Crescendo Entertainment’s Lifeline (Marathi; UA) is the story of a pandit and a doctor.
Pandit Kedarnath Agnihotri (Madhav Abhyankar) is a priest who performs the last rites of the dead. He is a hot-tempered guy who has a kind of contempt towards science or progress. One day, while performing the last rites of a person, he gets into an ugly argument with Dr. Vikram Desai (Ashok Saraf) on the point of salvation after death versus science. Life brings the same Pandit Agnihotri at the doorstep of Dr. Vikram Desai when his son’s heart is diagnosed as being damaged. Will Dr. Desai perform a heart transplant surgery on Pandit Kedarnath Agnihotri’s child? Or will he not?
Rajesh Shirwaikar has written a story which won’t find too many takers. His screenplay has some interesting moments but there’s no nail-biting tension if only because the audience is convinced about Dr. Desai’s goodness and integrity as a doctor. In other words, the drama looks stretched after a point of time because the viewers are sure of the ending. Rajesh Shirwaikar’s dialogues are good at places.
Madhav Abhyankar does a fine job as Pandit Kedarnath Agnihotri. Ashok Saraf is superb as Dr. Vikram Desai. Sandhya Kute is good in the role of Pandit Agnihotri’s wife, Sunanda. Darshil Chaudhary is okay as Pandit Agnihotri’s son, Anshu. Sharmila Shinde lends fair support as Dr. Vijaya Nadkarni. Hemangi Kavi is alright as Shilpa. Bharat Dabholkar is average in a brief role as Dr. Gosalia. Jaywant Wadkar is adequate in a brief role as Bhatkhande. Others do as desired.
Saahil Shirwaikar’s direction is so-so. Ashok Patki’s music is alright but the only song there is is not a hit. Rajesh Shirwaikar’s lyrics are meaningful. Sameer Mhatre’s background music is okay. Aniket Khandagale’s camerawork is above average. Pramod Kahar’s editing is quite sharp.
On the whole, Lifeline is too ordinary to do anything worthwhile at the box-office. It will, therefore, prove to be a flop.
Released on 2-8-’24 at Plaza (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Panorama Studios. Publicity: so-so. Opening: dull.
