Rating: na Producers: Ramesh Deo Production & Maharastra Govt. Director: Gajendra Ahire Music: Hridaynath Mangeshkar Art Director: Nitin Desai Cinematography: Krishnamurthy, Rajen Kotharis Background Score: Amar Mohile Dialogue: Ashish Deo Cast: Ramesh Deo, Ajinkya Deo, Sonali Kulkarni, Rahul Singh, Shrikant Moghe, Kamlesh Sawant, Vijay Kadam, Vijay Patkar, Smita Gondkar… Movie Review by: Nisha Garud

Ajinkya Deo gives a mesmerizing performance as Vasudev Balwant Phadke in the much awaited movie of the year. The movie depicts the journey of the life of a great revolutionary and takes one from the green fields of his birth place in Shirghon (Raigad district) to the deserts of Eden where he takes his last breath.

Working as a assiduous clerk with military accounts department in Pune, Vasudev is denied a day’s leave to meet his ailing mother, an incident which becomes a turning point in his life and he takes up the task of liberating his Mother Land. He tours the country giving lectures; motivating and urging people to stop serving the British and break the bonds of slavery. He takes the help of the lower classes and forms an army to fight against the British. He and his army looted rich zamindars to fund their activities. His knowledge of working with military and handling their accounts helps him to know the hideouts of the arms and ammunitions of the Britishers. Touched by the condition of the farmers in Maharashtra, he rises to the cause of becoming their savior. Cause of his surpise attacks on the tyrant British officers he was known among the British Officers. British Officers announces reward of Rs 4000 to whoever got Vasudev Balwant Phadke in their notice. But this man has dare to place ‘wanted’ posters offering a reward of Rs 5000 for capturing same british officers. against that Rs. The Govt. is compelled to send more army officials to capture him and put an end to the terror he has caused among the Officers. To continue to carry his task forward, he is asked to go into hiding as Kashikar Bhooaa by his colleagues. A losing battle against the British takes him to Andhra Pradesh where he initiates ties with Ismail community and they decide to employ people as army officials and make a new army of their own to fight against the Britishers. Deteriorating health, ending rainy season and deception by the local Vaidya (doctor) lead to his imprisonment. Unending torturous life in the prison of Eden jail finally takes away this great martyr to the doors of death.

Sonali Kulkarni plays Bhavani, who is secretly in love with Vasudev. She is a great supporter of his cause and accompanies him on his all expeditions. Sonali is fabulous in her performance as a Ramoshi girl with the rustic language and accent. Legend Hridaynath Mangeshkar’s music and Amar Mohile’s background music adds a heroic, patriotic and vibrant touch to the story. Nitin Desai’s art direction is as marvelous as ever. Cinematographers Krishnamurthy and Rajen Kothari have done wonders to make the film realistic and lively.

Though the movie loses its thread in the middle and also lacks effective dialogues, a must watch for all those Marathi movie freaks