Rating: ★★★
Genres: Romantic
Censor: U
Duration: 122 Min.
Studio/presenter: Mangorange Productions, Krishnaraaj Films
Producer: Hridaya Banerjee
Director: Kranti Redkar
Writer: Kranti Redkar
Dialogues: Kranti Redkar, Omkar Datt
Cast: Urmila Kanetkar-Kothare, Jitendra Joshi, Madhavi Juvekar, Ashok Shinde, Ashutosh Gaikwad, Aakash Banerjee

Urmila Kanitkar Kothare is one such actress, whose real potential is noticed, if she is offered a good emotion filled role. We have already noticed her skills, through an award winning film ‘Mala Aai Vhaychay‘ and popular TV serial ‘Asambhav’, few years ago. Now, she finds a lifetime role, in Kranti Redkar’s film ‘Kaakan‘ And, Urmila has portrayed the lead character of Sudhamati, by pouring her heart into this role. Making her entry in the 24th minute of the film, she holds the attention of the audience till the last scene, so much has been the impact of her role. And the credit goes to Kranti Redkar, who has made her selection for this role, while making her debut as a director, through this film.

Set on the backdrop of a village in Sindhudurg district of Konkan, the film narrates a tragic and intense love story of Kishu (Jitendra Joshi) and Sudhamati (Urmila kanitkar Kothare). The film begins with a little 12 year old boy Gopi (Ashutosh Gaikwad), noticing a lonely and sick old man, near the sea shore of his village. Initially, mistaking him to be lunatic, he tries to tease him along with his friends. But, when he is saved by old Kishu, from drowning, he shows sympathy towards him. Gopi finds out Kishu’s past and discovers that his beloved Sudhamati got married to a businessman Mr. Kamat from Mumbai.

Gopi goes out of his way, to make Kishu happy and runs away from his house, in search of Sudhamati in Mumbai. Things aren’t easy for him. But, he meets a hard working young boy Wasim (Aakash Banerjee) , who has his own story. Wasim who is a helper at a tea stall, offers shelter to Gopi and also helps him to locate the address of Sudhamati. It is the meeting between Gopi and Sudhamati, that brings Sudhamati back to her village, after almost 32 years, for a yearly festival. The climax of the film is very touchy, but predictable.

Kranti Redkar on her debut as a director, has made a good attempt. But, there are few lapses in the film’s screenplay, which are clearly noticed. How can a poor Kishu, who cannot even pay Rs. 5 to a visiting Doctor, can afford to prepare a thick designer Gold bangle for his beloved? Don’t exactly know the reason, to show Sudhamati with her tanned skin after 32 years, when she was shown fair enough, in her early 20s ? Also, the second half of the film has been stretched a little longer, than the first half.

To say something about the direction, Kranti Redkar has expertly narrated the story, with the present happenings, using flashback to show the love story of a girl from rich family and boy from poor family. She has also tried to show the after effect of a train blast by the terrorists, through the character of Wasim, a hard working tea boy, working at a tea stall.

Wonderful performance by Urmila kanitkar Kothare makes ‘Kaakan’ appealing. Very cleverly, she has used the Malavani accent, to suit her character, when she is shown young. She certainly deserves an award for the same. Urmila gets good support from Child actor Ashutosh Gaikwad, who has proved his acting ability through this film. Watch her scene with him, when he comes to meet her in her office in Mumbai. Jitendra Joshi doesn’t have much scope in the film, as most of the time, he is shown in isolation, without any dialogues and with his face covered by long hair and beard.

Excellent camera work ,meaningful lyrics and fine music are the plus points of this film. Good support comes from character artistes Madhavi Juvekar and Ashok Shinde. If you love to watch tragic love stories and good performances, ‘Kaakan‘ is just your choice.