Amruta Films, Pune Film Company, Bhalji Pendharkar Chitra and Almonds Creations’ Shyamchi Aai (Marathi) is the story of freedom fighter Sane Guruji’s childhood. It is inspired by the old film of the same name, released in 1953.
Sane Guruji (Om Bhutkar) is in jail and narrates his childhood story to other inmates. He was known as Shyam in his childhood.
Shyam (Sharva Gadgil) had had a difficult childhood because his paternal uncles had thrown out his father (Sandeep Pathak), mother (Gauri Deshpande) and his younger brothers. Despite hardships, Shyam’s mother had imparted good values to Shyam.
The story is written by borrowing from the real-life story of Sane Guruji, also known as Pandurang Sadashiv Sane. Sunil Sukthankar’s screenplay is alright but it is not consistently good. The drama would appeal to the Brahmin community among Maharashtrians because Sane Guruji was himself a Brahmin. But for the general non-Brahmin audience, the drama will not hold much appeal. Dialogues are okay.
Gauri Deshpande is very good in the title role. Sharva Gadgil does well as young Shyam. Sandeep Pathak performs very ably as Shyam’s father, Bhaurao. Om Bhutkar is okay as the older Shyam. Mayhur More lends average support as the teenaged Shyam. Gandhar Joshi is alright as Shyam’s uncle, Vishambhar. Sarang Sathye lends average support in the role of Vinobha Bhave. Jyoti Chandekar is fair as Durvanchi Aaji. Urmila Jagtap and Deesha Katkar (as Shyam’s aunts), Rachana Kadam (as Shyam’s elder sister), Bhushan Vikas (as Balwantrao) and Sunil Abhyankar (as Vamanrao) are ordinary.
Sujay Sunil Dahake’s direction is appropriate. But shooting the film in B & W dilutes its appeal in today’s time and age. Ashok Patki and Mahesh Kale’s music is so-so. Saket Kanetkar and Aabha Soumitra do a fine job of the background music. Vijay Mishra’s camerawork is of a good standard. Amey Bhalerao’s production designing is nice. B. Mahanteshwar’s editing is reasonably sharp.
On the whole, Shyamchi Aai is a film for only some pockets of Maharashtra.
Released on 10-11-’23 at Plaza (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Panorama Studios. Publicity: okay. Opening: poor. The start in Pune was fair.