VIKUN TAAK (Marathi) | 14 February, 2020

Viva Inen’s Vikun Taak (Marathi; UA; meaning ‘Sell off’) is the story of an innocent man who gets framed in a kidney sale racket.

Mukya (Shivraj Waichal) is dejected when his marriage is called off by the bride’s family as soon as they learn that he is in heavy debt due to a huge loan which his father had taken from the bank. Since the father is no more, it would now fall upon Mukya to repay the loan.

Mukya starts working with his friend, Kanya (Rohit Mane), who deals in scrap. In a drunken stupor, Mukya one night unintenionally becomes part of an illegal kidney sale racket. Seeing the advertisement for sale of kidney, an Arab Sheikh, Abdul Lateef (Chunkey Panday), comes to India as he needs the kidney for his fourth wife. Both, Mukya and Abdul, are arrested once the police gets wind of the kidney racket. But before that, Abdul has deposited Rs. 50 lakh in Mukya’s bank account. This helps Mukya repay the bank loan. With the excess money, Mukya plans to build a school and do many other things for his village.

Soon after Mukya and Abdul are arrested, they escape from custody. Mukya decides to flee to Dubai with his girlfriend, Dhanashri (Radha Sagar). But since Dhanashri does not have a passport, Mukya, Dhanashri and friend Kanya go to Hyderabad where they are arrested. While Dhanashri and Kanya are allowed to go scot-free, Mukya is taken into custody. How Mukya proves his innocence and how the villagers help him in this forms the crux of the latter part of the story.

Siddheshwar Ekambe’s story is average. The drama looks forced at places. The screenplay, penned by Charudatt Bhagwat, Sameer Patil and Siddheshwar Ekambe, is entertaining in parts only. Comedy is the best part of the screenplay as it otherwise doesn’t unfold seamlessly. The trio’s dialogues are alright.

Shivraj Waichal does a fine job as Mukya. Radha Sagar is okay as Dhanashri. Rohit Mane lends good support as Kanya. Hrishikesh Joshi is excellent as police inspector Dongre. Chunkey Panday’s comedy is enjoyable. Sameer Chougule is so-so as Mukya’s brother-in-law. Rujuta Deshmukh is average as Mukya’s sister. Varsha Dandale makes her mark as Mukya’s mother. Jaywant Wadkar has his moments in a brief role as the village sarpanch.

Sameer Patil’s direction is fair. Amitraj’s music and Guru Thakur’s lyrics are reasonably appealing. Vrushali Chavan’s choreography is alright. Background music (by Harsh-Karan-Aditya) is ordinary. Suhas Gujarathi’s camerawork is decent. Santosh Futane’s sets are appropriate. Kiran Kshirsagar’s editing could’ve been tighter.

On the whole, Vikun Taak does not have much face value or content value (except comedy) to sustain for long at the box-office.

Released on 14-2-’20 at Plaza (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Rajat Enterprises. Publicity: good. Opening: so-so.