Critics Rating 3.0 User Rating 4 (2 votes) Sending

Genres:  Romantic, Drama Censor: UA Duration: 130 min. Studio / Presenter: Everest Entertainment Producers: Nisha Shah, Sanika Gandhi Director:  Vikram Phadnis Writer:  Vikram Phadnis Cast:  Mukta Barve, Prasad Oak, Lalit Prabhakar, Vedshree Mahajan, Satish Alekar , Trupti Khamkar, Aditi Govitrikar Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke

Having made his debut as a director in Marathi film industry through an emotion filled drama ‘Hridayantar’ two years ago, renowned Bollywood Costume designer Vikram Phadnis has now returned with another Marathi film ‘Smile Please’. While in his previous film Vikram presented the marital crisis of a couple married over 12 years, yet glued to their brittle married life, in the present film he presents the trauma faced by the wife after divorce, while facing her teenage daughter, who hates her and lives with her husband.

Nandini (Mukta Barve) a divorcee, who is an award winning fashion photographer, lives with her father (Satish Alekar) and housekeeper Jyoti (Trupti Khamkar). On few occasions, she keeps meeting her ex husband Shishir (Prasad Oak) and her around 12 year old daughter Nupur ( Vedashree Mahajan) . But, her daughter’s strange behaviour with her mother, disturbs Nandini, who undergoes disturbed state of mind. Life is not easy for her , as she has to keep away from her busy work schedule. At this crucial period of time, a little before the stroke of interval a youngster Viraj ( Lalit Prabhakar) who is known to her father’s friend walks in their house, as a guest for few days. Viraj wins the trust of all members of the family, except Shishir, who hates him.

So, in the post interval stage we notice how the efforts of Viraj help Nandini to face such a situation by regaining her self confidence . He also helps Nupur to understand her mother . In short, Viraj plays a good Samaritan. ‘Smile Please’ is a good effort from director Vikram Phadnis selecting a social problem which exists in families where both husband and wife have busy lifestyle. He has also shown the way but his screenplay really takes off only after the arrival of Viraj, however, the interaction between Trupti Khamkar in the role of Jyoti, the housekeeper and Satish Alekar (as Nandini’s father) , helps bring some humour into the screenplay.

Nevertheless, the performances by Mukta Barve, Prasad Oak, Satish Alekar, Lalit Prabhakar, Aditi Govitrikar and Vedashree helps give a realistic look to the film. Mukta Barve in particular has stole the show with her superb performance. Music has limited scope in this film, with two songs, but Rohan-Rohan have made their presence felt . Costumes designing done by Vikram Phadnis is no doubt worth appreciating, but above all, it is the photography by Milind Jog which impresses the most. Though this film deals with a serious subject, it is certainly a worth watch film for the sake of superb performances by the main artistes.