Rating: ★★★★ Studio: Solariz Internation, Sprint Art Creations Producer: Kiran Deshpande, Mohan Damle Music & Direction: Ajay Naik Screenplay: Kshitij Patwardhan , Sameer Vidawans Cast: Mukta Barve, Umesh Kamat, Siddharth Chandekar, Tejashree Pradhan, Swati Chitnis Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke

Time is changing and so is the process of marriages. Love marriages are on the rise; but at the same time; people still have belief in arranged marriages. Now, whether it’s a love marriage or arranged marriage with proper horoscope matching; the cases of divorce are the same in both the cases. Taking up this timely issue, director Ajay Naik has presented his new Marathi film ‘Lagna Pahave Karun'; showing very tactfully, the happenings arising out of one such modern day arranged marriage.

Nishant ( Umesh Kamat) is a US returned youngster, who comes to India for his marriage; arranged by his mother with the help of a Marriage Bureau, run by a Professional lady ( Swati Chitnis), who provides all the help to her clients, right from matching horoscopes and bringing both the parties together. When Nishant meets his ‘would be’ wife, suggested by the marriage bureau, he tells her that he has lost his job and intends to work in India . However, the girl, who is more keen on moving to US, rejects his proposal.

Around the same time, Nishant comes across another smart girl Aditi ( Mukta Barve), who becomes friendly with him and suggests him to join her in a business of new style of Marriage bureau, where they decide to give ample scope to the Boy and girl, to understand each other before marriage. There is no horoscope involved in this procedure, as Umesh himself does not like the idea. But, they offer novel ideas to attract the forward thinking eligible youngsters. They start their office, exactly opposite the well established business of the professional lady.

Their first such pairing of Rahul ( Siddharth Chandekar) and Anandi ( Tejashree Pradhan) turns successful and they get married; bringing more and more clients to Nishant and Aditi. Out of jealousy, their business rival, dares to challenge them about the survival of this marriage; quoting the horoscope facts of the couple. Nishant, who does not believe in horoscope, accepts this challenge; but his partner Aditi gets worried, as her Grandfather( Jayant Savarkar) who knows about horoscope, also cautions her about the hurdles in the life of Rahul and Anandi.

Keeping the track of developments in the married life of Rahul and Anandi, both Nishant and Aditi come more closer to each other and one day Nishant proposes Aditi; who however keeps avoiding the topic, asking for time. With more interesting happenings to follow, the film reaches the stage, where both the couples are required to take a decision with mutual understanding. The remarkable climax has been shot well, keeping the argument open to the audience. Whether, matching of horoscopes is all that important to decide a successful marriage ?

Director Ajay Naik, who makes his debut as a director, through this film, has generated a lot of interest in the screenplay written by Kshitij Patwardhan. We have seen a film ‘Sanai Choughade’ on somewhat similar subject of match making, in the past; but, ‘Lagna Pahave Karun’ offers a variety, through its screenplay. The idea of arranging the first meeting of the couple in a dark room, is something unique. Rahul’s patience in understanding the problem of Anandi, goes on to show the maturity of one of the partners. Above all, the director has succeeded in keeping the audience guessing , till the end. His selection of artistes for the important characters is most appropriate.

Music is another plus point of the film, besides good photography at appropriate locations and perfectly designed costumes provided to all the important characters. The involvement of parents and other elderly characters has been kept minimum, except for the scope given to Jayant Savarkar and Swati Chitnis. Watch the parents of Rahul in 2-3 scenes of the film . Without a dialogue, their body language suggests everything.

In the role of Nishant, Umesh Kamat is very much at ease, giving a very natural performance. Mukta Barve impresses in the role of Aditi, with her spontaneity to different situations in the film. In the role of Anandi, Tejashree Pradhan has done a good job. She is remarkable in that scene, when she is shown communicating with her father over phone. Siddharth Chandkar steals the show in the role of Rahul. In fact, he had a very difficult role to play; but, the young actor has displayed his talent in those two important emotion filled scenes with a lot of commitment. So, it is not only the fine performances and good music( by Ajay Naik himself); but, the proper presentation of sequences, makes this film a worth watch.