Rating: na Presenter: Aragade DS Entertainment Producer: Balasaheb Argade-Patil Exe. Producer: Nitin DInkar Shelar Director: Shivaji Lotan Patil Story: Anant Samant Screenplay, Dialogues: Nitin Dixit Cast: Ashok Samarth, Tejaswini Pandit, Vinay Apate, Mukesh Tiwari Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke

Marathi films are opting for more and more realistic and bolder subjects, which is certainly a welcome change. The latest released film ‘Wavtal’ has been shot on the backdrop of post Babri Masjid demolition riots, that rocked Mumbai. Based on the novel ‘K-5’ written by Anant Samant, ‘Wavtal’ narrates the tragic tale of a newly married housewife, who becomes a victim of the sudden break out of violence in Mumbai.

Ms. Mankar (Tejaswini Pandit) is on a visit to Mumbai along with her husband from Konkan district of Maharashtra and the couple arrive as guests at CM’s bungalow. Needless to mention that her father in law and CM are having their close political connection. After the check up at a clinic, while the couple is returning back home, their car travels through the lane affected by riots and they are attacked by a group of terrorists who beat up the husband and kill the driver. Ms. Mankar is abducted by the leader of the attackers- Rehmat Khan (Mukesh Tiwari) who takes her to his hideout and uses her as his keep. He tortures her so much by inflicting injuries on her feet that she is restricted to bed only for his sexual pleasures.

When Rehmat Khan plans all his terrorist activities with the help of influential people in public life, the helpless woman is a mute witness. She does make an attempt to escape with the courtesy extended by the servant who attends to her, but she does not succeed.. When the pre plan of major riots is foiled by the police, with raids carried out all over Mumbai, Rehmat khan manages to flee to Pakistan leaving behind Ms. Mankar in the custody of his colleagues, who are advised to bring her along with them via Rajasthan border . Ms.Mankar who is carrying the child of Rehmat Khan in her womb, delivers the baby at the hideout of terrorists in a remote border village of Rajasthan.It is only when a Border security force team led by K-5( Ashok Samarth) on a tip off from a villager, raid their hideout and kill all four terrorists, she is rescued and brought to the camp hospital.

Then begins the formality to make her speak about the terrorists with whom she lived almost for a year. Ms. Mankar agrees to reveal everything only in presence of the hero who rescues her. So the Commandant ( Vinay Apte) persuades the commando K-5 and gets all the information from the woman. When the time comes for the woman to return home, the Commandant receives a letter from her father-in-law about their inability to accept her. He also receives an order from his chief to send the woman to a rehabilitation centre at Delhi. K-5 who is proceeding on leave to his home town, is given the job to drop her at Delhi . But, he takes her to her home only to remind her father-in law about his duty. But, when he sees no hope, he himself proposes her to accompany him to his own house.

The film ends with happy ending, which is predictable but it fails to fulfill the desire of Ms. Mankar who while talking to K-5 expresses her last wish to kill Rehmat Khan. And that wish remains unfulfilled, as being a helpless woman she cannot on her own take up a battle for the head of a terrorist who shatters her life. Instead, she has to satisfy herself for having got the most courageous man to support her and her child in the rest of her life.

Produced by Balasaheb Argade- Patil and directed by Shivaji Patil, the film does succeed in creating a realistic horrifying incident in the life of a woman but nowhere in the film her character is offered the courage to defend herself. The film only narrates the pathetic tale of a woman instead of inspiring the audience. At one point of time, the director does give an indication that she may once again come across Rehmat Khan while she and k-5 are shown waiting at the deserted platform in Rajasthan village, to board the train. It would have been better, if the film had shown his return and K-5 killing him in the climax.

Looking at the performances of the artistes, they have all done well. But, the script has given more importance to Ashok Samarth playing K-5. His interactions with his Commandant – Vinay Apte and the woman’s father –in-law Sunil Shende, clearly indicate the importance given to this character. There is no doubt that he has played his role well. Mukesh Tiwari’s character has also been given unnecessary importance for all those cruel acts. Tejaswini Pandit has given a wonderful performance but her character is shown helpless throughout the film. The technical areas of the film are well managed. Photography is too good, especially the locations shot in Rajasthan. Background sound effect is also good. There is not much scope for music but the background score is good in few sequences. The film is realistic, well presented but still looks incomplete.