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Dharmaveer 2 review: The film is more like an election pitch

September 28, 2024 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

Filmmaker Pravin Vitthal Tarde’s Dharmaveer: Mukkam Post Thane (2022), the first film in the series, spoke about the rise and the greatness of the late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe, who was from Thane. The film was a good biopic that also worked as a commercial entertainer with a fine act from Prasad Oak as Dighe.

As the protagonist passes away at the end of the first film, one wondered what the film’s sequel, Dharmaveer: Mukkam Post Thane 2, would have in store. As it turns out, the movie is nothing but a 157-minute long campaign for the upcoming assembly polls in Mahahrashtra.

The narrative of Dharmaveer 2 runs two tracks parallel. One is based in 2022 when Eknath Shinde (Kshitish Date) is a minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. The film starts off with the real incident of a gruesome lynching of two sadhus in Palghar. Shinde, along with a number of other MLAs, is disappointed with the way his government has handled this and various other issues in the state.

As Shinde and others wonder what to do next, they recall the life and incidents of their late hero Anand Dighe and how he used to solve various issues in his own way. Hence, the other track is the flashback featuring Dighe.

Right from the initial moments of the film, it becomes clear that this is a sequel made just for the sake of it. This keeps getting confirmed as the film starts moving ahead. The main aim of the narrative is to show Uddhav Thackeray’s then MVA government in a bad light. There are various potshots taken at him and their allies Congress and NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) without taking names.

Once the film moves into the second half, the narrative slowly makes Shinde as the central figure. For example, during the deadly second COVID wave, it is shown that Shinde and his aides alone were responsible for the lack of oxygen cylinders not becoming a problem in the state.

Similarly, the movie touches upon various aspects that would appease their target audience. Right from the utterance of the word ‘Bhagva’ every now and then to featuring scenes based around the staging of plays on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Nathuram Godse. In fact, in one scene it is also said that Hindi films are responsible for showing Hinduism in bad light. These are just a few examples.

From the few plusses, Tarde has shown that he knows the art of turning a simple scene in a whistle-worthy moment. But the biggest plusses here are the performances of Prasad Oak and Kshitish Date. Oak continues from where he left in the first film. He once again displays fear and switches onto compassion in a second in an effortless manner. Date gets ample scope this time and he succeeds in portraying the inner turmoil of Shinde, whether it’s through his body language or voice. The rest of the actors have cameos or extended cameos.  

But these points easily get overshadowed by the minuses. Surprisingly, the makers indirectly announce the third part of the series in the end.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Director: Pravin Vitthal Tarde

Producers: Sahil Motion Arts and Zee Studios

Cast: Prasad Oak, Kshitish Date

Also Read: Navra Maza Navsacha 2 review: Thoroughly entertaining surprise of the year

Filed Under: Marathi movies Tagged With: 2024 Maharashtra Election, Dharmaveer 2 Movie Review, Dharmaveer 2 Review, Dharmaveer 2 Story, Kshitish Date, Marathi Cinema, Politics, Prasad Oak

Navra Maza Navsacha 2 review: Thoroughly entertaining surprise of the year

September 22, 2024 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

It is quite common for movies to not live up to its exciting trailer. It is extremely rare for the opposite to happen. Sachin Pilgaonkar’s Navra Maza Navsacha 2 is that rare film that turns out to be many times better than its trailer. In other words, the film’s promo was misleading, but in a good way.

Navra Maza Navsacha 2 is the sequel to the iconic and successful Navra Maza Navsacha (2004), which starred Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar in lead roles. The film ended with Vakratund aka Vacky (Sachin) somehow managing to fulfill his late father’s vow of visiting the Ganesh temple in Ganpatipule naked. He was pushed for the same by his wife Bhakti (Supriya). The couple also earns Rs. 8 crores as they help the police nab the criminal Babu Kalia (Pradeep Patwardhan).

Hence, in the second part Navra Maza Navsacha 2, Vacky and Bhakti are leading a comfortable life. Their daughter Shraddha (Hemal Ingle) has grown up. She is in love with Lambodar aka Lamby (Swapnil Joshi). Due to certain circumstances, this time Shraddha vows to get Lamby visit Ganpatipule temple naked along with other difficult conditions. Lamby somehow agrees and the four of them set out to for the trip through train.

Navra Maza Navsacha 2 pretty much follows the same template as its predecessor with the ST bus being replaced by train and Ashok Saraf’s character being the ticket collector (TC) instead of the conductor. However, the characters and their funny mannerisms and the overall jokes and gigs are quite fresh and genuinely funny. In fact, barring some emotional moments, which were necessary, the movie is a complete laugh riot where even little things play a big role in getting you in splits.

Navra Maza Navsacha 2

Unlike the first film, the journey in the second one starts in the second half. The first half has some major conflict and drama. This takes you by surprise because none of this is shown in the trailer.

Navra Maza Navsacha 2 brings back the nostalgia of the first film. But it is shot and presented like a film of today’s times. The balance is well maintained. The music falls in the decent category with ‘Dumroo Vaje’ turning out to be memorable.

Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar have carried on from where they left in the first film, bringing the same energy. Swapnil Joshi, despite his age, fits the character of a bachelor and succeeds in bringing Lamby alive. Hemal Ingle also performs well among the stalwarts. Like the first film, Ashok Saraf takes the cake despite arriving late. His act is not only funny but also moving.

The film has cameos and extended cameos from Siddharth Jadhav, Nirmiti Sawant, Jaywant Wadkar, Vijay Patkar, Vaibhav Mangle, Sonu Nigam, Ali Asgar, Johnny Lever, Shriya Pilgaonkar, among others.

Like the first film, there are a lot of creative liberties taken. But the major issue with the film is its timeline. The first movie ends in 2004. Considering Vacky and Bhakti had a kid right after the story’s completion, Shraddha would have been born in 2005. So her age should be 19. But there is no mention that she is very young and it’s difficult to believe that a modern girl like her decides to marry at such a young age in today’s times.

Vijay Patkar’s character is continued from the first film. But Nirmiti Sawant, who was Vacky’s aunt in the first movie, is now shown as Lambodar’s mother. At one point Ashok Saraf’s character is said to be the same from the first film. But then, Vacky and Bhakti never seem to recognize him. The same goes for a few other characters too.

But overall, Navra Maza Navsacha 2 is a thoroughly entertaining surprise of the year. And if you are a believer in Ganpati, you are in for a treat.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Director: Sachin Pilgaonkar

Producer: Sachin Pilgaonkar

Writer: Sachin Pilgaonkar

Cast: Sachin Pilgaonkar, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Swapnil Joshi, Hemal Ingle, Ashok Saraf

Also Read: Ashok Saraf on Lifeline, “More than the length, the strength of the character is important”

Filed Under: Marathi movies Tagged With: Ashok Saraf, Marathi Cinema, Marathi movie review, Navra Maza Navsacha 2 Review, Navra Maza Navsacha Sequel Review, Navra Maza Navsacha Story, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Swapnil Joshi

Ashok Saraf on Lifeline, “More than the length, the strength of the character is important”

July 19, 2024 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

Veteran legend Ashok Saraf will next be seen in the Marathi film Lifeline. The movie is a social drama with the theme of superstition vs science. Directed by the first timer Saahil Shirwaikar, it will see a tussle between a surgeon, played by Saraf, and a Hindu priest specializing on last rites, essayed by another veteran Madhav Abhyankar.

During the trailer launch of Lifeline last evening, Saraf expressed his happiness at being offered a role in a film with such a subject. He said, “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Saahil Shirwaikar and his father Rajesh Shirwaikar (writer) for choosing such a subject. Till now, nobody even thought about this message that is in the interest of the society. People will understand that importance of doctors (from this film) and their point of view on doctors will change.”

Adding more about the subject, Saraf added, “Blind faith and science are poles apart. They can’t come together. But that conflict has been handled in such a beautiful way in this film that it will stay in the hearts of the audience.”

Saraf also revealed that his screen-time in the film isn’t large but that’s not a concern for him. “My role is very important,” he said. “Its length is less (but) the role has a lot of weightage. So, apart from my role, what else happened in the shoot, I am not aware. But I knew the story. When he (Saahil) narrated it to me, I instantly said yes. The length of the role is not a problem for me. The strength of the role is more important. What I will show through my role and how much it will impact the audience is important for me.”

During the course of the discussion, Saraf was asked the reason for trusting a newcomer like Saahil Shirwaikar and instantly agreeing to do his film. He said, “I felt the one who takes up such a theme with so much confidence, he must have done a lot of study on it. My only criteria were whether I will get to do something different, which I am always searching. I found that in this role. Once I get such a role, I don’t think about its length.”

Lifeline also stars Jaywant Wadkar, Bharat Dabholkar, Hemangi Kavi, Sharmila Shinde, among others. Produced by Crescendo Entertainment, the movie is all set to release in theatres on August 2.

Also read: Paradise (English-Sinhala-Malayalam) review: Provides a gradual hard-hitting jolt

Filed Under: Marathi movies Tagged With: Ashok Saraf, Ashok Saraf Interview, Lifeline Marathi Movie, Lifeline Movie, Madhav Abhyankar, Marathi Cinema, Marathi movies

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