Rating: ★★★ Studio/presenter:  Shree Navkar Films Producer: Veeja Haria, Pramod Lokhande Writer, Director: Rajesh Latkar Dialogues: deepak bhagwat Music: Veeshy – Neemo Director of Photography:  Shakeel Khan Editor: Mansoor Azmi Genres:  Action Censor: U/A Duration: 120 Min. Cast:  Santosh Juvekar, Prarthana Behere Movie review by:  Ulhas Shirke

For more than 60 years, Hollywood has offered hundreds of action packed films for bikers. ‘The Pace that Thrills’, ‘Easy Riders’, ‘Stone’ & ‘Biker Boyz’ are just to name a few. 10 years ago, Bollywood offered something for Bikers, through action filled ‘Dhoom’ and followed the same stunts through ‘Dhoom 2′ and ‘Dhoom3′. So, don’t be surprised, if a Marathi film maker like Rajesh Latkar offers something like ‘Biker’s Adda’, targeting at young bike lovers. Perhaps, this is the first Marathi film, about the bikers and their lifestyle.

Starring angry young man of Marathi films, Santosh Juvekar in the lead, ‘Biker’s Adda’ offers four passionate Bikers, wanting to prove themselves, by participating in Bike races. So, they form their team D5 and practice hard. Without the knowledge of their mentor Krish, they join a club, ‘Biker’s Adda’, and register their team for the race. Krish(Jay Aditya Giri) is against Vicky (Santosh Juvekar) and his friends joining this club, as he knows the main business of the owners of this place.

Soon, Vicky and his D5 team comprising of Hrishi, Salim & Abhi, prove their skills, at this place; which also helps Vicky to find a good looking girlfriend Aditi ( Prarthana Behere). But, soon they notice foul play by organizers, who are into betting, game fixing and drug business. The rest of the film is all about their fight against the bad guys and revenge against the evil doers. But, it all happens in a typical Hindi action film style, with a typical climax, where the hero always stands a winner, in spite of facing all the hurdles.

But, good thing about this film, is its presentation style, which is something new to Marathi. Watch the costumes, hair styles of the characters. They are specially created by Costume Designer Chaitrali Dongre for this film. Other plus points of this film are the action scenes by stunt directors, some of whom are themselves part of this film. The wonderful sound design and the superb photography by Shakil Khan , including aerial photography is also noteworthy.

Santosh Juvekar is at his best in this film, while Prarthana Behere has been used just as a show piece, with one song sequence. But, she looks stunning, in those few scenes. There is another actress Tanvi Parab, who plays a female biker. But, she too has limited scope. In short, this is a male dominated film, with all bikers around, seen on the screen, most of the time , either involved in street fights or racing their bikes. Model turned actor Jay Aditya Giri, has played his part well. After all, he too is a real life biker. Good support comes from Devendra Bhagat, Anirudh Harip and few others. Veteran actor Shrikant Moghe, is namesake in this film.

There is less scope for music directors Vishi and Nimo to get noticed through few songs; but they have done a good job in background music. There is not much in the story, except for passing a social message, through its action filled screenplay. Therefore, this film may not appeal to regular artistic Marathi film lovers. But, this stylish ‘Biker’s Adda’ may appeal young bikers.

Rating: ★★★ ½ Studio/presenter:Mangl Murti FIlms, Sai Pooja Entertaintment Film Producer: Amol Kale, Suresh Sawant Director: Chandrakant Kanse Action : R. P. Yadav Music: Amit Raj Director of Photography:  Aniket Khandagale Editor: Kshitija Khandagale Genres:  Action, Drama Censor: U/A Duration: 120 Min. Cast:  Makarand Deshpande, Ankush Chaudhari, Pooja Sawant, Kamlesh Sawant, Sanjay Khapre, Yatin Karyekar Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke

During the period 1995-1996, ‘Dagadi Chaawl’ located in the heart of Mumbai city; was a well known place, for wrong reasons. Those days, underworld activities and street fights existed in the city, with builders and jewellers targeted, for extortion of money, for providing protection. Some of the Policemen also had nexus with Gangsters.

Set on this backdrop, producers Sangita Ahir, Amol Kale, Suresh Sawant  and director Chandrakant kanse have offered this film ‘Dagdi Chaawl’, which revolves around the place ‘Dagadi Chaawl’ located in South Central Mumbai. A so called gangster ‘Daddy'( Makarand Deshpande) living in Dagadi Chaawl, is shown spreading  his money extortion racket, with the help of his associates, headed by short tempered & dangerous Chandu Mama( Sanjay Khapre); thus posing a challenge to a  rival gang. But, almost at this time, a new strict DCP  Ashfaq Khan ( Digvijay Rathod) takes charge of this area and vows to arrest all those, involved in the extortion racket.

Suryakant ( Ankush Choudhary)  a Police Constable’s son staying in the neighbourhood area of Dagadi Chaawl, is a dashing  young man ,who works in a motor garage and  in love with a pretty girl Suman ( Pooja Sawant)living   in his chaawl.  Soon, their friendship turns into marriage, much against the wish of Girl’s parents. But, before that, one such  incident happens with Suryakant, which lands him in a situation, where, he comes face to face with ‘Daddy‘, for settling the issue.

What transpires through this meeting between the two, is the later part of the story. Director Chandrakant Kanse makes it gripping, almost on the lines of some of the Ram Gopal Verma style of films on gangsters.  Therefore, the presentation part of the film, is really good, displaying some of the sequences, to show the helplessness of a Youth, who is trapped between the obligation of  ‘Daddy’, who offers him protection and the Police Officer, trying to use him, as a witness, against the gangster. Needless to say, that finally he does, what he feels is right.

Though before the start of the film, the film maker states that it is a work fiction; the title of the film and the name of the character ‘Daddy’, clearly suggests, the name of the gangster turned politician belonging to this  place. The film has also tried to show his straight forward attitude, for delivering justice in his own court of law, to all those found guilty; with his typical judgement, stating, ‘Chukila Maafi Naahi'(There is no pardon, for a mistake).But, when he meets Suryakant for the first time, he finds the spark in his eyes and feels that he is the perfect man, to be his close associate. In Suryakant, he sees not only a fearless person, but a youngster using his brains, to get the work done. The eye to eye contact between the two, before their meeting, suggests everything, in a scene, just at the stroke of interval.

The film stands out, on the performances of the main characters played by Ankush Choudhary and Makarand Deshpande. Both of them have displayed their dexterity, with perfect understanding of their respective characters. Ankush , particularly finds a role, which should boost his confidence as hero, with two successful films, already to his credit this year. Selection of Pooja Sawant, seems a perfect choice of the director, for the role of Suman, a smart and charming middle class girl. She matches well with the tall hero Ankush, with her equally good height. Their few love scenes, have been captured well. Almost all the other characters in the film, look very realistic, including Chandu Mama ( Sanjay Khapre), Daddy’s trusted lawyer and associate ( Yatin karyekar), Suryakant’s close friend ( Sandeep Gaikwwad), Pooja’s father (Mohan Khambete) & corrupt Police constable ( Kamalesh Sawant). Though the role of DCP has been portrayed by Digvijay Rathod, it would have been better, if this role was offered to a well known artiste, to make better impact. Music has limitations in the film, except for two songs, which are good; but, background music is engaging. Photography of this film is also a delight. ‘Dagadi Chaawl’ may appeal to all those, who liked realistic action films, like ‘Satya’ & ‘Rege’.

Some consumer products are marketed so well, with attractive packaging, that a consumer is tempted to buy them. But, when they actually open the packaging, they are slightly disappointed, as the product they have purchased, doesn’t fulfill  their high expectations. Same is the case with a feature film. Many a times, the trailer of a particular film, is so appealing that the audience is tempted to watch  such a film. But, when they actually watch the film, they are left disenchanted.

This is what happens,  in the case of  new Marathi film ‘Vakratunda Mahakaya’. The film opens up well, with a terrorist group trying to create trouble in city of Mumbai, by planting a bomb in a soft toy Ganapati and leaving the same in a temple complex, with the help of a hired local terrorist ( Vijay Maurya) . But, his plan is foiled, when a little child Altaf ( Naman Jain) flees away with this toy. Director Punarvasu Naik , who has the influence of Bollywood films, being an associate of  many  known directors;  has tried to develop the story of Yogesh Joshi in his own style. He does succeed to a certain extent, to generate a lot of interest in the first half of the film; showing the ‘cat and mouse’ chase.

The director has also very skilfully, shown the soft toy passing from one person to another and finally coming back to the same child. Some of the sequences,  like the soft toy of Ganapati pouring drop by drop milk, through its  trunk and a modern female saint ( a look alike of a present day controversial God Woman) presenting the same toy, to  a minister, as a return gift;  have been presented well, to generate humour. The presence of the character of an elderly woman ( Usha Nadkarni) selling home made food products and coming across the same soft toy on repeated occasions, has also been captured well.  The veteran actress has also played her part well. But, Prarthana Behere is a waste in this film. She has been used as a married woman, having an affair with a youngster living in the neighborhood; and the latter presenting her with this soft toy, found by him on roadside bench.

There are few other popular faces seen in Marathi serials, like Pallavi Patil ( Runji fame), Rutuja Bagwe( Nanda Saukhyabhare‘ fame), Nachiket  Purnapatre (who has just joined the ‘Dil Dosti Duniyadari’ team) ; but except for Nachiket, who plays a roadside thief Paplu offering shelter to the homeless little boy Altaf, others haven’t found much scope.  Drawback of the film is that many of the dialogues in this film are in Hindi, thus losing its Marathi flavor. Director hasn’t been able to build up the other supporting characters, played by Jayant Savarkar, Usha Nadkarni, Prarthana Behere , Pallavi Patil and few others well, so as to connect them well with the happenings in the film. Perhaps, he didn’t have much scope to elaborate , in this 90 minute long film.

Nevertheless, the performance of Naman Jain, the child star, is praiseworthy.

All that the film has tried to convey,  is that Lord Ganapati is there to thwart all the plans of terrorists.  In simple words,  ‘God is Great! Ganapati Bappa Morya! ‘. But, at the end of the film, it makes you think, as to why every citizen shouldn’t be alert, about the happenings around ?.   ‘Vakratunda Mahakaya’ has therefore turned out to be an average entertaining action filled film, with its limited content.