Presenter: Murli Manohar Creation Producers: Murli Manohar Borkar, Arjun Manohar Borkar Director: Sanchit Vartak, Bhimrao Mude Story: Bhimrao Mude Camera: Raja Fadtare Music: Rohan Pradhan Cast: Bharat Jadhav, Makarand Anspure, Lokesh Gupte, Kamlesh Sawant, Hemangi Kavi-Dhumal, Priyal Patil, Kushal Badrike Movie Review by Jitendra R. More

When you have the content, you should focus more on the screenplay rather than drawing the posters of your stars in a different look, to attract the viewers. Looking at the huge poster at one of the theatres in Pune, the tea vendor in a bylane of a Pune theatre did remark, “Oh! What a get up for these two big stars?” So, it’s but natural that people like you and me are tempted to watch this film, to see these popular stars in a new get-up and witness their deeds in the film. But, you are disappointed, as the duo appears in that get-up in just that initial scene and then look normal in the later part. Isn’t that a way of fooling the viewers?

‘Davpech’ the new Marathi film directed by debutant duo Sachit Vartak and Bhimrao Mude does try to offer a different story, but lack of continuity in the screenplay and few flaws during picturization of few scenes takes away the desired impact created through the story. In this film, you have a village backdrop with a fictitious village called Phulgaon, where after 17 years a traditional game of theft, which used to be a yearly feature in the past is proposed. To take part in this game, two expert thieves are hired by Daadu (Kushal Badrike) and these two namely Neelkanth(Makarand Anaspure) and Vyankatesh ( Bharat Jadhav) pose as a schoolmaster and Agri-expert respectively.

Obviously, to fit the requirements of a film, they find their girlfriends in Shewanta( Hemangi Kavi) and Jai ( Priyal Patil) respectively. Initially, they succeed in stealing the sword from the temple and get set for the main game’Punyachi Chori’. There is a folk song suitably picturized on this game plan, rendered by Devdatt Sable and picturized on Shahir played by Girish Oak. Because of usage of DI, the film’s effect on photography with color mixing looks good.

The film has also used better sound effect, but the same does not suit when the horror effect is played when a person is on deathbed. In the climax scene, Neelkanth manages to chase a tempo with the help of a bullock cart and this only suggests some Bollywood attempted gimmicks. Watch that scene where the show anchor of ‘Punyachi Chori’ makes an announcement on loudspeaker heard by the villagers and keep your logical thinking aside. When the stealing of Phoolraja award is shown with police investigation; what finally happens is not shown in the film. Overall, the film has a very limited entertainment value.

Makarand Anaspure receives applause from the crowd occasionally, while Bharat Jadhav is in his usual mood. Hemangi has some scope as far as acting is concerned but the other girl Priyal has no scope in this film. The film’s music is just okay but the photography is good capturing some of the best locations outdoors including the night scenes. But, make it look a night scene, is easily noticed. Being debutants, the director duo has done their best. But, there is nothing so special about this game – plan( Davpech), so as to appreciate.