Based on a renowned Marathi short story by G.A. Kulkarni and directed by Amol Palekar, Kairee – The Raw Mango stars Shilpa Navalkar, Yogita Deshmukh, Leena Bhagat, Vasant Aabaji Dhake, Nimish Kathale, Akshay Pendse, Atul Kulkarni and Mohan Gokhale with Sonali Kulkarni in a special appearance. The film has music by Bhaskar Chandavarkar.
KAIREE tells the story of a ten year old girl, who is brought to her maternal aunt Taani’s house due to the loss of her parents. Uprooted from a refined loving home and placed in an unknown world, she struggles to cope with hostilities at her new home as well as surroundings. Taanimausi livings a childless barren existence with a brute for a husband tries single handedly to persevere in the face of adversities and attempts to give her a secure and full life...something which Taani herself has been denied as a woman.
KAIREE gradually unfolds kaleidoscopic images of intimacy and bonding. Taanimausi helps the girl to create a world of their own... a world full of love beauty and hope, a world of sunshine, woods streams peacocks a sweet and sour world of raw mangoes! Together they face the unpleasantness and vulgarity of the man-made-adult-world, drawing courage and happiness from Nature!
However, this idyllic state does not last forever! Situtation at home takes a vicious turn. Taanimausi in order to protect the girl is forced to send her back to her maternal uncle. The girl travels back alone but she has with her the unforgettable memories of Taanimausi her simple wisdom, courage and infections laughter. It is this treasure, which helps the girl in her growing up, and inspires her to become a creative writer.
I have revealed the plot in its entirety because holding any part of it would not make sense, as the plot is a one liner. However what holds this movie is the simplistic story elevated with its screenplay, dialogue, performances and treatment from ace director Amol Palekar. Palekar has a penchant to pick up short stories and novels with that ethical touch and recreate them into dramatic wonders as he captures them on celluloid giving us a cinematic escapade.
On the performace end, late Mohan Gokhale as Taanimausi’s husband and Atul Kulkarni as the teacher excel in their limited appearance. Shilpa Navalkar as Taanimausi and little Yogita Deshmukh share a perfect chemistry which makes their performance look real. The two have carried the entire movie on their shoulders. On the whole the film is worth a watch.
Kairee on VCDs and DVD, at the MRP of Rs.149/- and Rs.299/- respectively, only on Ultra