A ‘slow-mo’ thriller designed to show that joyous celebrations can be the backdrop for emotional upheavals and criminal intent!
The actors are extremely competent and elevate the film. Veteran Kishor Kadam as Bhivaba, the Gondhali, is impactful in his subdued yet simmering character. Debutant Ishita Deshmukh acts like a seasoned performer—she is brilliant as the reckless, not-at-all guileless girl who will do anything for love even after marriage—even planning to use a man who loves her to kill her husband so that she can elope with her actual lover.
Yogesh Sohoni as Ananda is portrayed as a simpleton who undergoes a dramatic metamorphosis after a revelation from his blind grandmother (Rukmini Sutar). Nishad Bhoir as Sarjerao is correctly rakish, and his father, Suresh Vishwakarma, brings out menace effortlessly. Anuj Prabhu, as Sahebrao, has little footage but does well. So does Dhruv Thoke as Vishnu, Bhivaba’s grandson.
Davakhar has handled multiple departments here, even arranging and writing the lyrics for the Gondhal ceremony itself, and his overall command deserves appreciation, especially for a man who has never attempted a feature film before. His choice of songs and music is impeccable, and South legend Ilaiyaraaja has composed the ‘mood’ background score with effortless and exemplary skill. His songs, too, are well composed and filmed effectively, and though Chandana and Malhari do have more than a whiff of a Southern tenor in their phrasing, they work well and are immaculately orchestrated with the perfect regional flavor.
Overall, the film makes for a very unusual, placidly moving thriller in a very unique setting, and with nothing out of place, one must watch it for its many pluses. As an Oscar-nominated film, it is special anyway.
Santosh Davakhar’s script is tight, layered, and intriguing. The pace slows down in the first 30 minutes, but maybe that was necessary. His dialogues are sharp, laconic, or witty as needed.
There is no real message, other than projecting for the umpteenth time that a woman has no say in her own life, and neither, for that matter, does a man—Sarjerao, until he revolts in an extreme manner, must also bow down to his dominating father’s wishes.
But what comes across clearly in this plotline is that human beings’ feelings cannot be suppressed by religious festivities or even the sacred bond of marriage. If on the one hand, a religious celebration is happening after a wedding, the men and women involved, even a respected performer and his grandson, are plotting ungodly acts out of various motivations.
Davakhar seems to have tailored this film exclusively for critical acclaim, though commercial success (also his aim) could not be attained. This fine-tuned balance has always been elusive, mastered only in very select films over decades in cinema in all Indian languages.
A Layered Thriller With Strong Performances & An Intriguing Story.
Star Cast: Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Suresh Vishwakarma, Nishad Bhoir, Anuj Prabhu, Vitthal Kale
Director: Santosh Davakhar
RATINGS : 4/5
PRO : D’one
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