Shivsharvil Movie and Bodhi Cinema’s Phula (Marathi; UA) is the story of a girl, Phula, who is forced into religious servitude despite her dreams of education. She goes on to become a celebrated folk artiste, but her life is marred by betrayal, abuse and the loss of her child. Her tragic end during a performance highlights the grim reality of cultural exploitation and gender bias.
Abhishek Javir’s story lacks excitement or thrill and is so dry and drab that it fails to hold the audience’s attention for long. Ravikiran Javir’s screenplay is no better than the story. The drama moves at a slow pace and offers no entertainment whatsoever. His dialogues are commonplace.
Priyaantika fails to impress. Deva Gadekar acts routinely. Manjusha Khetri is average. Ravikiran Javir is ordinary. Arohi Gadade lends dull support. Sunny Kadam is barely passable. Sharad Landage passes muster. Santosh Shinde’s acting is dull.
Abhishek Javir’s direction is so poor that the narration simply does not involve the viewers. Samadhan Aiwale’s music is fair but the absence of a hit score is felt, considering that it’s a story of a dancer. Lyrics (Ravikiran Javir and Samadhan Aiwale) are so-so. Ashutosh Kirtikar and Shrushti Jadhav’s choreography is nothing to dance about. Background music (Samadhan Aiwale) is weak. Pratap Joshi’s camerawork is just about ordinary. Atul Lokhande’s production designing is average. Rahul Prajapati’s editing should’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Phula is a flop show.
Released on 17-4-’26 at Glamour (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Sunshine Studios. Publicity & opening: weak.