Rating: na Presenter: Israni Productions Producer: Anita Israni Director: Raaj Israni Story: Ashok Patole Music: Ashok Patki Cast: Milind Gawali, Girija Oak, Ravindra Berde, Ila Bhate, Ujwala Jog, Harshali Zeene, Arun Basavade, Milan Shirke, Shweta Shinde, Sneha Wagh, Charushila Wachani, Nagesh Bhosale, Shubhangi Latkar, Dr Vilas Ujawane… Movie Review by:  Kashmira Pawaskar

Will the problem of female infanticide ever be solved? Sadly, this is a major issue faced by us still today. Even in 21st century where patriarchal societies are prevalent, the status of women is considered to be inferior to that of men. A preference for sons is built in the minds of the people from the very start. The practice is motivated by a variety of social causes that act as worms eating the society.
After the success of Bhojpuri Film ‘Shreeman Driver Baboo’ Israni Production produces ‘Chingi’ based on a very sensitive subject on girl child. Anita Israni presents the film under banner of P.P. Creations is Produced and Directed by Raj Israni. Story by Shree Kurade, Script, dialogue and Lyrics by Ashok Patole, Music by Ashok Patki, Cameraman Rafik Latif Shekh, Editor Aroon Narvekar, Art Director Baba Patil, Choreography Narendra Pandit Vrashali Chouhan, Chief Asst. Director Rouf Bhungadawala and Exec. Producer is Mohit Israni.

Chingi is the story of a woman, who resists pressure from her in-laws, who demand a male child.
A lovable and happy Maharashtrian couple, Rohan and Arti Date played by Milind Gawali and Girija Oak respectively, living in Mumbai has been married since three years. They have preferred not to have children so far as both are working and busy with their lives. Rohan’s parents sometimes come over and stay with them. Unfortunately for Arti, Rohan’s parents start pressurizing her for a baby, which they insist should be a boy.

Arti’s mother family is basically middle class including her mother & father staying with her four sisters Priyanka, (Aditi Sarangdhar), Rinku (Sneha Wagh), Veena (Harshali Zine) and Salon (Swini Karvir) very happily. One boy from Rohan’s office Shyam gets suggested for Priyanka. However, when Shyam’s parents learn that Priyanka comes from a family of five sisters and no brothers, they refuse the alliance.
After this entire situation Arti gets nervous. Her in-laws demand for boy child disturbs her every moment. Meanwhile, Arti realizes she is pregnant. However, the constant pressure from her in-laws and her sister Priyanka’s quandary disturbs Arti.
Even though we have progressed tremendously, our thought process is still limited to the old customs & ethnicity that are been followed ever since. The biggest example is that till today we are not excited when a girl child is born. Today also we don’t like a girl child being born in our family. All this thinking affects Arti & she takes some important decision without consulting Rohan. All abnormal things are started happening in their normal life and the heart touching story of CHINGI starts from here…

The music of the movie by Ashok Patki is very touching and soothing, song ‘yenar yenar’ and ‘sonule’ will definitely love by mothers. The song ‘vadhu parikshe madhe’ defenitly has unusual lyrics but gives an idea of whats going in a girl’s mind before the program “vadhu pariksha” for the marriage. Girija oak performance is surely to be appreciated for fighting for an unborn girl child. The positive character of Milind who is against female infanticide and supporter for his wife will be prized by female viewers.
Before this released many directors has made the movie on this sensitive issue, so the doubt remains will it will create a huge impact on the people. Israni as said in an interview wanted to take the movie to the rural and interiors of Maharashtra so made it in Marathi and not in Hindi.
The film asks the society questions about the state of women and the girl child. With an angle of situational comedy Israni has well handled the issue of feticide making the movie interesting. He has also provided solution by proving why girls are needed for the society; what they can do for a person, a family and for the human race.