Rating: ★★★★
Studio/presenter: MR Filmworks, JAR Pictures, Essel Vision Production
Producers: Madhukar Musale, Ajay Rai, Allan Mcalex
Director: Avinash Arun
Dialogues: Upendra Sidhaye
Cinematographer: Avinash Arun
Genres: Drama
Censor: U/A
Duration: 90 Min.
Cast: Archit Deodhar, Parth Bhalerao, Gaurish Gawde, Swanand Raikar, Atharv Upasani, Amruta Subhash

Today, Marathi cinema has reached that stage, where the new audience are expecting something more and different.  It does not matter, what subject a filmmaker is  presenting. All that is important, is to keep the audience engaged, with the screenplay that touches their heart and at the same time presents something realistic. Latest released Marathi film ‘Killa’ falls in this category. It has tried to offer both, with the right selection of artistes, ideal locations and excellent technical support.

Set on the backdrop of pictographic Konkan, that too during monsoon time; the film talks about the emotional bonding between mother and son, who are displaced from Pune , to arrive in Konkan, as the mother who is in Government job, is transferred to Konkan zone on promotion. Having lost her husband in the recent past, both mother and son feel isolated. Mother (Amruta Subhash), who is busy in her new office, , adjusts with the new environment quickly. But, she faces problem in her job, due to political pressure to clear certain documents. Son Chinmay (Archit Deodhar) is treated as an outsider by the four notorious children , namely Bandya, Yuvraj, Umesh and Omkar played by Parth Bhalerao, Gaurish Gawde, Swanand Raikar and Atharva Upasani,

Chinmay, who has been brought up with good moral values, does try to adjust with his new friends; but gets upset when they run away, leaving him alone, at the deserted fort. Thereafter, how he copes up with this notorious gang and thereafter prepares to go with his mother, at a third place , on her next transfer, is all that this film is about. But, the manner in which this limited story has been handled, makes a big difference. Cinematographer & director Avinash Arun, who has himself seen the transfers of his father from one place to other, knew his subject well. And, that perhaps made the task easy for him. The attitude of different people who interact with mother and son, has been captured very realistically.

Amruta Subhash is at her best, in the role of Mother of an innocent adolescent boy. In the role of Chinmay, Archit Deodhar seems to have worked very hard, to display his emotions. Watch his reaction, when he comes to know that his four friends deserted him at the fort, where all of them had gone for a day’s picnic.

It is not an easy job to extract such expressions from children in this age group. But, Avinash Arun has done a good job as a director. However, the boy who steals the show is Parth Bhalerao, who plays the role of mischievous Bandya in this film. He is simply superb! It seemed, the director had given him the responsibility to create humour, through well suited dialogues uttered by him. But, Parth has gone beyond it, displaying his gifted talent. Incidentally, this film was shot before he was selected to play the most important role in ‘Bhoothnath returns’.

The film also scores on account of wonderful photography by director himself, suitable background music by Naren Chandavarkar & Benedict Taylor and excellent sound mixing and sound design By Anmol Bhave & MohandasVP .

Produced by Essel Vision, Madhukar Musale, Ajay Rai, Allan Mcalex, this insightful ‘Killa’ will certainly take you down memory lane. Director Avinash Arun deserves a pat on his shoulders. He has handled a sensitive emotion filled subject, with a touch of humour , through the character of Bandya.  Certainly, a worth watch film, with entire family.