Nostrum Entertainment’s The Conversion (UA) is about religious conversions.
Sakshi (Vindhya Tiwari), Babloo (Pradeep Shukla) and Dev (Ravi Bhatia) are college friends. Both the boys love Sakshi. On her part, Sakshi decides to marry Babloo, but her father, Mishra (Manoj Joshi), who is a pandit by profession, does not approve of the affair. Then, Sakshi and Babloo decide on a court marriage but on the day of the marriage, Sakshi is shocked to know that Babloo is a Muslim. In spite of being a Hindu, she gets married to Babloo and even changes her name to Sabiya after the marriage is solemnised. When Mishra learns of Sakshi’s wedding to a Muslim, he disowns her. Marital problems as also problems with her in-laws force Sakshi and Babloo to divorce. Babloo now has a change of heart but he has already divorced Sakshi. The local maulvi has a way out. But that solution does not work. Sakshi contemplates suicide after more problems befall her. However, Dev saves her life. Dev’s father resolves the tension between Sakshi and her dad. Also, Sakshi joins the party of Dev’s father. The party raises its voice against love jihad. Circumstances bring Sakshi and Babloo face-to-face one day. What happens thereafter?
Vandana Tiwari’s story is irritating and childish. It fails to involve the viewer. Rakesh Tripathi’s screenplay is replete with predictable twists and turns and clichéd situations. The entire drama is so unexciting that it becomes difficult to endure it, leave alone get involved in it or engaged with it. Nothing, repeat, nothing appears worthwhile in the drama. Rakesh Tripathi’s dialogues barely pass muster.
Vindhya Tiwari is just about okay as Sakshi/Sabiya. She does not look like a heroine. Pradeep Shukla is average in the role of Babloo. Ravi Bhatia is ordinary as Dev. Manoj Joshi does well as Sakshi’s father, Mishra. Vibha Chibber (as Sakshi’s mother), Amit Behl (as Babloo’s father), Sunita Rajwar (as Babloo’s mother), Sandeep Yadav (as Babloo’s brother, Javed), Sushil Singh (as Dev’s father), Sapna Choudhary and Vijay Trivedi lend routine support in brief roles.
Vinod Tiwari’s direction is dull. Music (composed by Anamik Chauhan and Altaaf Sayyed) is weak. Vandana Tiwari and Atiya Sayyed’s lyrics don’t add much to the music scene. Ricky Gupta’s choreography is functional. Background music is routine. Navneet Beohar’s camerawork needs no separate mention. Deepak Ambawadekar’s sets are ordinary. Sanjay Sankla’s editing is fair.
On the whole, The Conversion is a flop show all the way.
Released on 6-5-’22 at Movie Time Goregaon (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Panorama Studios. Publicity & opening: very poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.