Rating: ★★★ ½ Banner: Maitra Entertainment Producer: Sandhya Gokhale Director: Amol Palekar Story – Screenplay: Sandhya Gokhale Dialogues: Sandhya Gokhale Cinematography:Amol Gole Cast: Ashok Saraf, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Ramesh Bhatkar, Manoj Joshi, Pushkar Shrotri, Upendra Limaye, Anand Ingale, Satish Pulekar, Vijay Kenkre, Satish Alekar, Ajit Kelkar, Shreeram Pendse, Sunil Godbole, Goutam Joglekar, Sameer Chougule, Sandeep Pathak, Nivedita Saraf, Vandana Gupte, Shilpa Navalkar, Suhasini Paranjape, Atisha Naik. Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke

Cricket has played a very important role in offering entertainment to people in India. And, if you are offering cricket in the form of entertainment through a feature film, it certainly invites the attention of film lovers. Films like ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Iqbal’ are the best examples. Now, at a time when IPL T20 Cricket fever is on, film maker Amol Palekar comes with a timely entertainment, through his new Marathi film ‘We are on, Houn Jau Dya’. Picking up popular veteran and young stars in the cast, Amol has cleverly managed to have two teams of cricket, to offer new form of cricketainment to Marathi film lovers.

Ideally set on the backdrop of Pune, known as the city of pensioners and at the same time the city of sports lovers; he has presented an altercation between the regular morning walkers and young enthusiastic cricket lovers; over the use of ground during the early morning hours. While the group of senior citizens complain about the nuisance caused by the youngsters, during the early morning hours; the youngsters, some of whom are their own family members, claim it as their right to play to relieve their stress, as they are otherwise working people.

The youngsters are keen to participate in the 25 lack prize money tournament at Nashik , as the only team from Pune; but, the seniors call it a craze for the game. To sort out the issue, finally it is decided to have a match between the youngsters and seniors, involving their well wishers, family members and also sponsors to watch the climax; which runs about 30-40 minutes towards the concluding part of the film.

Needless to mention that the seniors realising their limitations, use all the tactics possible, besides challenging the existing rules of the game. As a director Amol Palekar, having been influenced by his mentors Hrishida and Basuda, has sincerely paid tributes to his masters through this film. Through one of his main characters Andalkar (played by Makarand Anaspure) he has used almost the similar tactics during the cricket match, which he himself attempted as an actor, while playing a table tennis match against Asrani on the advice of his Guru Ashok Kumar in the film ‘Chotisi Baat’.

As a film maker, Amol Palekar has received good support from Sandhya Gokhale through screenplay and dialogues, for his own developed concept. In the pre interval session, we find every character and his family being introduced properly, through humour filled scenes. This entire session we find situation based comedy, with good support coming from versatile artistes like Dilip Prabhavalkar, Vandana Gupte, Ashok Saraf, Nivedita Saraf, Ramesh Bhatkar, Satish Alekar, Ajit kelkar, Shriram Pendse, Sameer Chougule, Manoj Joshi, Atisha Naik, Anand Ingale, Upendra Limaye, Pushkar Shrotri, Gautam Joglekar, Satish Pulekar, Sandeep Phatak, Shilpa Navalkar and others. Above all, you find surprise guest appearance by a famous former India Cricketer.

Dilip Prabhavalkar and Vandana Gupte in particular, have matched well as Ponkshe couple, still trying to look younger despite becoming grandparents. Ramesh Bhatkar as Retired Col. and Satish Pulekar as former Ranji Player, play their respective roles with a difference. Makarand Anaspure, finds himself in the company of senior citizens, playing their guiding force. It was nice to find Saraf couple together after a long time, playing so naturally ! Manoj Joshi as a Gujarathi friend in the group, plays the happy go lucky bachelor is style. Atisha Naik with Sameer Chougule succeed in creating laughter in few scenes. Among the youngsters, Anand Ingale and Sandeep Phatak are at their best. Pushkar Shrotri and Gautam Joglekar have almost underplayed their characters. But, it is Sandeep Phatak, who invites all the attention, with his flexible character.

Music does not have much scope in this film, except for one good musical song composed by Avinash Vishwajeet. The background music and sound effects have been used well. Cinematography by Amol Gole captures all the details of the celebrity cricket match very well. “We are on Houn Jau Dya’ is all about cricketainment. But, it’s a well presented timely film.