Nebula Films’ Salbardi (Marathi; A) is a story about child murders in a village and the mystery behind those killings.
In a quiet village named Salbardi, a string of mysterious murders sparks fear, suspicion and uncertainty. Police officer Manorama (Pooja Sawant) is appointed to investigate the murders. When the mystery is solved, what emerges is a web of power games, superstitious beliefs and shocking revelations. The killers and their accomplices are all arrested. What happens thereafter?
Ramesh Sahebrao Choudhary’s story is not at all exciting or engaging. Rohit Shukre has written such an ordinary screenplay that the drama fails to involve the viewers who, therefore, passively watch the proceedings unfold on the screen. Not a single sequence or scene has the wow quality. Even the revelation of the killers fails to gladden the hearts of the viewers. Rohit Shukre’s dialogues are routine.
Pooja Sawant acts with effortless ease as police inspector Manorama. Shashank Shende is alright as sarpanch Ganpat Patil. Omkar Bhojne is okay as deputy sarpanch Mukunda Thorat. Rohit Kokate is average in the role of Kotkar Guruji. Anshuman Vichare lends ordinary support as Balu Joshi. Kamlakar Satpute makes an average mark as Bhandari sheth. Anil Nagarkar passes muster as police inspector Tambe. Tushar Nagargoje is alright as police inspector Lokhande. Chittaranjan Giri (as Pimpalya), Bharat Ganeshpure (as MLA Zunzarrao Mohite), Madhav Abhyankar (as guardian minister Padmaraj Shelar), Pravin Dalimbkar (as villager Ganpat Kamble), Abhay Gite (as Kanakraj Taksale), Rajendra Satardekar (as Fr. John Chandekar), Sarvesh Kadam (as Manorama’s son, Rushabh), Usha Chavan (as maid Yesubai), Vedant Choudhary (as maid Yesubai’s son, Kanha), Ramdas Golhar (as Tukaram sheth), Pankaj Pacharya (as Aabajaan), Sonalee Kulkarni (in the lavani song) and Gashmeer Mahajani (in the Gondhali song) do as required. Others fit the bill.
Ramesh Sahebrao Choudhary’s direction is average. Padmanabh Gaikwad’s music is ordinary. The lavani and Gondhali songs are quite alright. Guru Thakur and Mukund Bhalerao’s lyrics are okay. Song picturisations (Aashish Patil and Phulwa Khamkar) are appealing. Amar Mohile’s background music is impactful. Siddhesh Santosh More’s camerawork is alright. Sets (by Pradip Gurav) are so-so. Siddhesh Santosh More’s editing should’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Salbardi is a non-starter.
Released on 17-4-’26 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Panorama Studios. Publicity: so-so. Opening: poor.