Rating: ★★★½ Genres: Drama Censor: U Duration: 130 min. Studio/presenter: KP Cinevision, A Sheetal Film Production Producer(s): Kalpesh Patel, Shailesh Pawar Writer, Director:  Milind Arun Kavde Dialogues:  Sagar Wankhede Cinematographer (DOP): Santonio Terzio Cast:  Sanjay Narvekar, Vijay Patkar, Pradeep Patwardhan, Ganesh Yadav, Vijay Kadam, Arun Kadam, Vijay Maurya, Jaywant Wadkar, Aniket Kelkar, Vishakha Subhedar, Priya Marathe, Bhooshan Pradhan, Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke

Marathi film makers are applying new techniques through their films, to make them more presentable. Latest released Marathi film ‘1234’ falls in this category. Directed by Milind Arun Kavde, this film is a action filled thriller, which presents happening of four different events around the same time, on a particular day and the connection of different characters with each other.

The film begins with a song picturised on Rahul ( Bhushan Pradhan) and his girl friend Priya ( Priya Marathe), to indicate their love affair, little before Rahul sets his journey , to report as a Junior Doctor at a Mental Hospital. Then, we notice how he is trapped after reporting there, in the company of starangers. The worried brother of Rahul ( Pradeep Patwardhan) and his sister in law ( Vishakha Subhedar) go to the police station to lodge a complaint about kidnapping of Rahul and demand of a huge sum for his release. It is almost the same time, we notice a helpless Dhanajyay( Sanjay Narvekar) pleading before the Hospital Dean( Yatin Karyekar) to save his father’s life, who is to be operated. In another incident, Super star Abhijit is worried about his wife and little child, as he receives a threat from Underworld and at the same time, there is trouble faced by film maker ( Sanjay Mone) as his production controller Aziz bhai is in love with the film’s actress ( Teja Deokar), who is actually in relationship with another person.

Very skilfully through the film’s screenplay, the director has managed to present the events, turn by turn; but in the process, a person who comes to watch the film, with the sole intention of entertainment, is likely to get confused, if he is not alert throughout the film. But, for action film lovers, ‘1234‘ is a treat to watch. The film does pass a social message, about the exploitation of the people by the administration, in the name of development. It does throw light on compensation, which has not been paid to the displaced people and firing by Police, on the mob demanding their right. Towards the end of the film, we find social activist Anna Hazare making a statement on injustice to the people displaced, in the name of development. In the end, the film maker also gives a hint that there will be a sequel of this film.

There are many twists in the screenplay, which surprise the audience. But, it would not be proper to disclose the same. This experiment has been tried in one of the Bollywood films few years ago. Camera work is superb. Not much scope for music, except for the first song on Bhushan and Priya. But, back ground music is appealing. Camera work is superb. To enjoy this film, the viewer has to follow the sequences with full attention on every happenning. The lead pair Bhushan & Priya don’t find much scope in this film, as there are about 26 important characters, who also find limited roles to their share. But, some of the artistes have tried their best to entertain the audience. New camera technique has been tried for the first time in Marathi, for which the efforts of the film maker are to be appreciated. The film has about 26 important characters, who are part of four different events. Barring few errors, ‘1234‘ is certainly a worth watch film, for those who love action filled thrillers.