Meliorist Film Studio’s Jayanti 2 (Marathi; UA) is the story of a tribal girl who is discriminated against in the Pune college in which she is studying. Payal comes to the Pune college from Chandrapur after securing admission under the reserved scheduled tribes quota. She has a fight with Arya and two of her (Arya’s) friends. The college principal (Rohini Hattangad) suspends Payal although she is not in the wrong. Her college-mate, Tanuja (Priyadarshini Indalkar), and ex-student Santya (Ruturaj Wankhede) team up to fight not just for Payal but also against college politics, political pressure and social ignorance. Do they succeed in restoring Payal’s dignity and getting her back to college?
Shailesh Narwade’s story does not have much meat to engage the audience. The topic of reservation does have its share of takers but the story is not well-written. Shailesh Narwade’s screenplay is good in parts only. The confrontation between Tanuja and politician Manohar (Vijay Nikam) is exciting but there aren’t too many such scenes or sequences. The first half is less interesting than the post-interval portion. But overall, the drama is a bit convoluted too because the point of giving admission to a student known to the politician in place of Payal seems weird. For, even if one is against reservation, one can’t be in favour of seeking admission through political contacts. Also, although Tanuja and Santya are fighting for Payal, she (Payal) herself is shining in Chandrapur by inventing a new type of rice. It is not as if Payal’s life depends on getting back to college, or so it seems. Some of the dialogues by Shailesh Narwade are very good.
Ruturaj Wankhede is okay as Santya. Priyadarshini Indalkar is good in the role of Tanuja. Payal Jadhav is alright as Payal. Rohini Hattangady does a fair job as the college principal. Vijay Nikam has his moments as politician Manohar. Rajkumar Jarange lends fine support as Pratap, paid stooge of Manohar. Devika Daftardar is average as Prof. Girija. Sharad Jadhav passes muster as Prof. Chavan. Kiran Kashinath is so-so as Prof. Hemant Mane. Others provide routine support.
Shailesh Narwade’s direction is quite alright. Onkarswaroop’s music is ordinary. Lyrics (by Dr. Suhas Ambade, Saurabh Guru and Suhas Munde) are functional. Aniket Limje’s choreography is nothing to shout about. Mangesh Dhakde’s background music ought to have been better. Sanjivkumar Hilli’s cinematography is alright. Bikash Kumar Singh’s action and stunt scenes are not as thrilling as they ought to have been. Mahesh Kore’s production designing is okay. Faisal Mahadik’s editing is loose.
On the whole, Jayanti 2 is too ordinary to score at the box-office.
Released on 11-9-’26 at Plaza (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Sunshine Studios. Publicity: so-so. Opening: dull.
