Rating: na Banner: Abhiruchi Films Producer: Hemant Dabhade Director: Hemant Dabhade Story: Anand Mhasvekar Story Development, Screenplay, Dialogues: Deepak Deulkar Music: Arvind Haldipur Cast: Anlesh Desai, Avantika Salian, Ila Bhate, Arun Nalavade, Yateen Karyekar, Prasad Pandit, Ravi Patvardhan, Sanjeevani Jadhav, Bhagyashree Rane, Vivek Pandkar, Yashwant Chopade, Mayur Pawar, Redhi Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke

“To a mother, a son is never a fully grown man; and a son is never a fully grown man until he understands and accepts this about his mother.” Latest released Marathi film produced and directed by Hemant Dabhade takes up a call from a mother living in a village near Pune in Maharashtra, for her son, who is thousand miles away from her, well settled in Malaysia.

The main plot of ‘Saad’ revolves around a 24 year old young man Rahul (Anlesh Desai) ,who is happily living with his well to do parents in Malaysia and is himself an executive in a company. He finds his companion in Sarika (Avantika Salian) from Mumbai , who is on deputation for 4 months in his Malaysia office. Both come closer and friendship grows between them, so much so that on one occasion both are found together by the youngster’s father- Mr. Deosthali (Yatin karyekar) in the bathroom of the house celebrating Rahul’s birthday.

Sarika returns to India and continues to be friendly with Rahul. When Rahul gets his promotion, he is given an option of US or India for his next posting. Surprisingly, he decides to opt for US to make his mother (Redhi) happy. But, a particular occurrence of an event in presence of father and son, takes him into his real past life. Rahul decides to proceed to Mumbai in search of his biological mother to know, why she deserted him.

After reporting for his job in Mumbai, he along with Sarika proceed to Pune, where his foster parents had adopted him, as a one year old child. But, is disappointed , as the Manager of the Children’s home refuses to reveal the name of his biological mother. Rahul gets the support from Sarika’s advocate father (Arun Nalawade). In the meanwhile he finds his accommodation as a paying guest in a posh house of a lonely middle aged lady (Ila Bhate), who treats him like his mother. After winning the legal battle, Rahul finally reunites with his biological mother, who is bed ridden. He comes to know the reality behind his birth and helplessness of his mother. Finally, the film concludes with his Malaysian parents coming to India to meet him, out of love and affection.

It’s not that we have not seen films based on this emotion based subject before. There were many such plots noticed in past Bollywood films. But, makers of ‘Saad’ must have felt that it was the right time to place before the Marathi audience this theme, originated from Anand Mhasvekar on Mother and son emotional relationship. So, writers Deepak Deolkar and Aarti Desai developed the theme into cinematic format with their screenplay and Deepak Deolkar along with Anand Mhasvekar working on the dialogues to make the film filled with emotional touch.

As a hero making his debut, Analesh Desai is just fine. He has to work harder, if he needs to compete with others. Avantika Salian shows promise, with her confident looking performance, though she has limited scope in this film. Veterans Yatin karyekar and Arun Nalawade make their presence felt with the working style of their own. As Rahul’s Malaysian mother- Redhi who also makes her debut in Marathi , just serves the purpose through her presence on the screen . Ila Bhate, Sanjivani Jadhav, Ravi Patwardhan, Prasad Pandit and Bhagyashree Rane have done well through their small roles. Newcomer Mayur Pawar is impressive in his mini role as Rahul’s office colleague, who finds him accommodation in Mumbai. He has succeeded in creating humour through few dialogues he has to his share, in this otherwise emotion filled film.

Music by Arwind Haldipur is satisfactory, but cinematography by Manjunath B Nayaka is superior. He has captured the outdoor locations in Malaysia very well, especially during a song sequence. ‘Saad’ is a sincere effort to present this emotion filled subject. But, few incidences like the boy initially opting for US posting instead of preferring India to reunite with his beloved, with whom he flirts in Malaysia singing and dancing, the use of ‘Planchet’ by the well educated father and son to take a decision, the concluding part where his so called uncle narrating his mother’s tragic story in flashback; and the forced item number, look unrealistic. But, barring these scenes, the film presents the different characters in proper order, making a right choice for their respective roles.