Pawan Khind (पावन खिंड)

​"Pawan Khind (पावन खिंड)".

Watched Marathi movie "Pawan Khind (पावन खिंड)". 

This movie is directed by Digpal Lanjekar. Written by Digpal Lanjekar. Produced by Ajay Arekar, Aniruddha Arekar, Bhausaheb Arekar. It stars Ajay Parkar, Chinmay Mandlekar, Mrinal Kulkarni, Ankit Mohan, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Ruchi Savarn, Prajakta Mali, Assad Kale, Harish Dudhade, Vaibhav Mangle. Music by Devdutta Manisha Baji. Cinematography by Amol Gole. Film runs for about 2 hour and 33 minutes and was released in 2022. I watched in theater with Aditi on 27th Mar 2022. This movie was organized by Maharashtra Mandal Abu Dhabi (MMAD). 

MMAD arranged entry of real characters dressed as Shivaji and his entourage. This had a positive impact and helped in marketing a conducive atmosphere. 

Ajay Purkar plays Bajiprabhu Deshpande. His real role starts in last 45 minutes of the film. Chinmay plays Shivaji maharaj. Unlike previous two movies he plays active rather than contemplative Shivaji. Mrinal plays Jijabai and doesn’t look like one. Sameer plays Siddi Johar. He has taken a lisp for this role. But the makeup artist fumbles. His face is made black but hands remain fair. Astad Kale plays Siddi Masud. His makeup is excellent. You don’t recognize him easily. Ankit plays Rayajirao Bandal. He gives a good performance and shows off his physique. Prajakta is wasted as Bhavanibai Bandal. Don’t know why she accepted the role. Kshiti Jog impresses with the cameo of Badi Begum

Story happens in flashback, narrated by Shivaji to Sambhaji. To make an entire film about the battle of Pavan Khind is a  challenge. Director takes entire first half to create background and to come to the moment of Shivaji Maharaj, Bajiprabhu Deshpande and the entourage’s departure for Vishalgad. The real battle of Pawankhind happens in last three quarters of the hour. That is the real movie. In short the movie doesn’t have balance. It’s skewed. 

Direction is disappointing. It’s shoddy at best. Why director resorts to melodrama about niranjan and bhakri? War scenes are sparsely populated like previous movie. The battle of Pawankhid appears more like a skirmish than battle. However night scenes are very well shot. They have also found a very good look alike of Chinmay. 

Length of the movie should have been an hour shorter, that would have given more weightage to the battle of Pavankhind and Bajiprabhu Deshpande’s last stand. 

Bajiprabhu is not called Deshpande even once. I really don’t understand this obsession. 

Positives: History

Negatives: Direction

Not a must watch.