Swarjai Art Media’s Shahid Bhai Kotwal (Marathi) is the story of lawyer and freedom fighter Hutatma Bhai Kotwal who, while fighting the Britishers, offered free legal service to the impoverished farmers who were harassed by moneylenders.
Eknath Desale’s story is quite nice but it hasn’t been written in a way that it can move or inspire the audience. His screenplay is boring and hardly engages the viewers. It unfolds like a docu-drama rather than as an entertaining film. Eknath Desale’s dialogues are ordinary.
Ashutosh Patki fails to impress in the title role. Arun Nalawade is good as the old Bhai Kotwal. Rutuja Bagave is average as Indutai Kotwal. Kamlesh Sawant’s performance (as police inspector Gomaji Patil) is commonplace. Ganesh Yadav leaves a mark. Pankaj Vishnupurkar, Prajakta Dighe, Madhavi Juvekar and Nishigandha Wad lend ordinary support.
Eknath Desale and Parag Sawant’s direction is below the mark. Music (Ashok Patki, Rupesh Gondhali and Bharat Badekar) is functional. Eknath Desale’s lyrics are so-so. Amar Mohile’s background music is alright. Tushar Vibhute’s camerawork hardly deserves special mention. Parvez Khan’s action scenes are ordinary. Devdas Bhandare’s sets are below the mark. Parag Sawant’s editing leaves a lot to be desired.
On the whole, Shahid Bhai Kotwal is a flop show.
Released on 24-1-’20 at Bharatmata (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Pickle Entertainment. Publicity & opening: dull.