Rating: ★★ ½ Studio: Shemaroo Entertainment Producer: Ketan Maru, Atul Maru Director: Sachin Goswami Writer: Sachin Mote, Sachin Goswami Cinematographer: Raja Satankar Cast: Umesh Kamat, Mrunmayee Deshpande, Abhay Bhargava, Sunil Kumar, Arun Nalawade, Bharat Jadhav. Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke

‘A’ and ‘B’ are friends from the same college for almost 4 years. ‘A’ loves ‘B’, but ‘B’ loves ‘C’. So, to make ‘B’ happy, ‘A’ goes out of his way to help ‘B’, to see that ‘B’ and ‘C’ are happily married. But, that doesn’t happen in traditional love stories. As, ‘B’ is meant for ‘A’ only. So, when ‘B’ comes to know about ‘C’ ditching her and knowing that ‘A’ really loved her through his heart; it is time for them to come together, in a typical climax. Haven’t we heard of such formula type stories in many Bollywood films? Now, through latest released Marathi film, ‘Pune Via Bihar’ we are subjected to see the repeat of that, with a touch of regional barriers.

Written by ‘Fu bai Fu’ TV show fame Sachin Mote and Sachin Goswami and directed by Sachin Goswami, ‘Pune Via Bihar’ is actually described as a love story of Abhijeet Bhosle (Umesh Kamat), a middle class Marathi student of engineering and Tara (Mrunmayee Deshpande), who is studying with him in Aurangabad. Tara is a daughter of Ramlal Yadav (Abhay Bhargava), a Central Minister from Bihar. Her father has fixed her marriage with a businessman’s natorious son, who is aspiring to become CM, with the blessings of Ramlal Yadav. Tara seeks help from Abhijeet, to run away from her home, as she wants to marry Baldev (Sunil Kumar), a final year student of MBBS. Abhijeet helps Tara to unite with Baldev, only because he is in love with her and wants to see her happy.

But, like a typical Bollywood film love triangle theme, Tara isn’t aware of his feelings for her. Abhijeet manages to release Tara from her house and brings Baldev and Tara to his home town Pune. Knowing about Tara escaping with Abhijeet, Ramlal asks Nishikant Nimbalkar (Bharat Jadhav) an encounter specialist from Maharashtra Police, to get Tara back to Bihar. Abhijeet seeks help from his father( Arun Nalawade) who is a Vada-pav vendor in Pune. When Nimbalkar reaches the venue of their marriage, Abhijeet and Tara run away from there. After this cat and mouse chase, finally Baldev is trapped by the Bihar Politician and is asked to return back, with a plan in his mind. In the meanwhile, Tara discovers Abhijeet’s love for her. All is well at the end, after witnessing a Bollywood style of climax.

From start till the end, the film does not look like a realistic gripping love story, as claimed by the film makers; for various reasons. Instead of showing a love story between a boy from Maharashtra and Girl from Bihar; the film goes on to display the love between the girl from Patna and the Boy from Ranchi. This goes on even in post interval session. It is only when, the girl tries to commit suicide, after disappearance of Baldev; that she comes to know about Abhijeet’s true feelings for her. In spite of that, she agrees to return to her home state with Baldev, who returns back. But, as we notice in majority of such love stories; there is always a last chance for the hero. And, that happens in the case of Abhijeet and Tara. The hero goes all the way to Bihar and dares to challenge the strong politician and his security, to marry Tara. ‘Everything is fair in love and war’ and that is what we witness at the end.

There are many illogical happenings in the film; such as travelling from Pune to Bihar and back by road, looks like travelling between Aurangabad and Pune. It is that easy for Abhijeet and his group and Tara’s father and brother; except for the last journey of Abhijeet by air. Then, Abhijeet’s college friends dodging and fighting with Encounter Specialist Nimbalkar and his two strong assistants, looks like a fight among their college colleagues. Even the chase scenes, where Nimbalkar and his men following Abhijeet and his group, looks like a humour filled chase noticed in comedy films. Also, Tara’s brother arriving in his car from Bihar with his goons and beating up Abhijeet’s father in his home town, looks like a typical Bollywood style action scene. At the same time, Abhijeet’s two friends stopping the mob from Bihar, entering a temple premises in their home state, in climax; looks unrealistic.

The film, however scores on account of the performances by few artistes. Both Umesh kamat and Mrunmayee Deshpande have given their best, through their respective roles. They look a perfect match for each other. Mrunmayee in particular, looks pretty good, with her mod looks. Unfortunately, it is all one sided love for the hero, almost in 75% length of this 133 mins long film. The love between two Biharis, has been stretched too long, with Abhijeet being just a mute witness to that. His character of Abhijeet looks confused, in major part of the film. In the role of PSI Nimbalkar, Bharat Jadhav suits well, but even his character looks confused on few occasions. Arun Nalawade, who has limited scope, however makes his presence felt, with his finest performance. Bhalchandra kadam and Kishori Ambiye have very limited scope, through the only wonderful musical song, in this film.

Abhijeet and Tara’s college friends have offered good support through their natural performances in this film, besides few artistes from Bihar. There is nothing much noticed in the performance of Sunil Tiwari, who has been projected as Baldev Thakur, the boy friend of Tara. Except for being at her side in few romantic scenes and few confused scenes; he is just shown by her side, in almost more than 60% of the film. And that has failed to create the desired impact of the so called love story between Abhijeet and Tara. There were lot of expectations from this film, to be an intense love story, from both the sides; depicting the culture of both the places. But, that does not happen much. Only the item song and the Fisher folk’s song, represent the culture.

At a time, when Marathi films are handling ‘out of the box’ themes; this borrowed Bollywood formula, offers a typical love triangle. Just check, whether you find any similarity with Bollywood film ‘Rangrezz’ which was also adaptation of a Tamil film. Or does it resemble with the plot of any other Bollywood film? However, Cinematography by Raja Satankar and Art Direction by Santosh Phutane are two worth appreciating factors . Music by Amir Hadkar sounds good for two songs. ‘Pune Via Bihar’ is just another love story, following the Bollywood path.