Rating: ★★★★ Studio / Presenter: Panoramic Group, Vidyan Siddhi Films Ltd Producer: Dr. Dinesh Vaidya Director: Umesh Namjoshi Writer: Dr.Dinesh Vaidya Cinematographer: Prasad Bhende Music: Kamlesh Bhadkamkar Cast: Aniket Vishwasrao, Veena Jamkar, Suyash Tilak, Apoorva Nemlekar, Renuka Shahane, Dr. Girish Oak, Late Anand Abhyankar, Ashok Samel and Bharat Ganeshpure, Uday Tikekar Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke

Only last week we saw a Marathi film ‘Salaam’, which was a tribute to brave soldiers and policemen. Now, film maker Umesh Namjoshi presents his new Marathi film ‘Bhakharkhadi 7 km’, which is not only a compliment to young doctors practising in remote villages, but also an inspiring film to all those young doctors, who hate to practice in our country and aspire to go abroad.

‘Bhakharkhadi 7 km’ tells the story of a young doctor Sameer Deshmukh (Aniket Vishwasrao), who aspires to take up a career as a surgeon in USA after completing his fellowship with Boston Medical College. His dreams are shattered by his involvement in one emergency surgery in a hospital in Mumbai, when the dirty politics played by a Politician, makes him a scapegoat and he is sent to a remote village Bakharkadi off. Melghat, as a punishment.

At the primary health center of this place, he comes across an attending Nurse Renu ( Veena Jamkar), who tries to understand his frustration and reminds him of his duty as a doctor. In the process, the film highlights rural Marathi culture and lifestyle of the villagers, besides their blind faith ; as a result of which, there are sudden deaths of villagers. Using his common sense and medical knowledge, Dr. Sameer makes use of home remedy i.e. activated charcoal powder to treat the people for first aid, as they are poisoned in an epidemic, after drinking the so called holly water, from a particular well, which is not used throughout the year.

The entire film is based on the duties of a doctor and how people hold them responsible for death of a patient, during operation. In the film, we witness one such incident, where a junior surgeon has to attend to a post operation emergency, in the absence of his senior, whom he is out of station and unable to reach over phone. The patient dies during operation and the patient’s father, who is a Politician attacks the hospital, with the help of his goons. He also wants the junior doctor to be suspended. However, after an inquiry, the doctor is sent on a punishment posting for three years, to a remote village. It is at this remote village, he understands the real duty of a doctor. In fact, in the concluding scene, he does admit that he neither wants to go abroad nor wants to go to a village; but, is required to go, because the village needs his services.

Director Umesh Namjoshi has very effectively developed the story written by Dr. Dinesh Vaidya, into a presentable screenplay, with the help of Nandu Pardeshi, who has also written the effective dialogues of this film. Music has little scope; but the two songs played on the background on the music of kamlesh Bhadkamkar are picturised well. Also , the beautiful photography is captured by Prasad Bhende. The film has very cleverly highlighted the brain drain issue, besides throwing light on the corruption at the administrative level in Health department. But, it has also shown, how a young doctor overcomes all these issues, with the help of a Nurse and other assistants, who motivate him.

Aniket Vishwasrao who plays the central character of Dr. Sameer, in this film; has got a memorable role, which has exploited his talent. We have always seen Aniket as a romantic or action hero; but, this film has offered him a good role; where he has ample scope to display his emotions very efficiently. His performance in this film, is worth to be considered for nomination in best actor’s category, for 2014 awards. Veena Jamkar, who is known for playing a simple woman’s role, has offered good support in the female lead. The film also presents Apoorva Nemlekar in the parallel female lead, as Sameer’s associate and close friend from the Hospital. But, she has limited scope, though she has done a good job. Another important role is by Suyash Tilak, who plays Sameer’s close friend from media.

Renuka Shahane, ActressRenuka Shahane who has done a comeback into Marathi films, has done well in the role of Sameer’s mother and a businesswoman. She too has limited scope. Renowned artistes like Uday Tikekar, Anant Jog, Dr. Girish Oak, Late Anand Abhyankar, Ashok Samel and Bharat Ganeshpure have offered good support through their restricted roles of medical professionals.

Director Umesh Namjoshi has done a fairly good job, in presenting many important sequences in the film, like the emergency Tracheotomy performed by Dr. Sameer on the road; also Dr. Sameer’s frustration on reaching the village of his posting on punishment and his concern and risk taken while treating patients, during the spread of disease, due to consumption of contaminated water. However, he has not been able to show the reaction of people well, who attack the doctors house; when his mother also suffers an injury. This scene doesn’t look realistic. But, barring this lapse, he has handled the rest of the film very well.

‘Bhakharkhadi 7 km’ has a very strong message to convey and is a ‘must watch’ for all those young doctors in Maharashtra. It’s also a compliment to all those doctors, who are sincerely practising their profession in remote villages.