‘Langar’ hits out at blind faith
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Rating: na
Banner: Shree Ganesh Marketing & Films Producer: Kumari Niharika S. Phadtare Director: Sandeep M. Naware Story: Sandeep M. Naware Music: Mandar Khare Cast: Ravi Kale, Manawa Naik, Aditi, Kishori Shane-Vij, Vinay Apate, Pankaj Vishnu, Milind Shinde, Bharat Ganeshpure, Namrata Gaikwad Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke |
Time has changed and reforms are welcomed. But, still customary practices with blind faith, are followed in some villages in our country. Produced by Niharika Sunil Phadtare and directed by Sandeep Manohar Navare, new Marathi film ‘Langar’ throws light on injustice to children from a particular community in a village, where parents offer their children to God, just to keep their vows to God. One such girl Malan who is studying in school, is offered by her father (Vinay Apte) to the service of God, much against the wish of her mother (Kishori Shahane Vij), after she attains puberty.
Malan is taken away by her maternal uncle Jagan (Ravi Kale), who is himself deserted by his parents to the service of God. Deeply hurt, Malan soon forgets her family and joins the group of her uncle, aunty and others, to perform at religious functions with their folk performances entertaining the families. Men in this group are called Vaghya and women folks are called Murali. So, when Malan grows up, she is identified as ‘Murali’ and has no right to marry, as she is offered to the God in marriage.
But, when Malan meets Yashwant (Pankaj Vishnu), he proposes to her and promises to marry her soon. Malan crosses her limits against the wish of her uncle. Yashwant, who goes to city for some legal case, fails to return. Even her Uncle proceeds to other villages in search of work. When the uncle returns, he is criticized by the villagers and unable to bear the insults, he disappears one day. Yashwant does return back after six months; but, Malan refuses to marry him and drives him back. She takes over the business of her uncle and gives birth to her child. At the end of the film, which is actually the beginning, Malan is honoured by a Social activist, at a function held in a village, to boost her bold decision.
The film does pass a social message and hits out at blind faith and such customary practice. The effort of the film maker is sincere, capturing the right locations to create an impact. But, there is not much of opposition shown in the film, faced by the leading lady. Except for the reaction of her uncle and exchange of words with a local stone crushing contractor (Milind Shinde) who insults her; she doesn’t face much humiliation from the community. In fact, Jagan’s associates stand behind her. The character of Malan’s father though selfish, does not look realistic in some of the scenes, with his changing attitude. The same is the case with her brother Sagar’s character, who does not react, during reunion with his sister after several years.
It is also not clear, as to why the Uncle takes so long (almost few months) to return from his surrounding village trip, to discover that Malan is pregnant . Also there is no convincing explanation, as to why Yashwant returned after so many months. Moreover, when he is ready to marry Malan and accepts her would be child as his own child, why she refuses to marry him. Such incidences goes on to show that there wasn’t much sacrifice; but Malan repenting on her own mistake to trust a man of her choice. In fact, she is not left all alone; but, finds good helpful family of Jagan to support her.
In this film, Ravi Kale has come out with another superb performance in the role of Jagan. Kishori Shahane Vij does a good job through her emotion filled mother’s role. In the role of Malan, Manva Naik finds a better role for a change, to display variety through her acting and accent. Pankaj Vishnu is just fine in that limited role and so is veteran actor Vinay Apte in father’s role, though his character is not convincing. Bharat Ganeshpure and Namrata Gaikwad have done a good job, playing the family associates of Jagan. All others in the supporting cast have given their best.
Photography by Surya Mishra is good. He has captured the crowd scenes of devotees very well. Mandar Khare’s music is well suited to the theme of this film. ‘Langar’ is a festival kind of art film and not a mainstream cinema. And hence, those interested in such films and wanting to know the customary practices in villages, may like this film. But, will this film reach the target audience? Let’s wait and watch.
Realistic but incomplete ‘Wavtal’
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Rating: na
Presenter: Aragade DS Entertainment Producer: Balasaheb Argade-Patil Exe. Producer: Nitin DInkar Shelar Director: Shivaji Lotan Patil Story: Anant Samant Screenplay, Dialogues: Nitin Dixit Cast: Ashok Samarth, Tejaswini Pandit, Vinay Apate, Mukesh Tiwari Movie Review by: Ulhas Shirke |
Marathi films are opting for more and more realistic and bolder subjects, which is certainly a welcome change. The latest released film ‘Wavtal’ has been shot on the backdrop of post Babri Masjid demolition riots, that rocked Mumbai. Based on the novel ‘K-5’ written by Anant Samant, ‘Wavtal’ narrates the tragic tale of a newly married housewife, who becomes a victim of the sudden break out of violence in Mumbai.
Ms. Mankar (Tejaswini Pandit) is on a visit to Mumbai along with her husband from Konkan district of Maharashtra and the couple arrive as guests at CM’s bungalow. Needless to mention that her father in law and CM are having their close political connection. After the check up at a clinic, while the couple is returning back home, their car travels through the lane affected by riots and they are attacked by a group of terrorists who beat up the husband and kill the driver. Ms. Mankar is abducted by the leader of the attackers- Rehmat Khan (Mukesh Tiwari) who takes her to his hideout and uses her as his keep. He tortures her so much by inflicting injuries on her feet that she is restricted to bed only for his sexual pleasures.
When Rehmat Khan plans all his terrorist activities with the help of influential people in public life, the helpless woman is a mute witness. She does make an attempt to escape with the courtesy extended by the servant who attends to her, but she does not succeed.. When the pre plan of major riots is foiled by the police, with raids carried out all over Mumbai, Rehmat khan manages to flee to Pakistan leaving behind Ms. Mankar in the custody of his colleagues, who are advised to bring her along with them via Rajasthan border . Ms.Mankar who is carrying the child of Rehmat Khan in her womb, delivers the baby at the hideout of terrorists in a remote border village of Rajasthan.It is only when a Border security force team led by K-5( Ashok Samarth) on a tip off from a villager, raid their hideout and kill all four terrorists, she is rescued and brought to the camp hospital.
Then begins the formality to make her speak about the terrorists with whom she lived almost for a year. Ms. Mankar agrees to reveal everything only in presence of the hero who rescues her. So the Commandant ( Vinay Apte) persuades the commando K-5 and gets all the information from the woman. When the time comes for the woman to return home, the Commandant receives a letter from her father-in-law about their inability to accept her. He also receives an order from his chief to send the woman to a rehabilitation centre at Delhi. K-5 who is proceeding on leave to his home town, is given the job to drop her at Delhi . But, he takes her to her home only to remind her father-in law about his duty. But, when he sees no hope, he himself proposes her to accompany him to his own house.
The film ends with happy ending, which is predictable but it fails to fulfill the desire of Ms. Mankar who while talking to K-5 expresses her last wish to kill Rehmat Khan. And that wish remains unfulfilled, as being a helpless woman she cannot on her own take up a battle for the head of a terrorist who shatters her life. Instead, she has to satisfy herself for having got the most courageous man to support her and her child in the rest of her life.
Produced by Balasaheb Argade- Patil and directed by Shivaji Patil, the film does succeed in creating a realistic horrifying incident in the life of a woman but nowhere in the film her character is offered the courage to defend herself. The film only narrates the pathetic tale of a woman instead of inspiring the audience. At one point of time, the director does give an indication that she may once again come across Rehmat Khan while she and k-5 are shown waiting at the deserted platform in Rajasthan village, to board the train. It would have been better, if the film had shown his return and K-5 killing him in the climax.
Looking at the performances of the artistes, they have all done well. But, the script has given more importance to Ashok Samarth playing K-5. His interactions with his Commandant – Vinay Apte and the woman’s father –in-law Sunil Shende, clearly indicate the importance given to this character. There is no doubt that he has played his role well. Mukesh Tiwari’s character has also been given unnecessary importance for all those cruel acts. Tejaswini Pandit has given a wonderful performance but her character is shown helpless throughout the film. The technical areas of the film are well managed. Photography is too good, especially the locations shot in Rajasthan. Background sound effect is also good. There is not much scope for music but the background score is good in few sequences. The film is realistic, well presented but still looks incomplete.