Rating: ★★ Presenter: Shemaroo Entertainment Producer: Atul Maroo, Ketan Maru Director: Kedar Shinde Dialogue & Lyrics: Machindra More Music: Devdutt Sabale Cast: Bharat Jadhav, Siddharth Jadhav, Sonali Kulkarni, Vijay Chavan, Kushal Badrike, Ganesh Revdekar… Movie Review by: Pradip Patil

Kedar Shinde and Shemaroo films continue their successful association with the latest movie ‘Bakula Namdev Ghotale’. To churn out 3 movies in the gap of 6 months, now that’s something interesting.

This time Kedar plays it safe by doing what he does best, That is directing a comdey. Yet there are few important things that show that he is indeed trying to do something new instead of sticking to the tried and tested path. So let’s have a look at those ‘different’ things.

First of all, This movie has Bharat Jadhav, but not as a hero. This time he is the bad guy.

Second and I think most important, it has Siddhart Jadhav in the role of protagonist, though he is not your typical hero material.

And last but not the least, this movie atleast deals with an issue which is much discussed these days, but let me tell you that’s not the main aim of this movie. Every new movie from Kedar raises the expectations high, so does his latest offering entertains? The answer is yes, but not as much as his earlier works.

The movie’s biggest drawback is it’s weak first half. The plot revolves around a newly wed couple Namdev (A forgetful simpleton), Bakula (Namya’s intelligent wife) and Ghotale (the wicked landlord). When Namya and Bakula come to Ghotale to take his blessing, Ghotale falls for Bakula and decides to win her at any cost. So he hatches a plan to kill namya. But namya survives the attack and returns home after few days. But its too late as the compensation money for Namya’s accidental death is about to be handed to bakula. So what games the couple play to make the most of the situation forms the rest of the story.

Unfortunately the first half drags on. The characters are effectively established but it could have been easliy achieved with less reels. The first half leaves viewers hoping for more action but nothing happens except few funny moments.

In the second half, Kedar has managed to salvage the movie and from there onwards it is total timepass. The second half is so well made that it actually makes you overlook the insipid first half. Full marks to the entire team for this. Ghaotale and Bakula’s efforts to outsmart each other keeps the audience entertained.

Devdatta Sabale’s music works pretty well. The movie has two lavani songs, both are picturised on gorgeous Resham Tipnis. The another duet song is really catchy and nicely picturised. I bet you will be humming it after the movie. Dialogs are funny and serve their purpose well.

Newcomer Sonali Kulkarni plays her part with confidence. Siddhart Jadhav is fun to watch and does justice to his role. Bharat Jadhav is excellent, Even though his character is picturised as funny for most of the part, he effectively portrays the mean and cunning shades of the character. I wonder why an actor like Vijay Chavan is wasted in such an insignificant role.

Bakula Namdev Ghotale has its own faults, but it does what it is supposed to do, that is to make you laugh.