Review: Thackeray
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Amrita Rao, Sandeep Khare, Pravin Tarde, Sanjay Narvekar, Chittaranjan Giri & others.
Director: Abhijit Panse

Quick Viewpoint: While there are tonnes of moral issues with what the film believes in & wants to communicate (or ends up communicating), on a cinematic level there are other bigger problems that affect the overall impact of the film.

What Works? 

• The entire craft of film making in the first half is of the highest order! Almost entirely black & white, ‘Thackeray’ takes us to the old Mumbai within few minutes! The absolutely brilliant camera work or the attention to detail in the production design or the work done on Makeup & costume all of it makes us lose ourselves in those times. Even if the narrative isn’t totally flawless, we hardly mind!
• There’s an absolute creative novelty at the display when we see Balasaheb’s newspaper cartoons come to life through Animation (yes in black & white)! For a moment we hope what if the entire run time the film had a similar sense of discovery while looking at the life of a political messiah!
• Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s performance & Chetan Shashital’s voice over both have gelled really well (as that was my personal concern). Chetan Shashital is probably India’s greatest voice-over artist & it’s a known fact that he can recreate Balasaheb’s voice pitch perfect!
• The casting of the film! Along with the main parts, even those cast in smaller roles leaves their impression. Sandeep Khare (the poet turned actor) as Manohar ‘Pant’ Joshi was a masterstroke!

What Fails? 

• Just as the film turns color in the second half it loses it’s cinematic fluidity & also the disassociation we feel with the protagonist grows.
• One might applaud the makers of this biopic, that they aren’t really whitewashing the acts of it’s subject but then because of that it unconsciously projects the subject as a contrasting political leader who only to his benefit commits social & political nuisance of tremendous proportion! For example; If ‘Hindutva’ is really that important to him, why doesn’t the film ever feel the need to justify this love, passion or obsession or whatever it is! Why don’t we really peep into his psyche? Or why don’t we really understand the origin of his principles?
• Even sparring all that, on a narrative level the whole screenplay is a mess with the most abrupt ending I have seen in a Marathi film in a long long time!
• Many colleges feel like straightforward advertorials for the political party that is behind the making of this film. Never do we get an actual sneak peek into the functioning (both financial & manual) of this huge political party that wins in the state elections for the first time by the end of the film.
• Also, the film does bore you a bit in the second half as we never manage to relate with the protagonist or feel anything for him or even against him.

Final Verdict: One needs to open one’s conscience & understand that after all this is just a film. So one can decide on their own that how much do you want the film to affect you? Both in an inspiring & in a depressing way!

Rating: 3/5

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Avadhoot Gupte has ruled on Marathi hearts for so many years now as a singer, composer and even film director! Now he is all set to add another dimension to his all-rounder abilities. He will soon be seen making his acting debut in Nishta Productions upcoming children film ‘Monkey Baat’!

Avadhoot Gupte says he had been offered acting roles long back when he starred in his own music videos, but he has always been reluctant about it as he thought it wasn’t his department! Even when Viju Mane (director of Monkey Baat) offered him a role he was reluctant but after listening to the story of the film he was excited to play the part!

The songs of the film and the dialogues of the film are written by Sandeep Khare and music is composed by Saleel Kulkarni. Presented by Akash Pendharkar, Vinod Satav, Abhay Thakur, Prasad Chavan, Shankar Konde and produced by Vivek D, Rasmi Karambelkar, Mandar Tillu and Viju Mane. ‘Monkey Baat’ is a treat for family audiences this summer holidays which releases on 18th May!

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• Movie : Monkey Baat (2018) | मंकी बात
• Producer : Vivek D., Rashmi Karambelkar, Mandar Tillu and Viju Mane
• Director : Viju Mane
• Studio : Nishtha Productions
• Star Cast :
  • Pushkar Shrotri
  • Bhargavi Chirmule
  • Nayan Jadhav
  • Mangesh Desai
  • Vijay Kadam
  • Avadhoot Gupte
• Story : Viju Mane
• Screenplay : Viju Mane and Mahendra Kadam
• Dialogues : Sandeep Khare and Viju Mane
• Lyrics : Sandeep Khare
• Singer : Shalmali Kholgade and Shubhankar Kulkarni
• Music : Dr. Saleel Kulkarni
• Background Music : Anurag Godbole
• Sound Design : Rohit Pradhan
• Cinematography (DOP) : Krishna Soren
• Editor : Satish Patil
• Art Director : Vasu Patil
• Choreography : Vitthal Patil
• Executive Producer : Atul Salve
• Creative Producer : Tejas Narkar
• Look Designer : Vidhyadar Bhatte
• Presenter : Aakash Pendharkar and Vinod Satav
• In Association With : Abhay Thakur, Prasad Chavan and Shankar Konde
• Team ProActive : Ahwini Teranikar and Kirti Mehendale
• Digital Co-Ordinator : Anup Gore (Digimagic Media)
• VFX Supervisor and DI : Yogesh Dixit
• Visual Promotion : Studio 108
• Genre : Children Drama
• Release Date : 18th May 2018

Synopsis : An enthusiastic kid Vayu, moves to Mumbai from his hometown Kolhapur but leaving his friends behind does not sit well with him. To overcome this, he resorts to monkey business so that his parents are forced to take him back, but God has other plans for him.

Monkey Baat Marathi Movie Poster/Photos :

Monkey Baat Marathi Movie Teaser/Trailer :

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• Review : Damlelya Babachi Kahani (2016)
• Producer : Vishal Dhanwade, Nitin Chavan
• Directer : Yogesh Jadhav & Nitin Chavan
• Star Cast : Sandeep Khare, Kishor Kadam, Sanskruti Balgude, Astad Kale, Dipti Bhagawat, Pravin Tarade, Jyoti Chandekar.
• Writer : Nitin Chavan
• Music : Salil Kulkarni
• Genre : Family Drama
• Certification : U
• Review By : Rasik Tirodkar

Rating : 2/5

Damlelya Babachi Kahani Marathi Movie Review:

This is one of those films that have a misleading title. The intention behind it is obvious. Damlela Babachi Kahani is a very popular song by the composer – lyricist pair of Salil Kulkarni and Sandeep Khare. The song about a father lamenting about how he is missing his daughter’s childhood due to the long distance he has to travel to work and that leaves him with no time at all to mingle with his daughter (Sanskruti Balgude), has touched the hearts of many. The title is an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the song. The film, in fact, is hardly about what the song is. It is more about female infanticide than anything else.

Ingulkar is a meek young man who is newly married and stays with his wife in the city. He has a rather bigoted and cruel mother who is hell bent on Ingulkar’s wife bearinga male child. She even insists on the killing of the foetus even if it is a female. Ingulkar astonishingly caves in to his mothers demand, but on seeing the ghastly process followed by the hospital of killing the foetus and feeding it to the dogs, Ingulkar realises his blunder and can’t forgive himself for almost going ahead with killing his own daughter even before she was born. That traumatic experience makes a permanent impression on his mind and leaves him with a kind of mental disorder. The disorder makes him violent whenever he sees a woman being harassed, and once in the spur of the moment he kills a man attempting to rape a woman. He is tried in court for the murder and the film reveals his past to us in a long flashback.

So, the film is hardly about what the song Damlela Baba is about. It tries to tackle the menace of female infanticide and adopts a rather preachy approach. The aesthetic of the film is old fashioned and comes across as one of those social marathi films from the 90s. The negative characters are all caricatures and are very unreal in a film that aims to realistically tackle a relevant subject. The film ends in an all too convenient manner which is also predictable.

Sandeep Khare who has played the lead role as Ingulkar does well here. That he is a lyricist and acting is not his area of expertise is quick forgotten. Scenes involving Kishore Kadam are engaging as well. There is hardly anything else that is either not cliched or heavy handed.

Overall:

The film misleads with its title and that is not it’s only negative aspect. Though it should be applauded for tackling a relevant subject like female infanticide, but caricatures, tv serial aesthetic and an all too convenient finale makes proves to be its downfall.

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Damlelya Babachi Kahani is arguably the most popular song by the lyricist-composer duo of Sandeep Khare and Salil Kulkarni. The song expressing the turmoil and the helplessness a Father feels towards missing being a part of his daughter’s childhood as he is busy working, invariably leaves people teary-eyed. The touching song wasn’t really released as a video when it was composed. But now it is part of a film by the name of the song itself.

The video of the song has Sandeep Khare, the lyricist, himself playing the damlela baba. Sandeep has worked in a marathi film called Bioscope before, so he has had acting experience and it shows that he is natural at expressing his own words. The song traces the journey of the father right from when his daughter was a baby to her wedding day. You can notice Sandeep’s hairline receding as the time passes by. The video otherwise has a very TV serial like aesthetic.

Nevertheless, a popular and vivid song like this deserved a video and it finally has one.

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Damlelya Babachi Kahani, a a debut film as an actor for poet Sandeep Khare will be releasing on 24 June all over Maharashtra. The film is directed by Nitin Chanvan and Yogesh Jadahv and the story is inspired by the poem of Khare with the same title. Interestingly, the film also stars Kishor Kadam, another poet who writes under the name Saumitra. Music has been composed by Dr Salil Kulkarni.

Sanskruti Balgude will be seen portraying role of Khare’s daughter in this film. The film also stars Praveen Tarade, Astad Kale, Deepti Bhagwat, Jyoti Chandekar, Kishor Chaugule and child artiste Shreya Pasalkar.

The story of the film revolves around a father and son relationship where they struggle against social taboos. The story –screenplay and dialogues are written by Nitin Chavan. The producers have announced that some part of this film’s earning will be donated to the drought affected farmers of Maharashtra.

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• Movie : Damlelya Babachi Kahani (दमलेल्या बाबाची कहाणी)
• Producer : Vishal Dhanwade, Nitin Chavan
• Director : Yogesh Jadhav & Nitin Chavan
• Studio : Palavi Creation
• Star Cast : Sandeep Khare, Kishor Kadam, Sanskruti Balgude, Astad Kale, Dipti Bhagawat, Pravin Tarade, Jyoti Chandekar.
• Story : Nitin Chavan
• Screenplay : Nitin Chavan
• Dialogues : Nitin Chavan
• Music : Salil Kulkarni
• Lyrics : Sandeep Khare
• DOP : Mayuresh Joshi
• Genre : Family Drama
• Release Date : 24th June 2016

Synopsis : An eternal bond between father and daughter is beautifully captured through the journey of Protagonist . The father (Sandeep Khare) has a mysterious past and is very possessive about his daughter (Sanskriti Balgude). He identifies his daughter in every troubled girl he witnesses and wants to protect her. The story explores the contemporary social issues of Women Empowerment, Child Abusing and Female Fetid through the journey of Protagonist.

Damlelya Babachi Kahani Marathi Movie Still Photos

Damlelya Babachi Kahani Marathi Movie Trailer

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Vishal Dhanawade produced “Damlelya Babachi Kahani” is ready for release on 24 June and the promotion for this film was started with the Maha Arati at the Sharda Ganpati at Pune. The promo and poster of this film was also launched at this event.

Sandeep Khare who will be seen in a very important role in this film was present at this event along with actress Dipti Bhagwat and Shreeya Pasalkar. The film has been directed by Nitin Chavan and Yogesh Jadhav.

The story of the film is based on the one-act play “Ojhe” which shows tender relationships of a father and daughter. The film will be releasing on 24 June all over Maharashtra. The makers are planning to release this film in US in the July. The film has been already selected in the international film festivals of Nashik and Goa.

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