Over the years, Marathi films have made tremendous progress in presenting their subjects with good technical support, finest locations and glamorous costumes; almost on par with big banner Hindi films. At the same time, some of our film makers were also influenced by South films and officially attempted remakes of original south films into Marathi. The best examples are, films like ‘Classmates‘, ‘Shutter‘ and ‘Time Bara Vait‘. But, only ‘Classmates’ did very good business, as it was focused on young generation, as target audience.

Now, Filmmaker Sanjay Jadhav’s latest released film ‘Tu Hi Re‘ also falls in this category. Starring Swwapnil Joshi, Sai Tamhankar & Tejaswini Pandit in the lead roles, this film is inspired by 2006 Tamil Film ‘Silunu Oru Kaadhal’. And, this has been officially declared by the filmmaker, in the credits, appearing at the end of the film.

In the beginning of the film, you find a young pretty woman Nandini (Sai Tamhankar) taking bath in a pond with beautiful surrounding . Actually, she is advertising for a popular talcum powder. A good thinking by the filmmaker. And, you soon realise that she is a typical village girl, on the lines of Bollywood films of 60s and 70s. She is more keen on love marriage; but, her parents fix her marriage with a young Engineer Siddharth (Swwapnil Joshi) son of their family friend. Soon, we come to know that it is a marriage against the wish of both these youngsters.

But, soon we see the shift , showing the same couple happily married after eight years and living with their little seven year old daughter Piyu( Mrunal Jadhav) in a posh Mumbai apartment. Looking at their behaviour, you feel as if they are just married. But, one fine day, Nandini receives a courier parcel containing some photos, revealing the past story of her husband and his so called affair with a beautiful girl Bhairavi( Tejaswini Pandit), who is the daughter of a wealthy Parliamentarian ( Dr.Girish Oak) , living in Pune. So, she verifies the facts from Siddharth’s friend( Sushant Shelar) and proceeds to Pune to meet that girl. On her return, she surprises her husband and what transpires, is what you notice in climax of this film.

With this limited story, director Sanjay Jadhav has tried to make this film interesting, with the help of good dialogues, finest locations, wonderful photography by Prasad Bhende, good music provided by the trio Pankaj Padghan, Amitraj and Shashank Powar .Though in the first half, he could not generate much interest in the screenplay, he has cleverly managed to hold his grip on the interesting happenings, which gives a different look, to this so called love triangle. All the three important artistes Swwapnil, Sai and Tejaswini have given their best. But, it is Tejaswini, who steals the show. Perhaps, for the first time, she has been used in such a glam filled role. She has not only impressed the audience with her performance; but, also with her striking looks, with those beautiful designer costumes.

There is a small drawback in this film, as care has not been taken to present the original Tamil story, to suit especially Marathi audience. Our Marathi audience will surely notice it. Nevertheless, ‘Tu Hi Re’ is a technically well presented film, almost on par with any big banner Hindi film, based on such a theme. If you have liked all the love stories of Yash Chopra, don’t miss this film, as the treatment given to the story is the same.

Rating: ★★★ ½
Studio/presenter: Aarbhat production
Producer: Vijay Waman Ganu
Director: Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni
Writer, Screenplay : Girish Pandurang Kulkarni
Music: Amit Trivedi
Director of Photography: Sudhakar Reddy
Editor: Paresh Kamdar
Genres: Road Movie, Drama
Censor: U/A
Duration: 105 Min.
Cast:  Girish Kulkarni, Huma Qureshi, Tisca Chopra, Satish Alekar, Renuka Shahane, Mukta Barve, Sunil Barve, Umesh Jagtap, Kishore Kadam, Nagraj Manjule, Vidyadhar Joshi

Over the years we have seen many ‘Road Movies’ in Hollywood and Bollywood  like ‘Something Wild’, ‘Five Easy Pieces’, Bombay To Goa’, Journey Bombay To Goa’,  ‘Road’, ‘Mr.& Mrs. Iyer’, ‘Jab We Met’, ‘Highway’ to name a few. All these movies were of  different genres.  Generally, in Road movies we expect, Auto race ,chase, adventure, horror , crime or comedy. Through a Marathi Road movie of the past, we saw Film maker Sachin Pilgaonkar presenting a Tourist Bus journey on a pilgrimage. And, it contained all the required happenings for entertaining the audience, during travel on the road.

Now, writer Girish Kulkarni and Director Umesh Kulkarni have offered a different type of entertainment, through their latest Marathi film ‘Highway- Ek Selfie Aarpaar’ which may be called a mix bag of journey. The writer and director have focussed their attention on the attitude and lifestyle of different type of people, from cross section of society; especially when they are travelling via road.

‘Highway’ begins with different people beginning their journey from Mumbai early evening, during daytime, taking different modes of transport and heading towards Pune. Among them is a couple travelling in their own car. Then, there is a TV actress, who is on her way to attend an event of a Political party in a private vehicle hired by an event manager, for the purpose. We also notice one NRI waiting at the airport for his private air conditioned vehicle to be taken to Pune to see his father for the last time. On the way, he is requested, much against his wish, to offer lift to an injured man and his wife.

Then, we also notice a Lavani performer travelling along with her aunt in a regular sharing taxi, with two co passengers. There is also a nagging wife who is a domestic servant, travelling along with her husband, who is jobless. Then, there is a woman belonging to so called high society, picking up a young masseur, to take along with her to Lonavala to massage her body. Likewise, there is a family travelling in a tempo along with their household goods, three suspicious looking people boarding a truck on their way to some unknown destination and a father travelling along with his little son in a State transport A/c bus.

All these people don’t know each other , but some of them meet each other, when the flow of traffic on the highway comes to standstill at Khandala Ghats, due to major mishap ahead. Usually, in a Road Movie, we notice happenings before the journey, during actual journey and at the end of the journey. `But, in this film, we see the film concluding during the journey break itself, as the writer and director wanted to pay attention on different characters. And, they have succeeded to a great extent. The idea of the film maker was clear. He perhaps wanted to brand this film as commercial film and hence two popular actresses from Bollywood were chosen.  They played  the roles of TV actress( Huma Qureshi)  and a rich woman (Tisca Chopra),respectively, to display their actual lifestyle. The youngster played by Shubham accompanying Tisca Chopra was to represent today’s youngsters, willing to do any  job, for good money.

Among the other characters, the character of Lavani performer played by Mukta Barve, was very natural. So, was the couple played by Sunil Barve and Vrishali Kulkarni. Both were perfect representation of a busy company manager and his demanding pregnant housewife. In the role of an event manager accompanying the TV actress, Shrikant Yadav generated  the required humour, through his Hindi mixed with Marathi, while conversing with his guest. Kishore kadam was wasted in this film, as he didn’t have to do much, except for listening to his nagging wife, played by Chaya Kadam, who had more than required scope, in this film.

Girish Kulkarni was very impressive in the role of NRI and he did well to speak Marathi with that typical foreign accent. The director however spent more than required time on Girish conversing with  Renuka Shahane, while her injured husband asleep, after taking a sedative. There is no doubt that the film maker wanted to show their emotions during conversation; but, it lasted a little longer. Instead, he could have had some more scenes, like the family in tempo serving milk less tea to stranded passengers. The film however,  concludes well, unveiling the  mystery of the bag carried by three suspicious passengers in a truck .  Good support also comes from Vidyadhar Joshi, Kishor Chougule, Mayur Khandge & others. There is not much scope for music in this film, except for background music. But, the sound design is good. Photography by Sudhakar Reddy, needs appreciation.

All in all, ‘Highway Ek Selfie Aarpaar’ is a good movie for a change, as besides a different theme in Marathi, tried for the first time, you get to see wonderful performances of all talented artistes.

Rating: ★★★ ½
Studio/presenter: Box Office, Love Production
Producer: Charmi Dinesh Gala
Director: Nishant Devidas Sapkale
Writer, Screenplay : Nishant Devidas Sapkale
Music: Samir Saptiskar, Kashi Richard
Director of Photography:  Udaysingh Mohite
Editor: Devendra Murudeshwar
Genres: Drama
Censor: U/A
Duration: 120 Min.
Cast:   Bhushan Pradhan, Manava Naik, Khursheed Lawyer, Ashwini Ekbote, Resham Tipnis, Jayant Savarkar, Anant Jog, Saksham Kulkarni, Jaywant Wadkar

Feature films are actually a good medium of education. Besides entertaining the audience, it is always better, if the film maker, delivers a social message skillfully, through his script. Marathi films are known for that and there are few Marathi film makers, who have succeeded in passing an effective social message, through their award winning films. Now, young film maker Nishant Sapkale has also made a sincere effort, through his debut Marathi film ‘Dhinchak Enterprise’, released this Friday.

The title of this film sounds funny, indicating that it would be a traditional comedy film. But, it is not so. Director Nishant, who has himself written the story of this film, has presented a sensible theme, inviting the attention of the audience, to cheating and frauds done by some people in the name of social work. The film has focused how the young marketing executives are used by some people involved  into fraudulent activities, for making big money.

Vishal Patil ( Bhushan Pradhan) is a young ambitious salesman, working for a health product company. Soon, he is joined by an equally hardworking fresher Meera Tandel ( Manava Naik), Being MBA (Marketing), she is required to take field training first, from Vishal. as a member of his group. Both fall in love with each other. But, one day, Vishal is sacked from the company, as he misses his important meeting with clients, in the process of helping a middle aged woman, who meets with a road accident. Vishal receives support from Meera and his other close friend Jignesh ( Khursheed Lawyer).

When Vishal, Meera & Khursheed meet at road side tea stall, the same evening, Vishal narrates them an idea of starting a marketing company. They succeed in this business, making huge profit of Rs. 8 Core at the end of first year. But, during one such meeting with a prospective donor, Vishal comes to know that the photograph published by the parent company, is that of a dead child, who has already passed away after succumbing to cancer. This happens on the same day, when Vishal is supposed to visit Meera’s house, to meet her parents, with a marriage proposal.Leaving aside his personal commitments, Vishal goes in search of other beneficiaries, whose photos appear in the folder published for the purpose. During his investigation, he discovers many more things. So, instead of lodging a police complaint, he shuts down his company and finds other way to expose this corruption. How, he does it, is all that the film goes on to show through its gripping screenplay in the second half. The film concludes in a different way, avoiding the predictable climax. And, this is the best part of this film.

Director Nishant, who is only 27 years old, has very skillfully handled this timely issue, delivering a social message. His selection of important characters, is very apt. Bhushan Pradhan has now become a very matured actor and he has proved it through the role of Vishal. He has been able to display his changing emotions very well, at different situations. Manva naik, who is a versatile actress, has played her role, with full responsibility. Khursheed lawyer, has tried his best to display good humour through his role of Vishal’s close and always helpful friend. But, Hindi actress Moon Moon Datta has been used as a show piece for adding glamour. Her limited role goes almost on the lines of Sushmita Sen in ‘Main Hoon Na’.

Good support comes from Meena Naik, who has played Vishal’s mother, Ashwini Ekbote, as Meera’s mother , Resham Tipnis, Jayant Savarkar, Anant Jog, Saksham Kulkarni, Jaywant Wadkar and others through their character roles. There are very few errors noticed in the screenplay; but, looking at the sincere effort of the film maker, they can be ignored. Uday Singh Mohite’s cinematography, Samir Saptiskar & kashi Richard’s music and Madhav Vijay’s most suitable background music, are the other plus points of this film.

‘Dhinchak Enterprise’ is a worth watch film, with a new subject, for all. It will certainly make you think, before donating blindly towards charity. ‘Always cross-check, whether the NGO is really involved in genuine work. Check the credentials. And, don’t just donate, only because, you are getting tax exemption’. is the valuable message this film has successfully passed on, to the intelligent Marathi audience.