Rating: ★★ ½ Studio / Presenter: Harsh Films, Bhausaheb Bhoir Producer: Harshavardhan Bhoir Director: Kanchan Adhikari Writer: Aashish Pathare Cinematographer: Suresh Deshmane Music: Anand Raj Anand Cast: Ashok Saraf, Varsha Usgaonkar, Jitendra Joshi, Neha Pendse, Hemant Dhome, Manasi Joshi, Anant Jog and Sanjay Khapre, Atul Todankar, Pradeep Patwardhan Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke

After making three films with Makarand Anaspure, namely ‘Doghaat Tisra Aata Sagla Visara’ and ‘Baap Re Baap Dokyala Taap’ and ‘Tukya Tukavila Nagya Nachvila’, director Kanchan Adhikari has now directed the King of Comedy Ashok Saraf , in her latest released film ‘Hu Tu Tu’, produced by Harshavardhan Bhoir. For this film, she finds the story of Rajan Agarwal and screenplay & dialogues of Ashish Pathre almost going on the lines of some of the Bollywood comedy films.

So, you get the glimpse of Govinda-Chunkeyy Pandey starrer ‘Aankhen’ (except for the double roles), some of Sajnay Dutt-Govinda starrer films and a similar type of sequence on substitute mother from Ajay Deogan-Abhishek Bachchan film ‘Bol Bachchan’. And, if this borrowed recipe of Bollywood is now served to Marathi audience, it is only their choice, whether to appreciate this film or not. But, in the first half of the film, the plot just fails to pick up, as there are no major happenings in the screenplay. It is only at the stroke of interval that you realise that there is something left in the screenplay.

The post interval session and a twist after the item number has generated some interest for traditional comedy lovers, except for the climax, which again goes the Bollywood style of 80s. Music by Anand Raj Anand is average . It is only through the Hindi style item number, he has generated good music. Suresh Deshmane’s photography is neat and clean. But, the film certainly needed more editing from Anand Diwan , especially in the first half and initial part of second half. At a time when Marathi film lovers are used to watching 2 hour length film, the film’s stretch for 2 hours 25 mins, is felt little lengthy.

There is no point in revealing the story of this film, for obvious reason. But, Ashok Saraf who plays the central character in this film, finds one more meaty role in this film too, just following the success of ‘Aandhali Koshimbir’. And, he has played his character of a Businessman Dhanajay Dhanawade very well. In the roles of his two notorious sons Vaibhav & Aishwary, Jitendra Joshi and Hemant Dhome have genuinely tried to create humour in the company of their two girl friends Neha Pendse and Manasi Naik, who are sisters. But, the two girls find limited scope in this film, as the film belongs to Ashok Saraf. Offering a big surprise, Director Kanchan Adhikari finds herself playing the character of a Mother of these two sisters. And, she has done a good job. Playing Ms. Sadhana-a widow, she is also shown as the first love of Ashok Saraf, who in turn is required to marry another woman under strange circumstances.

The inclusion of characters like Hiral Seth and Ankush- the cunning nephew of Sadhana, are just namesake to represent two villains, played successfully by Anant Jog and Sanjay Khapre. Veteran director N.Chandra makes a surprise guest appearance in the initial scene of the film. But, the two renowned artistes-Varsha Usgaonkar and Atul Todankar have brought some life in the concluding part of this film, with their notable performances.

Having done two sensible films like ‘Manini’ and ‘Mokala Shwaas’, there were big hopes from Kanchan Adhikari; but, ‘Hu Tu Tu’ has turned out to be just an average comedy film. Through this film, she has just tried her best to create situation based comedy, with the available script. After all, this is not her own banner film.