‘Premay Namah’ is just another love story on big screen…
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Rating: ★★
Genres: Drama Censor: U Duration: 120 min. Studio/presenter: White Onion Entertainment Producer(s): Uttam Chorade, Suyog Gaikwad Director: Jagdish Watharkar Music: Chandrashekhar Janawade, K. Sandeep Kumar Writer: Shashikant Kamble Cinematographer (DOP): Dhanaji Yamkar Cast: Devendra Chougule, Rupali Krishnrao, Surekha Kudchi, Prakash Dhotre, Miss Sayali Magdum, Milind Oak, Narendra Desai, Snehal Raj Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke |
There was a time, when Kolhapur used to be the most active centre of Marathi film production. But, after 80s Marathi film makers preferred the locations in and around Mumbai with the help of studios and bungalows located in Mumbai. However, some film makers still prefer Kolhapur and sea belt of Konkan as the backdrop of their films. Producer Uttam Chorade and director Jagadish Vatharkar have offered their latest film ‘Premaya Namah‘ on the backdrop of today’s well developed Kolhapur city and picturesque Gaganbawda.
So, we find a young man Prem( Devendra Chougule) , the only son from a wealthy family, falling in love with a girl Preeti ( Rupali Krishnarao), after he meets her outside a departmental stores. It’s a love at first sight. On this very first occasion, he helps her find her money purse snatched by a thief, but she casually thanks him. Prem happens to meet her again and again, but Preeti ignores him, thinking him to be a roadside romeo. Bythe way, there is a real road romeo and a gang leader also after her and Prem encounters him and his goons, showing his muscle power. Finally, Prem along with his mother( Surekha Kudchi) arrive few days in advance, to attend the wedding ceremony of his mother’s close friend’s daughter. Here he discovers that the girl getting married is Preeti.
Dejected, he decides to return home, but Preeti stops him and boldly suggests him to elope with her. Preeti’s parents hand over the responsibility of their daughter’s marriage to Prem. Now, in dilemma, Prem has his own plans . The conclusion of this love story is not predictable, which is the only surprise in the film. But, the rest of the happenings are in typical bollywood style of films during 60s and 70s. However, the chemistry between the lead pair doesn’t work well. There is a name sake villain and his character is not at all convincing in the plot. With such a theme, the film fails to create an impact on real film lovers, as it lacks proper presentation in the screenplay. The length of the film is also too long, stretching almost to 2 and half hours.
The hero Devendra who is shown a 20+ youngster in this film, isn’t very convincing, as he doesn’t look like a real young romantic hero. On many occasions he is shown imitating styles of Shahrukh Khan and does overacting in emotion filled long scenes. He is only good in action scenes, as an angry young man. However, the actress Rupali with her Marathi & Hindi television background, has impressed through her performance. Among others, Surekha Kudchi and Prakash Dhotre have offered good support, but the actor Bharat Daini in Villain’s role has failed to impress.
There are very few things worth appreciating in this film and they include good background music and decent cinematography which has captured outdoor locations and one underwater song picturisation very well. Even some action scenes with the help of special effects, have been shot well. All in all, ‘Premay Namah‘ can be described as just another love story in Marathi, on big screen.
‘Sambhaa’ adopts South film pattern
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Rating: na
Presenter: Shiva Films Director: Sanjay Todkar Story: Sanjay Pawar Screenplay: Sanjay Pawar Dialogues: Sanjay Pawar Cinematographer: Girish Udale Music: Avinash – Vishvajeet Art: Satish Bidkar Cast: Devendra Chaugule, Mohan Joshi, MiIlind Gunaji, Kuldeep Pawar, Madhu Kambikar, Tejashree Khele, Deepali Sayyad Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke |
We are well aware of the progress of Marathi films, with different subjects portraying sensible topics. But, the quality improvement in Marathi cinema has not witnessed a good turn out at the theatres. On the contrary, Bollywood films made on the lines of South Indian films, are attaining grand success at box office. Best examples are films like ‘Dabbang’ and ‘Singham’. So, what if any of our Marathi film makers attempt the same formula in Marathi films ?
Actor- Producer Devendra Chougule has attempted this experiment through his new Marathi film ‘Sambhaa.. Aajcha Chava’ with all that we have witnessed in those hit Bollywood films, made on the lines of action packed South films. Only difference is that, he has retained his original script penned by Santosh Pawar, keeping the Marathi audience in mind; otherwise, his film would have resembled any dubbed version of commercial south film shown on TV channels now days.
The story of ‘Sambhaa’ is simple, keeping in mind the current scenario of price rise and its effect on common people and the traders playing Hand n Glove game with local politicians, who use their power to suppress the voice of the people with the help of police. Using all the latest technology with VFX and proving that Marathi films are nowhere behind Tollywood and Bollywood, shows the guts of the film maker. Be it music, choreography, photography, sound effect and stunt scenes, he has not compromised on any of these areas of production. And, for this effort, hats off to Devendra Chougule.
Just imagine, if Salman Khan were to play the central character of Sambha in this film, the film would have not only been a super duper hit in Maharashtra; but would have invited attention from all over India, if it was made under the direction of Mahesh Manjrekar or N. Chandra. Nevertheless, the efforts put in by Devendra Chougule are no less than Salman Khan. You can now call him Salman Khan of Marathi films, for performing all those stunts, using better reflexes in dancing than Salman and delivering those punchy lines penned by Santosh Pawar in his own style in Marathi.
There are few errors in direction by scene director Sanjay Todkar, but Action directors Anand Raj and Devraj nullify those slips. Music and background music remind you of south film’s music style. Incidentally, the Choreographer Kaladharan and stunt master Anand Raj of this film, are from South films. However, Girish Udale’s cinematography makes us feel proud, that we are watching an action packed Marathi film. He has captured some of the difficult shots very intelligently. Above all, the film maker has been sincere enough to show at the end, how he shot those difficult scenes before going for post production.
As an actor, Devendra Chougule shows lot of self confidence in himself, while playing this central character of Sambhaa. There is no doubt that he has kept the camera focused on him most of the time; but, that was the requirement of the script, which revolves around the hero, who fights against injustice in society, single handed with the support of few friends. Deepali Sayyed finds a suitable role of a journalist in this film and she has done her job well. Tejashree Khele is certainly a gift to Marathi cinema, after getting sufficient exposure in South films. But, she has less scope in this film. Otherwise, she has played the role of Kareena with ease, on the lines of typical southern stars. Mohan Joshi, Milind Gunaji, Madhu Kambikar, Kuldeep Pawar, Vijay Chavan, Mangesh Desai, Dhananjay Mandrekar have supported well in their limited roles. Junior Jhony Lever makes his debut as a comedian through this film and he resembles the veteran comedy king and has even tried to act like him. But, he has a long way to go, as the veteran comedian is still matchless.
Last but not the least, those who have enjoyed watching films like ‘Dabhang’ and ‘Singham’, why not watch ‘Sambhaa’? After all, it is made by our own Marathi manoos for our Marathi audience, who otherwise watch similar type of south and Bollywood films, at small towns district places of Maharashtra. More so, Devendra has made this film with total sincerity, admitting openly that it is a total commercial film.