Ok, I admit. I am a maharashtrian and I have not seen many Marathi movies for a long time. I also admit that I am clueless about the way the Marathi movie industry is doing. With this backgroudn when I went to see Huppa Huiya, it was indeed a super Joy and this movie has brought me back to the theatres to watch marathi movies and the joy which I used to experience when I was kid several years ago.
Story:
It is not a novel concept, it is about rural Maharashtra the various issues, corrupt politicians, local goons, a honest and slightly gullible hero, and a message that only God himself can set things right in this Kalayuga. The strength is the way it has been told. Every scene is in some sense a continuation which keeps audiences glued. Right from the first scene of people protesting for inability of the government to solve the water crisis till the last scene of God himself having to intervene, various episodes intertwined in between tend to make it a interesting and likeable affair.
Acting:
The characters are defined well within the story and no one overacts. Memorable characters which I remembered very distinctly after the movie: The Failed Actor, Usha Nadkarni, The goon, Mohan Joshi, and Siddharth ofcourse. I particularly liked the failed actors character depicting the talent available in rural Maharashtra but lack of opportunity and futile promises leading to death of aspirations. It is an important message to be told and retold for authorities and even audiences to appreciate and do something rather than succumbing to the situation. Usha Nadkarni as the Oracle does her task exceptionally well. Mohan Joshi as the elder of the village not afraid of the local goon and depicting strong sense of leadership when confronted with the “Tamasha” spat does justice to the character of many a Maratha “Patil’s” of villages across Maharashtra. I can imagine when this movie is played that some people in villages may actually identify him as a sensible and ideal sarpanch. The villain, the local goon, I am forgetting his name has also played his part very well. It is just that he appears a little lost in the last scene when he is unable to play his emotions well on the travesty of his daughter being at the death bed and so is Siddharth’s girlfriend whose death he has caused. I felt that he could have managed to emote it slightly differently. Siddharth has played his character brilliantly. His mannerisms to a large extent depict more than 80% of rural Maharashtrian youth. He is likeable. On the acting front, he stays within the character, I only thought that had he been a little more sophisticated, it would have been a ape quotient with more and more youths wanting to be like him. I am not sure how it would have jelled with the whole story but I guess that could be one weak area.
Strengths:
The director is brilliant in detailing. Not even at a single instance did I notice anything amiss like Siddharth wearing Reebok shoes etc. I feel that is the biggest strength of this movie. The cinematography, picturization of songs, especially the coverage of all Bhagwan Maruti’s takes audiences on a virtual pilgrimage and that is a high point. All characters are explained very well and play their part with true honesty. Although I am not a Item Song fan but there are enough statistics to believe that it does work well. In that sense the song by Kashemera Shah has been done well.
Final Thoughts:
The movie is an entertainer. It has all the right ingredients. The story has been told well and has strong message that when too much wrong happens than God himself will have to intervene to set this right. I loved the movie.
Highly recommended and perfect to take your entire family.