Affluence Motion Pictures Pvt. Ltd. and O.D.I. Group’s Mardini (Marathi; UA) is the story of a mother who goes to great lengths to save her daughter.
Anjali (Prarthana Behere) lives with her little daughter, Ovi (baby Mayra Vaikul), and her mother (Sandhya Mhatre). Her husband had deserted her years ago. Ovi is asthamatic. Under medical advice, Anjali buys an oxygen machine online with the help of her colleague, R.V. (Vinayak Bhave). But when the machine turns out to be non-functional, Anjali complains to the police. Sub-inspector Vikrant Surve (Abhijeet Khandekar) investigates the case. Soon, Anjali gets a call from an unknown caller who she assumes had supplied her the oxygen machine. When she abuses the caller, he threatens to kill Ovi. Frightened, Anjali tells everything to investigating officer Vikrant Surve. Who is the caller? Does his identity come out in the open? Is he the same person who had supplied the fake oxygen machine to Anjali or is he someone else? Is the culprit R.V.? Or is it police inspector Gaitonde (Jitendra Joshi)?
Mahabaleshwar Narvekar’s story is average. The story looks contrived at several places. His screenplay is not very convincing. The revelation of the identity of the culprit (criminal) and his reasons for doing what he does do not afford half as much excitement as they should’ve. The dialogues, also penned by Mahabaleshwar Narvekar, are good at places.
Prarthana Behere does an excellent job as Anjali. Abhijeet Khandkekar is good in the role of sub-inspector Vikrant Surve. Jitendra Joshi shines as police inspector Gaitonde. Baby Mayra Vaikul acts ably in the role of Ovi. Sandhya Mhatre lends fair support as Anjali’s mother. Rajesh Bhosale makes an average mark as Chandu. Swati Bowalekar is okay as Aaji. Bhushan Telang is alright as Badadare. Sonali Patil (as Anjali’s colleague, Vishakha), Vinayak Bhave (as R.V.), Ayush Jain (Ulgade) (as young Vikrant), Shraddha Satam (as Vikrant’s maternal aunt), Ramesh Rokade (as Vikrant’s maternal uncle) and Shashikant Gandhe (as Shirodkar kaka) provide fair support. Others pass muster.
Ajay Mayekar’s direction is average. He has not been able to narrate the drama in a way that it would keep the audience at the edge of their seats. Hitesh Modak’s music is okay. Lyrics (written by Dr. Vinayak Pawar and Prashant Madpuwar) are alright. Song picturisations (Ahmed Khan) are ordinary. Sanket Patil’s background music is so-so. Shabbir Naik’s camerawork is ordinary. Vikram Dahiya’s action and stunt scenes ought to have been more thrilling. Mayuresh Bhandarkar’s art direction is nothing to shout about. Abhishek Seth’s editing should’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Mardini is too routine a fare and it will, therefore, fail at the box-office.
Released on 3-7-’26 at Jai Hind Mukta A2 (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Sunshine Studios. Publicity: so-so. Opening: dull.
