Bucket list

"Bucket list"

Watched "Bucket list", a  Marathi movie with  friends and family on 25th May 2018. This was a special show organized by Maharashtra Mandal Abu Dhabi.

A middle class housewife undergoes heart transplant that gives her new life. She traces the donor,  a young free spirited girl, Sai. The housewife comes across the  bucket list of her doner and determines to fulfil it.

Film takes grip right from the word go. Audience is interested til interval. But it slows down after interval when there comes a song and Malaysia trip that has little relation with the story. However,  later on it re-acquires the grip.

Special mention should go to the casting of Shantanu Bhake for the movie. All the established actors make an appearance albeit the roles are not always major. All of them justify their characters.

Sumedh Mudgalkar makes an impression with his intense acting and good looks. This is Madhuri's first Marathi film. Her long overdue Marathi debut was eagerly awaited. She plays a housewife 10 years younger than her actual age. She delivers a decent performance but she needs to work on improving her Marathi diction.  Sumit Raghavan and Madhuri are a very good couple on screen. Surprisingly Vandana Gupte appears stiff.

There were some minor flaws of continuity and direction. But they can be ignored. One or of two songs was good. Cinematography sass good.

A new trend is visible now a days. That of blatant advertising. Movie scenes are  customized to promote products. In this movie these scenes appeared like  unwanted appendages. If you have to do blatant advertising at least blend it nicely in the story.

This movie is about self discovery. A housewife who's routine has become her life. She discovers herself through Sai's bucket list. However,  there is a threat that Madhuri's debut overshadows the substance.

It is good to see Marathi movies travelling off the beaten path and handling different subjects. Finally Marathi cinema has come out of the comedy cast

Special thanks to MMAD for bringing the movie to gulf and providing opportunity to watch and socialize. Madhuri's personalized video message to MMAD was enthusiastically applauded.

Recommend watching this movie.