Apr 06, 2009 04:43 PM
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(Updated Apr 06, 2009 04:58 PM)
"Me Shivaji Raje Bhonsle Boltoy!" - The name of the movie itself is so inspiring to Maharastrians that this movie is bound to generate tremendous curiosity among the masses. Raja Shivaji has such a place in every Maharashtrian's heart that getting a chance to watch a movie on him is a treat.
We got a chance to watch this movie finally on Sunday night. The movie deals with the subject of Maharashtrians and their present place in social, economical hirarchy IN Maharashtra.
It begins with introducing us to one, Mr. Dinkar Bhonsle(Sachin Khedekar) who works for a Bank in the Nariman Point of Mumbai. Mr. Bhonsle is a typical Maharashtrian who goes about his life in an unassuming manner, making sure he is always aware of his financial limitations while taking any decision. Be it getting his son an admission in an Engineering college, buying himself a Shirt or even while buying Fish!
He lives in his ancestral home which happens to be in a prime locality of Mumbai. Builder Ghosalia approaches him with an offer to buy his home. The builder offers him a luxurious bunglow in BAdlapur, a car and 50 lacs. Alas, Bhonsle declines the offer.
Why? Because Mr. Bhonsle is proud of his ancestral home, and does not want to move to a distant place. He is ridiculed by his wife for being impractical. Ghosalia tries to get the property vacated by other means(using goons to threaten Bhonsle, getting BMC to cut his water supply for a week!)
During all this, Bhonsle is contantly insulted, ridiculed and belittled by everyone around him as a "Ghati". Ghati means someone who lives away from the sea shore.
One fine day, he can't take it anymore. So he goes to a bar and gets himself drunk to forget his miseries. After coming home, he tries to go to sleep, but his thoughts keep haunting him in his dreams.
At this time the movie has a monologue by Bhonsle where he talks about the plight of the Marathi Manoos, how he is insulted by non Maharashtrians in his very own state. He says today, Marathi Manoos has been reduced to a non entity because of people of other states grabbing opportunities in almost every profession, be it government jobs, private sector, hotelling industry, real estate etc. The actore Sachin Khedekar has done extremely well in this scene.
He conveys the agony of a Maharashtrian very well. This scene has a great visual effect since Bhonsle is shown wearing a traditional Maharashtrian attire and is seen talking to the statues of Tilak, Agarkar, Ambedkar, Sawarkar.
This is when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj(Mahesh Manjrekar) enters his life. Raja Shivaji inspires Bhonsle to assert his identity and to remember that nothing is impossible.
The King reminds him that nobody has stopped people from Maharashtra to get into professions which are being grabbed by people from other states.He says people of other states have used opportunities in various career options in Maharashtra and have done well because of their hard work and merit.
Here a very balanced and fair view has been presented by the writer of this movie. The writer has avoided blaming people from other state for the current situation of Maharashtrians.
Thats where they score high marks. There is a fine line between rhetoric and inspiration and thankfully the writer has opted for the later.
*Mr. Raj Thakrey, are you listening?
*Rest of the plot is too predictable to be written down here.
Manjrekar as Chhatrapati Shivaji MAharaj excels in this title role. His features are very close to the image we have of our great King.
Sachin Khedekar has expressed the transformation of a timid, insignificant middle class man into someone who is self assured, confident and a go getter.
He has done a great job in both avatars of a Maharashtrian.
Supporting castis good enough.
Music has been composed by Atul and Samir. The song "O Raje" sung by Sukhwinder Singh is very inspiring!
Sanjay Pawar and Mahesh Manjrekar's Dialogueswork wonders on the the audience. During the entire length of the film, the theater was reverberated with slogans of "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jay!" and "Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji!"
Cinematography is great in this movie. The scenes involving Raja Shivaji have been shot with great light effects. The entry sequence of Raja Shivaji is simply breath taking.
One can say Marathi film industry has come a long way since the days of Laxmikant Berde and Ashok Saraf's comedy movies. These days Marathi movies have great production values.
Go watch this movie if you want a change from run of the mill Bollywood stuff(AND if you understand Marathi, of course).
The movie is sure to appeal to all Maharashtrians since it has two ingredients that are dearest to Maharashtrians, which are 1. Our King, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and 2. Insecurity about being left out of Maharashtra's economic rise.
P.S: I wonder if this movie has been "inspired" by Lage Raho Munnabhai. Both movies have a historical character transforming a person into someone totally different that what he is. Both movies use the historical character which is closest to the majority of the target audience. Both are feel good movies. Both tell us how teachings of the historical personalities we look up to are still relevant in today’s times. What do you all think?
