Dr. Vijay Athalye

*Review of movie Meiyazhagan* Frankly I didn't understand and couldn't pronounce the title *Meiyazhagan* ,but accidentally watched this movie during Diwali holidays. And I would have been the most unfortunate person ,had I missed it. This film is a heartwarming and emotional drama that beautifully captures the essence of family bonds and *emotional side of men.* It immediately related to me as I was also attached to my childhood home at Pen( Raigad). Childhood homes are like one of our relatives,with fond memories of parents, siblings and friends. All of us must have faced disputes with relatives and tranfers to bigger cities but our mind consers a special corner for our childhood memories and you feel nostalgic,everytime you get a chance to visit our birthplace village. Simple village life,emotional bonds,affection of siblings and gratefulness for those who helped us ,all these bundles of emotion ,resonate with us and we start living this simple movie by director Premkumar. The two men Karthi and Arvind Swamy deliver outstanding performances, effortlessly conveying the emotions of the story and drawing us into the characters' world. And best thing is they have avoided melodrama and resurfaced melancholy and hidden warmth in our hearts! Their respective wives also emphathize their emotions and don't critisize but support them.And you love the emotional moments which have become a rarity in today's fast world. If you are bored ( I am sure everyone is)with violence,bloodsheds,trick scenes,the ghosts, sequence of overhyped movies,go for this simple but rich in content movie. It teaches us how simple things like gratefulness and unconstitutional love for those who enriched our lives will make you happy. This is a original Telgu and Tamil movie but with Hindi audio and English subtitles.Its now streaming on OTT ( Netflix) *Mark my words,it will rediscover,the* *hidden emotional person within* *you!* Just go and watch it today!!! @ Reviews by *Dr.Vijay Athalye.2024*

Review of the movie *Swatantrya Veer Savarkar* To showcase the vast, controversial history of Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (not taught to us )in *178 minutes* ,is a herculean job and thank god *Randeep Hooda* has super-succeeded as *an actor, writer, director and producer.* Good that earlier director Mahesh Manjrekar left the job,as Randeep who really studied Savarkar was not happy about his work and produced and directed the movie as per his reasearch( strange that many Maharashtrians are also unaware of his history and a man from Haryana took efforts and gave justice to Savarkar after so many years!) Except Rahul Gandhi( he must watch this movie) and few racist leaders all adore Savarkar as a patriotic to the core( actually whole family was involved).How brutally he and his elder brother were tortured at cellular jail at Andman( kolu etc). This part is well shown.( unnerving at times) Also the interrelation of Gandhiji , Ambedkar and Savarkar is shown cleverly.Many bold( but true) statements are made. Savarkar was a *visionary* and now we know all he was talking became true.That time he was ridiculed for his opinions but now we are paying the price for faults of leaders that time( still few are not accepting) His political ideology about Hindutva, not believing in karmakand( rituals),his scientific views and his social work for Harijans etc all are covered well. As a movie also it doesn't become a documentary as the dialogues keep you intrigued. Few scenes like narrating "ne majashi in waves ( his play of emotions after bad family news)are best as a director ( debuting!) Randeep Hooda must get a *national award* for this lifetime role.Not only physically ,( loosing 30 kg), he has taken real efforts in emoting also.He makes you believe that ,yes ,Savarkar must have been exactly like this. Hats off to him.( It has come from inside,he has not acted I think) Ankita Lokhande fits in a role of his wife( she didn't charge a rupee for this role).Rest all were perfect. The music, photography and without narration,this long movie is perfectly made due to proper editing. Savarkar was not a bomb golavala who incited violence.He was accused and acquitted of multiple conspiracy theories which includes Gandhi’s assassination,all these points are touched and it makes you believe that the sacrifices of armed revolutionaries are equally important as ahimsa. Gandhiji's ahimsa caused more himsa( violence) and Savarkar 's " tit for tat" belief ( like Lord Krishna's niti,punish the wrong doers) was right Only thing missed was Savarkar's literature part should have shown more, especially his *swatantrata geet jayostute he mahan mangale* should have been included! A must watch in theatres as a movie and to learn the untaught true side of Indian history! @ *Dr.Vijay Athalye 2024* '

*Review of article 370 movie* First of all *Just go and watch this movie article 370.* Article 370 is a crucial and complicated topic.Even highly educated class is ignorant about it.But team work of this movie touches all aspects of this subject with *honesty and thorough research* and still manages to keep all intrigued in this 160 minutes lengthy movie till the end.It could have become a dry documentary but the director has succeeded in keeing it interesting and entertaining. *Yami Gautam* has lived her lifetime dream role.Priyamani has under played her role as per the dignity of her post.Vaibhav Tatwavadi is a perfect cast and his role lingers in your mind even after his death.The Pulwama attack,the selfish kashmiri leaders,the terrorists , traitors everything is shown convincingly without any drama. The strategy behind getting 370 passed in Rajyasabha enthralls you though Yami stealing those papers etc.seems unrealistic.(Only last few reels are boring.) But the impact of movie is awesome and director Aditya Jambhale gets everyone's bow and salute. The cinematography also plays one of the lead roles! *"Kashmir ki dharti, Hindustan ka jigar, Ek tasveer hai, dono ki parchai hai."* The abrogation of 370 proves that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Don't miss this movie ,watch it on big screen.*@dr.Vijay Athalye 2024.*

*BANDISH BANDIT* This series is like an oasis in the desert of crime,sex and murder filled serials. Maharastrians would get remined of "Katyar kalajat ghusali" and life of Bhimsen Joshiji in few aspects. It shows worlds of traditional gharana classical music and fusion music of gennext. The blue background of Jodhpur, the big ,old havelis and picturistique locations of Rajasthan and music add to the magical ambience! Music by Shankar Ehsaan and Loy take it to another level though it could have been more elaborate with vocals from legendry Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Dhananjay Mhaskar with Javed Ali, Shivam Mahadevan and Jonita Gandhi. Nasiruddin Shah as Pandit ji will remind you of Bhimsenji ,.Atul Kulkarni and Sheeba Chadha in other prominent roles are also amazing. But the young ,debutant pair of Shreya Choudhary and Ritwik Bhowmik is just lovable. Kunal Roy Kapoor and Rahul Kumar add to the plot. It was like an antidote to predictable murder mysteries steeped in violence,distrust and negativity. Amust watch series ,now sreaming on Prime video.Waiting for season 2.0! @*Dr.Vijay Athalye.2020.*

BATLA HOUSE,A MUST WATCH! Batla House encounter took place on 19 September 2008, against terrorist in Batla House locality in Jamia Nagar, Delhi, in which two terrorists, Atif Ameen and Mohammad Sajid, were killed while two other Mohammad Saif and Zeeshan, were arrested, while Ariz Khan managed to escape. Encounter specialist and Delhi Police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma was martyred during the incident. The encounter led to arrest of a number of local people, leading to widespread allegations and protests by political parties, civil society groups, activists,especially teachers and students of the Jamia Millia Islamia University. Several political organizations like Rashtriya Ulama Council which brought a full train of protestors from Azamgarh to Jantar Mantar, Delhi demanding an independent Judicial Enquiry whereas the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) demanded a judicial inquiry into the encounter, in the Parliament, as "new versions" of the encounter, started appearing in the newspapers. Subsequently, on the Delhi High Court's directive on 21 May 2009, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in its 22 July report cleared the police of any violations of rights.Public speculations and debate however continued. On 28 August, Yasin Bhatkal, the Chief of Indian Mujahideen was arrested from India-Nepal Border. Yasin had allegedly fled the Batla House, minutes before the encounter took place. This is what is what the real story available on public domain. And director Nikhil Advani's movie Batla House intensely put all this alive on screen,the encountered flat,the real Nizampur and ambience all seem so real! John Abraham has acted well and Mrunal Thakur as his pretty wife and news anchor is refreshing.Rest of the cast is perfect. Nikhil had to delete many important dialogues and scenes on court order as sentiments of few may be hurt.( Then also it is bold and real in many aspects and thats a good sign for our cinema). So he had to force put one item song(Saki) to make it look ficticious and action scenes are made larger than life. But the movie succeds in its narration of truth and how media and vested interest modify it;but ultimately "Satyamev Jayate"! The movie is too narrative and slows down a bit but still the impact is superb. "Inke sirf do hi dushman hai.Har baat par inki kom ki himayat karne wale aur inki kom ki hifazat karne wale" this dialogue summarizes the movie,just go and watch it today.@Dr.Vijay Athalye.2019. ‘

*GULABO SITABO* Simple and different story with boringly slow pace and lack of total impact. It uses two puppets Gulabo and Sitabo as metaphor who always keep on fighting and ultimately third person wins (दोघांचे भांडण तिसऱ्याचा लाभ)and both lose everything. Extreme greed is bad and it is shown in a satirical and black ( dark)comedy ways by director Shoojit Sircar. As usual Amitabh and Ayushman have acted superbly. Prostehtics make AB look overdone but his voice does the usual AB magic! The climax gives you little jolt but weak screenplay bores you. The Fatima Mahal and Lukhnow as backdrop act as two separate characters. Good to see as free timepass only on OTT ( The movie has been saved by not getting released at theatres ,thanks to Corona times!) Now streaming on Amazon( Prime Video) released today. *Greed to watch Gulabo Sitabo immediately is* *not worth.*Ha ha @*Dr.Vijay Athalye.* 2020.

*Must give this Pareeksha!* The film is titled *Pareeksha* is inspired by a real life story. The story is about children in a Naxal affected area in Bihar.( Here shown in Ranchi, Zarkhand) A former Bihar Director general of police, Abhay Anand had once narrated his tryst with the filmmaker where present were a bunch of underprivileged but talented kids.He would spot a bunch of kids whose intelligence used to bowl him out. So, he started chatting with them and asking questions, and encouraged them to come for special coaching, which he arranged in the town. Some of them were so intelligent that they qualified for engineering colleges. Prakash Jha tells this simple but inspirational story here. The amazing actors Adil Hussain , Priyanka Bose ,Sanjay Suri and Shubham Jha as Bulbulkumar make it so real that immediately you get connected with all of them and it touches your heart and brain simultaneously. Its the *best film* ever made on *Education* for everyone but the Final Test is a take on the *class divide* of our pseudo society. You strongly feel that intelligence can be in anyone but all dont get the opportunities sadly. A must watch for all. *You must give this Pareeksha, your conscience would pass.* @ *Dr.Vijay Athalye*.2020 PS The film is streaming on Zee 5.

NOTEBOOK A MUST WATCH, POETRY ON SCREEN! Bumbro is a Kashmiri word referring to a bumblebee means “भ्रमर” (Bhramara) in Sanskrit. Like the song your mind becomes a bumbro watching the awesome cinematography of unseen Kashmir in each scene by Manoj Kumar Khatoi and the performances by seven innocent,cute Kashmiri kids and newcomers Zaheer Iqbal and Pranutan Bahl( watched it for her who happens to be my all time favourite Nutan's granddaughter) The ethereal blue lake and the silence of lonely houseboat school is so fresh and soothing to the eyes that you love it instantly! Its based on Thai drama"A teacher's diary",where an ex _army protagonist ,who now works as a teacher in this remote school falls in love with the unseen previous lady teacher via her Notebook( Diary) . The ambience,the kids and heavenly Kashmir add to the romance,the songs are above average; Nai lagda and main taare are good to hear and bumbro elevates your mood! The debutant hero is confident and make you forget his ordinary looks ( a cross between Suneil Shetty and Nagarjun) and exolphthalmic eyes. Pranutan is far from talent as compared to Nutan but will improve with time. You always feel what is the solution for the terrorism and blood shed in this heaven and though it may feel utopic ;only love and right to good,non religious education to the Kashmiri kids might solve the problem of hatred and would work against zihad. Though its dramatic ,the kids make you belive so and its the success of this movie. The Pandits and Muslims both are essential for the valley( am still hopeful) So must watch this extraordinarily simple ,love story in an unexpected and unsually beautiful location. The message of love and peace is given on the backdrop of hidden violence. Only the screenplay and dialogues need improvement but the silence of ethereal nature speaks in your mind! मैने ग़ुरबत के अंधेरों में रोशनी देखी, टूटे हुए मकान में पढ़ती हुई लड़की देखी! आंख नम हो गयी और ज़ेहन सुन्न पड़ गया! 'चश्मा' उतार कर जब मैने ज़िन्दगी देखी!! हर निवाला क़ीमती लगने लगा है अब मुझे! एक रोटी के लिए जब जंगे मुफलिसी देखी!! As Firdous says you come out remembering अंधेरा हटाने के लिए अंधेरी की जरूरत नही अंधेरा हटाने के लिए रोशनी की जरुरत होती है.... @Dr.Vijay Athalye 2019.

BHAI VYAKTI KA VALLI? THE ANSWER IS BOTH AND STILL MUCH MORE! Shivaji maharaj,Lata ,Asha,Sachin and Pu La are part of each Maharastrian( not only Marathis) home .So a biopic on so well known personality could have worked in either way but fortunately Mahesh Manjarekar has successfully lifted and balanced this bow of Shiva! The main part is to convince Pu la as Pu la and Sagar Deshmukh is fit to the T for it.Also thanks to the makeupman Vikram Gaikwad for the perfect make up of Pu La and all other real characters. The format is not traditional and it comes as memories ,so we relate to it instantly and the innocent,naive Marathi culture of bygone era relives in our mind. All the big names and that golden period make you nostalgically high and you feel the same joy you experienced when you had read all Pu La literature in your childhood and lateron! The only objection is ; here Pu La is shown more from Sunitabai's vision ( as in her book "Ahe Manohar Tari") ,which I don't agree fully. May be the near and dear ones have suffered from his insensitivity and selfish( childish) nature but routines laws of life should not be applied to all these great artists.They are in their own world to make us happy! The dialogues by Ratnakar Matkari,the music ,editing,direction and acting all are done directly from the heart as each one has performed his role for his or her dearest personality Pu La. When we are at the peak of mehfil this part ends abruptly and we come out singing Kanada raja Pandharicha and Indrayani kathi. Wherever there is Pu La it is housefull,with life and after life also. Waiting for the part 2. Bhai you have enriched our lives emotionally, positively and humorously forever.@Dr.Vijay Athalye.2019.

URI THE SURGICAL STRIKE@ A must watch as a tribute to our brave soldiers Uri attack was an attack by four heavily armed militants on 18 September 2016, near the town of Uri in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It was reported as "the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir in two decades". The militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed was blamed by India of being involved in the planning and execution of the attack. On September 29, eleven days after the attack, the Indian Army announced that it had conducted retaliatory "surgical strikes" on what it termed "launch-pads" used by militants in POK.(Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) This real story is made reel story by director Aditya Dhar as Uri the movie. Protagonist major Vihaan Singh Shergill played by Vicky Kaushal makes you believe its really happening in front of your eyes. Till the end you are eager and excited to see the strategies and actual surgical attack. Vicky has additional home battle also for his mother suffering from alzheimer's disease. Vicky exels both in showing action and emotions. The war sequences ,the background music, dramatization and technical support all are excellent. Though the movie is predictable and not very different from other war movies we get involved in it.It makes us think how difficult is the job of our soldiers and army,navy ,airforce and we watch it in cosy seats in a luxurious AC theatre with hot chocolate in your hands.We feel ashamed for a moment(and start eating popcorns again as always Bhagat Singh should be born in neighbour's house) It takes you out of your comfort zone and that's the success of story telling and direction. युद्धस्य कथा रम्या ( all war stories are enthralling) becomes true here. You think about politicians,their power and limitations also. Background music adds to the action and few songs are easily forgettable. You feel like having a sequel of it in reel life and in real life also till all militants are destroyed and never dared to reborn! .A must watch for every Indian.@Dr.Vijay Athalye2019.