Katyar Kaljat Ghusali

Let me confess at the outset that I was a bit, no, much skeptical about FILM 'Katyar Kaljat Ghusali'. Reasons were many. To start with, it is originally a musical, in drama format written many many years ago when we were young collegians when one has opinions on everything under the sun,  justifiable or not. And 'Katyar' was a huge success then, [why it still is an enigma even today.] so it was  THE play of OUR youth . So far all filmed dramas in Marathi have not lost their theatrical format thus remained just that ' Filmed drama' with all its shortcoming, constraint of space, loud melodramatic acting, in simple words overacting, as close ups were not available, it was for last bench-er to appreciate the correct expression, so on and so fore. 

Second big negative  for me was Sachin Pilgaonkar. No doubt he is a stalwart having acted in all performing media for more than 5 decades, but in last few years he has become too loud , too taking patrons for granted. He had become 'Maha Guru' and it showed in every move , every gesture, every utterance of his. If you become 'Know all', well you come down a step or two as an artist.

Musical dramas have always been a social signature for Marathi upper crust of the society. It never was for those who visited theater for ' Lochya Zala Re' or 'Sahi Re Sahi.' In movie lingo it was not for those who related with ' Time Pass' or 'Dagadi Chawl' So I was doubtful, whether the director - producer duo has stooped low and diluted the entire thing for every class of Marathi cine-goer, to throng to the cinema halls to solve the financial equation. 

Well, I am happy to say that none came true, for me at least.

First. It's not a filmed drama. And that is a big big triumph in it's own way. Script is so tight that a musical with so many songs, few retained from old and few added afresh, running for more than two and half hours, never allows you to blink even for a moment. Screen is  aflame with passion, emotion and terse skirmishes all the time. You, just don't get a chance to move in your seat  uneasily with slightest boredom or even a flippant yawn is not allowed to escape clandestinely. Not that, you are on the edge of the seat all the time but you become so much part of the screen that you may never know that you may really stand up with huge applause for perfect melodious rendition given by Shankar Mahadevan, mind you for a CINEMA SCREEN, [ I myself felt like doing it so many a time ] and that's is the true criterion for good script. 

Musical of course means songs. And that's a huge plus. Old ones from the original were of course treat to the ears but new ones too blend with the scene so effortlessly that it becomes impossible to sort out the two. Shankar Mahadevan with his prodigal son Shiv Mahadevan literally set your ears to the fire. 

Performances. Hats off to Subodh Bhave for extracting such extra ordinary performances from every actor. Sachin cleared all my doubts. He has given such a nuanced performance that he is worth for his title, veteran ! Revelation was Shankar Mahadevan. A south Indian in real life, speaking chaste Marathi without any signs of naivety gives such a solid performance that you just forget that it's his first ! The role fits him like a glove and raises no questions for his selection.

Hats off to Subodh Bhave THE captain of the ship , first for taking such a huge risk and second, for carrying it out with what a  huge poise. Successfully!

Go, what are you waiting for, throng the nearest movie hall. And for non Marathis it has subtitles in English !