Davpech – a new game plan to invite viewer’s attention
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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 stealin
g 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.
‘Paaradh’ highlights the socio – political issue
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Rating: na
Presenter: Amogh Cinetones Producer: Anuradha Talati Director: Gajendra Ahire Story: Gajendra Ahire Camera: Chandrashekar Iyer Music: Rahul Ranade Cast: Siddharth Jadhav, Makarand Anaspure, Hemangi Kavi Dhumal, Ravi Kale, Vrinda Gajendra, Vinay Apte, Amogh Talathi, Vitthal Umap, Milind Shinde Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke |
Marathi films are back on the traditional track with tales of exploitation of rural poor. Only difference that we find now is the change of characters. The place of shrewd Zamindar or Village Sarpanch has been taken by selfish politicians, who are in search of youngsters to dance on their tunes to meet their personal goals. Gajendra Ahire’s latest film ‘Paaradh’ is no different from all those traditional Marathi films, but it sends out a strong message to today’s directionless youth; who are blindly following their leaders. Through this film, the maverick film maker makes a clear point of exploitation of rural youth by a power hungry politician, who uses them for his political gains and later sidelines them only to be killed by his opponents.
Ambadas (Makarand Anaspure) and his right hand Bappa( Milind Shinde) are involved in all such unethical practices at District level to prove their strength. They don’t miss a single opportunity to blackmail their own party seniors and one such victim is Prataprao(Vinay Apte). They first capture the dairy co-operative business with the help of young jobless youths from the village. Ambadas does not stop here, as his political ambitions are much higher. He dares to challenge even his party chief- Appa (identity not revealed) by exposing him with his wrong deeds with the help of his most trusted party worker Yashwant ( Siddharth Jadhav), whom he calls ‘Wagh (Tiger)’.
Yashwant-a small time party worker, who blindly follows the orders of his boss, suddenly comes into limelight. It is at this time Ambadas ditches him. His right hand Bappa, knowing the weaknesses of his boss, plays all dirty games in his name and even lures Yashwant’s younger sister Indu (Hemangi Kavi Dhumal) . Yashwant who belongs to a Warkari family, is the most notorious character in the family, who neither obeys his old father( Vitthal Omap) nor elder brother(Ravi Kale), who is a farmer.
Yashwant’s younger brother Anand (Amogh Talathi) , who is the mute witness to all the events the family faces, is actually the narrator in the film. The entire film is based on the political gimmicks of Ambadas and his link with Yashwant and his family. Finally, it is not only Yashwant who suffers, but his family members too. In the end of the film, Anand as a narrator tells that Siddharth who is undergoing sentence for the murder of Amabadas and Bappa, has one more year left for release and that his elder brother who had gone in search for justice is still missing. His sister-in-law(Vrinda Gajendra) works in the field and his ambitious sister Indu heads the women’s wing of the district. Finally, he concludes saying that he himself is well settled in a district place with his job and his son studying in a good Public school.
‘Paaradh’ begins well with realistic approach but drags in the second half with too many chase scenes, where Yashwant runs for his life, having been ditched by Ambadas. The characters of Ambadas, Yashwant, his elder brother ,his sister-in-law and sister Indu look realistic. The person who invites the attention is Milind Shinde in the role of Bappa. With his perfect visual expressions and body language, he has been able to present a real villain of Marathi films. Vinay Apte has been wasted in that role of Politician. There is no strength in his role, though he plays it with ease. Can’t find the reason for hiding the identity of Party chief. But, looking at the performances from Siddharth Jadhav, Makarand Anaspure, Hemangi Kavi Dhumal, Ravi Kale and Vrinda Gajendra, you tend to forget those few flaws in the film. Camera work by Chandrashekhar Iyer, Background music by Rahul Ranade and editing work by Rahul Bhatankar is pleasing.