Marathi movies have certainly emerged as one of the most progressive and worth applauding stream of Indian cinema made in regional languages in the last two decades. And BAAPJANMA continues the welcome trend with an upgraded, light-hearted take on the otherwise serious theme of terminal illness, which amazingly also happens to be the debut film of its writer-director Nipun Dharmadhikari.
Straight away beginning from a death scene and then taking you back in time a month earlier, it doesn’t waste any time on usual introductions and does that in one scene alone in a well written dialogue. But here would like to share why I remembered Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Rajesh Khanna’s ANAND in its opening sequence in the doctor’s clinic.
Looking at the hesitant doctor, the lead character asks, “I know I have brain cancer, but just let me know how much time do I have…….. and no chemo…… I love my hair?”
“Well, without chemotherapy…….. I would say may be one year” says the doctor.
“One Year……I thought I would have much lesser, Thank You so much” comes the answer and that readily made be remember Anand in a split of a second.
But it doesn’t end here.
Listening to the reply, the doctor surprisingly says, “But you can live longer!”
“For whom?” comes the answer again and that’s how BAAPJANMA begins bringing a big smile on your face so effortlessly.
Now if this opening scene doesn’t convince you to go for it at the earliest then let me reveal that the lead character here happens to be a retired RAW agent having lived a highly adventurous life. His wife is no more and he lives alone with a dependable male friend-cum-servant and a pet dog Tiger with a matured son and a daughter living separately in different cities with their own families following their individual dreams.
Thinking about his strained or not so loving relationship with his kids and fed up of a routine life, the father thinks of a strange plan before he actually dies with the help of his close associate. Now the first half of the film is about his setting up the unbelievable plan and the second half deals with the execution bringing in the results. However despite revolving around death, the treatment remains light and mostly humorous with many entertaining situations focusing on the family members and old neighbourhood friends.
Frankly would not like to reveal anything else about the film and would also suggest not reading about the same at any other portal too. But what certainly has to be mentioned further is that film not only excels in its basic theme and innovative story idea but also has a well composed background score along with a fine cinematography and editing. Besides its lead role has been flawlessly played the veteran Sachin Khedekar and the supporting cast has all impressive acts by Pushkaraj Chirputkar, Sharvari Lohokare, Satyajeet Patwardhan, Madhav Vaze and Akash Khurana.
However, there happens to be one important condition for watching the film and that’s allowing it the demanding creative freedom and believing in its proceedings without any logical disbelief (especially in the first half). And once you allow it to have that creative liberty, you are sure going to enjoy it a lot along with getting much to think about your own family members and the important mutual relationships.
In addition, the film might have an underwhelming climax beginning from such a brilliant high leaving you in a bit unsatisfied mode. But it will surely make you think and force you to go for some immediate changes too in your personal outlook towards life and people around.
So go for it at the earliest and have a good time watching an enlightening family drama reminding you of the most certain truth of existence i.e. our own DEATH.
Rating : 3.5 + 0.5 / 5 (with an additional 0.5 for being the reminder of our own end which is sure to be here sooner or later.)
(Note: The film can now be seen on Amazon Prime Video portal with English Subtitles for a subscription.)
