Rating: ★★★ Genres: Drama Censor: U/A Duration: 124 Min. Studio/presenter: Maratha Entertainment, Sanjay Raut Producers: Swapna Patkar Director: Atul Kale Screenplay: Ganesh Pandit, Ambar Hadap Director of Photography:  Ajit Reddy Editor: Ashish Mhatre, Apurva Motiwale Cast: Umesh Kamat, Neha Pendse, Prasad Oak, Anand Ingale, Tiku Talsania, Bhau Kadam , Sharad Ponkshe, Pushkar Shrotri Movie Review by: Keertikumar Kadam

Presented by Sanjay Raut and produced under the banner Royal Maratha Entertainment the new released Marathi film ‘Balkadu‘ is produced by Swapna Patkar and directed by Atul Kale. This film is inspired from one of the most charismatic socio-political persona of recent times, late Balasaheb Thackeray.

Balkadu’s story is about a simple and straightforward Balkrishna Patil, a young history teacher in a school, possessing special ability to hear voices of great historical figures like Nehru, Shastri, Savarkar, Subhash Chandra Bose and Balasaheb Thackeray. Balakrishna, who originally resided in a Lalbaugh chawl, had to shift his residence to Nalasopara during his childhood. After many years, he meets his close childhood friend Sai Bawdekar (Neha Pendse).

When he shares his thoughts with Sai, she understands him and supports him, in his every action. besides She helps him to do a part time job as a dubbing artist in Marathi, in her history channel, where she works as EP. After seeking help from a psychologist, the voices Balakrishna hears, vanish but one voice clings onto him, i.e. Balasaheb’s voice. How a simpleton, who turns into an angry young man, for betterment of local people, is the story of the film.

In the film, Director has tried to do a sincere job, he has smartly used Balasaheb’s voice-over, to create the impact in certain scenes. Balasaheb’s interactive dialogues with the lead actor, are well crafted and make an interesting watch. The ‘cartoon’ aspect is also creatively used. There is a lot to be desired in screenplay department (Ganesh Pandit, Ambar Hadap) which seems disjointed. In fact, it starts with a promise of a good screenplay, but goes wayward towards the latter half. It has become unnecessarily lengthy and preachy towards the end. Aman Vidhate’s art direction is satisfactory and so is music (Ajit-Samir), though the ‘Powada’ is very good. Avadhoot Gupte’s song is very well used in background. The costumes are satisfactory, but Neha Pendse‘s costumes are more impressive and stand out.

The saving grace of Balkadu are the dialogues and performances. Especially, the Dialogues are fabulous . They have the required punch and comic punches, which are smartly interlaced. Umesh Kamat has come out of his comfort zone and has essayed the lead role with conviction. He scores points in wittiness and subtle timing. Neha Pendse does what was expected of her and looks ravishingly stunning, on screen. Prasad Oak carries a negative shade reasonably well. Rest of the cast, Anand Ingale, Tiku Talsania, Bhau Kadam , Sharad Ponkshe, Pushkar Shrotri lend good support. Supriya Pathare as mother, steals the show with her comic timing used in simple situations.

‘Balkadu’ is a must watch for Balasaheb’s followers scattered all over Maharashtra. Others may like it watch it, for good performances.