Mukta Arts Ltd.’s Vijeta (Marathi) is a sports film.
Due to the poor performance of sports persons of Maharashtra in the National Athletic Meet, it is decided by Varsha Khanvinde (Manasi Kulkarni), the dean of the Maharashtra Sports Academy, that Soumitra Deshmukh (Subodh Bhave) be brought in to act as the mind coach for the Maharashtra sports persons. Head coach Bhatkal (Sushant Shelar) doesn’t approve of the appointment of the mind coach for two reasons — it undermines his importance and also because the Federation had, seven years ago, thrown out Soumitra Deshmukh as a coach.
Soumitra, nevertheless, joins the Maharashtra Sports Academy. On meeting the various sports persons, he realises that he would first have to make them win in the battlefields of their minds because each of them is underperforming for some reason. How Soumitra trains them and readies them for the next National Athletic Meet forms the crux of the drama. Maharashtra now wins several medals.
Why had Soumitra been asked to leave as coach, by the Federation seven years ago? Was he wrong? Or was he framed? What happens to that case?
Amol Shetge’s story and screenplay are so-so. The biggest problem is that since there are sportspersons of all kinds — tryathlon athlete, athlete, boxer, wrestler, weight lifter, shotput athlete, long jumper and others — the audience doesn’t get enough of any one sport. This greatly dilutes the impact of the sports drama. Also, the screenplay lacks in light as well as emotional moments. Shirish Latkar’s dialogues are okay.
Subodh Bhave does a fine job as mind coach Soumitra Deshmukh. Manasi Kulkarni is alright as dean Varsha Khanvinde. Pooja Sawant performs ably as tryathlon athlete Nalini Jagtap. Sushant Shelar is good as coach Bhatkal. Pritam Kagne does a fair job as athlete Sunanda Gujar. Madhav Deochake is alright as weight lifter Rahul Thorat. Suhas Palshikar lends routine support as the Academy peon. Tanvi Parab makes her presence felt as boxer Sonia Karnik. Devendra Chougule is okay as wrestler Devendra Jadhavkar. Gaurish Shipurkar is so-so as shotput athlete Jagdish More. Dipti Dhotre (as long jumper Kavita Kaspate), Krutika Tulaskar (as Sapna Gaikwad), Anuradha Rajadhyaksha (as Soumitra’s mother), Lalit Sawant (as coach Sawant) and the others lend average support.
Amol Shetge’s direction is routine. A more exciting narration style would’ve been preferred. Music (Rohan Pradhan and Rohan Gokhale) is fair. Lyrics (Mandar Cholkar, Amol Shetge and Mandar Satpute) are okay. Aditya Bedekar’s background music is quite impactful. Uday Singh Mohite’s camerawork is nice. Riyaz Sultan’s action and stunt scenes are functional. Ameya Dharve’s art direction is okay. Ashish Mhatre and Apurva Motiwale Sahai do a fair job of the editing.
On the whole, Vijeta is too ordinary a fare to make a mark at the ticket windows.
Released on 12-3-’20 at Jai Hind Mukta A2 (daily 1 show) and some cinemas and on 13-3-’20 at Plaza (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Rajat Enterprises. Publicity: okay. Opening: poor.