Lilac Motion Pictures and Dusk Studios’ Case No. 73 (Marathi; UA) is the story of a serial killer.
Three murders take place in quick succession in a village. SP Sanjay Deshmukh (Shailesh Datar) starts investigating the case. How he finally solves the murder case forms the crux of the drama.
Milind Apte’s story is routine and does not even pretend to be novel. The screenplay, penned by Milind Apte and Rucha Amit Yenurkar, is as clichéd as clichéd can be. The proceedings are predictable and hence boring. The viewers don’t even experience a high when the murder mystery is solved. The duo’s dialogues are ordinary.
Shailesh Datar is good as SP Sanjay Deshmukh. Ashok Shinde is alright as Sanjay Deshmukh’s psychologist-friend, Dr. Shrikant. Piyush Apte is okay as Sanjay Deshmukh’s biotechnologist-son, Piyush. Rajasi Bhave does a fair job as Piyush’s girlfriend and criminal lawyer, Madhura Inamdar. Nandita Patkar performs ably as social worker Radhika. Others pass muster.
Milind Mukteshwar Apte’s direction is dull. Amey Mohan Kadu’s music is ordinary while his background score is alright. Mandar Cholkar’s lyrics pass muster. Song picturisations (by Rohan Kandera and Manasi Kowale) are average. Ninad Gosavi’s camerawork is okay. Bikas Singh’s action and stunt scenes don’t afford much thrill. Art direction (by Anant Sutar) is passable. Rajesh Rao’s editing is loose, especially in the courtroom drama after interval.
On the whole, Case No. 73 is a weak fare.
Released on 6-2-’26 at Jai Hind Mukta A2 (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Filmastra Studios. Publicity & opening: poor.
