is either makes multi-starrer comedy film or makes an emotional family saga. And for many years now they are following the same trend except some movies like “Shwas”, “Tingya”, “Dombivali Fast” and others. This Movie “Uladhal” follows the same trend. Director – Producer Vishwas sarpotdar chose safest route for his first film by making comedy film that too with biggest names in Marthi Film Industry.

The movie revolved around ‘Dhaal’ (Shield) of gold which is considered to be of high exclusive heritage and so of very high value. It is belongs to Sayajirao (Makarand Anaraspure) and his prestigious family. This is the story about how this shield gets stolen and in the end how it has been recovered.

Movie is as funny as it supposed to be, very much entertaining. And it assures you good quality family time. All the actors are in there usual roles so they were very much comfortable doing their roles and doing it really well. Bharat Jadhav as usual comes with good performance with his immaculate comic timing. Siddharth Jadhav as usual does his mad character act very well but I feel like he could have been utilized little bit more. Ankush Choudhary, Aaditi Sarangdhar, Madhura Velankar does their respective roles as expected. Subodh Barve is getting too predictable in his negative role, it seems there is nothing more he can offer. He need to think about this hard before accepting negative roles as he is getting monotonous.

All this is good, but there is big blunder in casting Makarand Anaraspure as Sayajirao. I can understand the psychology of first time director – producer to cast biggest stars in his movies. So he can bring people to theatres. It is said that Makarand Anaraspure wanted to change his image in films so he accepted this role. This was big challenge for him; but he was never suited for this role in first place. He couldn’t pull it off although he is a brilliant actor and entertainer.

The movie was good but there was scope for to make it even better. Technically Marathi cinema is improving. Actors were always been top class. Movie is shot in Goa so it was pleasant to watch but they could have used it for their advantage more. Music of the film is so – so nothing great. Movie starts with a great song which was popular even when movie was in pipeline. So Music directors Ajay – Atul raise the hope but could not sustain it. In the end movie was good family entertainment it even seems to have budget for costumes because costumes of both the actress were considerably good.

If I have to rate the movie I will give it 6/10.

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