Girlfriend movie(Marathi) Review

#MovieReview
#Girlfriend
#Marathi

A Not-so-complicated yet unusual story.It has a basic formula of boy-next-door who is single and (unfortunately) his birthday falls on Valentines Day.His friends tease him to get a girlfriend, suggests him to do something atleast this birthday! His parents gift him a marriage bureau form. Brother gives him a condom packet gift wrapped nicely and asks him to utilize it this year!! So, overall, Nachiket(Amey Wagh) is frustrated, irritated and challenges himself in the mirror that 'मी girlfriend पटवणार!'.

How Nachiket finds his 'Girlfriend', will she accept his 'loveship' is the entire story with sweet little twists and ultimately leading to a Happy Ending!

 As mentioned earlier, the story line is simple. And when this is the case,its a challenge for director as it must engage the audience throughout those 2, two n half hours without losing the pace.That speed should be maintained till the last scene. Otherwise, we get bored and lose the connect with the entire movie!And here is the real crux of 'Girlfriend'. Not a single scene feels like unnecessarily adjusted. We are on a journey with Nachiket and his 'girlfriend' and unknowingly we get involved in the story. It reminded me of Rajkumar Hirani's movies like Munnabhai series, 3 idiots etc. Director Upendra Sidhaye has succeeded fully in engaging the audience.

Now coming to acting part, Amey Wagh is as usual effortless. His Nachiket is completely convincing. Saee Tamhankar  does not have much serious dialogues or something which will explain her character 'Alisha/Payal'. But she acts more with her eyes and body language through which we can guage what kind of person she is! I liked her in this movie after सनई चौघडे '.She has come out of her Duniyadari, Pyaar wali love story kind characters and done something different!!Supporting cast is also utilized nicely. Kavita Lad and Yatin Karyekar have small yet effective roles.After these seasoned actors,a must mention supporting role is of Suyog Gorhe annd Sagar Deshmukh.Whatever screen time they are given, they definitely make an impact.

All in all, 'Girlfriend' will be a good option to watch with family, friends and make your mood light.

P. S. : Two things I noticed which might be my personal view but would like to mention:
1.Social approval has become way too important in our life.Nobody wishes Nachiket on fb (with some 200 or 300 friends) or whatsapp, he is unhappy! When he declares his relationship on social media, he gets comments on fb, 25 missed calls, messages on whatsapp. He feels soo proud!! And he has only 2 friends in real!All the struggle is for that social recognition which is virtual and has no significance in real life!!
2.How an ideal family should be is beautifully portrayed in the movie. May it be younger brother gifting condom to the elder one in front of his father and father smiling silently behind news paper!Or After finding about his girlfriend, Nachiket's brother jokes with father, 'बाबा, दादाचे shake hand करायचे दिवस संपले.'When you are comfortable at this level, you can discuss any issues with parents which can solve all those problems arised usually because of lack of communication at home!

Article 15 Review

#MovieReview
#Article15

Article 15 (1) and (2) prohibit the state from discriminating any citizen on ground of any religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.

Theme of the movie is based on the above 2 lines.Many will not be able to relate with it,rather,many will feel where the hell does this happen these days?No body discriminates on the grounds of caste!But if we go into interior of India,in the villages,small towns,caste discrimination is still there to be seen.

A sophisticated Officer Ayan Ranjan(Ayushmann Khurrana) is posted in a small village of UP.He is shocked to see how person to person is differentiated on the basis of caste.And everyone is OK with it.No one feels offended!His first case is of three girls of which two are raped and hanged and third is still missing.And other staff of his police station does not find any big deal in it.They are trying to convince him how the case is just another,a simple open & shut kind.One of his subordinates tells him,"Sir Aap to transfer leke chale jaoge,humein to yahi rehna hai!!"Everyone is so much used to the system that no crime is big for them and that too of a lower caste,they do not even bother to file a FIR!!

How Ayan solves the case,how he is being removed from it at the peak of his search,still he manages to find the culprit and in this entire process he comes across many horrible truths which he was unawre of.And ,at the same time,it forces the audience to think from the other side as well.How the weak is suppressed,how their voice is unheard,basically they are not given any importance.
Manoj Pahwa will be seen playing an altogether different role which will surprise audience.But,as usual,he is brilliant in his job!Zeeshan Ayyub Khan has a small yet effective part.He is effortless in his role.Sayani Gupta says it all with her eyes.She is very much convincing in her character.Kumud MIshra has done fabulous job!In fact,all the supporting roles have pulled the movie well more than the lead actor.Ayushmann Khurrana is,of course,the best.But,Looking at his previous record,he plays any character brilliantly but this time he disappoints a little.He could have portryaed it more strongly but he did not!That agression ,fierce look is missing somewhere.But still he is commendable!
It is not possible to wrap this movie's review in a page or two!It has many layers to every scene,every character.All of the characters has their own perspective and one can study it from different point of views.Bottom line is,Article 15 will unmask the harsh reality of our society,brutal things happening around us but sometimes we are unaware of it ,many times we don't want to face it or conveniently ignore it.

In a scene,a man is lowered into a manhole which is full of filth!No dialogues,no expressions but that scene haunts us for pretty long time.The cruel reality is flashed in those few seconds!when Ayushmaan Khuranna raises questions on this discrimination,caste hierarchy,like why it all is needed?One of his subordinates says,"Hamar maai kehti thi Sir,sabhi ek saman ho gaye to raja koun banega?"Answer is ,"Raja chahiye hi kyun!" Or "Fark bohot kar liya,Ab fark layenge!!"

Last but not the least ,"मै और तुम इन्हे दिखाई ही नही देते… हम कभी हरिजन हो जाते है, कभी बहुजन हो जाते हैं बस जन नही बन पा रहे हैं… के जन गण मन मे हमारी भी गिनती हो जाये!"And when this dialogue comes from Zeeshan Ayub Khan ,it penetrates your heart and mind!!