Shraman Films’ Apsara (Marathi; UA) is a love triangle.
Siddhu (Suyash Zunjurke) is a slum dweller. Rinku (Akshata Padgaonkar) also lives in the same locality and is the daughter of a friend of Siddhu’s father. Rinku loves Siddhu but he doesn’t reciprocate as he has a certain picture of the girl he would like to marry. He meets his dream girl, Pari (Mayuri Avhad), in strange circumstances when he saves her life in a road accident. The love story of Siddhu and Pari blossoms. Siddhu saves Pari’s life a second time. And then there’s a third incident where Siddhu has to save Pari. Is he lucky the third time? Does Siddhu marry Pari? Or do Siddhu and Rinku get married? There is another track of MLA Ratna Tai (Megha Ghadge) who respects Siddhu and whom Siddhu helps to win the elections. Ratna’s brother, Bhaiya Saheb (Vitthal Kale), is jealous of Siddhu.
Chandrakant Pawar has written a clichéd story which offers no novelty whatsoever. The screenplay, penned by Chandrakant Pawar and Namdeo Murkute, is hackneyed and predictable. The love story is not heartwarming. The political drama is also routine. Namdeo Murkute’s dialogues are average.
Suyash Zunjurke is okay as Siddhu. Mayuri Avhad is alright as Pari. Akshata Padgaonkar does well in the role of Rinku. Megha Ghadge lends routine support as MLA Ratna Tai. Vitthal Kale makes his mark as Bhaiya Saheb. Shashank Shende is effective as Nana. Vijay Nikam has his moments as Mohite. Mayur Pawar is alright as Babu. Rajesh Bhosale is reasonably nice as Baablya. Ashish Warang is okay as Aaba Dusane. Sachin Kumavat, Bhaiya More, Samiksha Bhalerao, Pradnya Tribhuwan, Sangharsh Bhalerao and Sayalee Sambhare lend average support.
Chandrakant Pawar’s direction is dull. Mangesh Kangane’s music and lyrics are fair. Choreography (by Subodh Aarekar, Alias Kader, Krutik Mazire and Imran Malgunkar) is alright. Aditya Bedekar’s background music is quite good. Raja Phadtare’s cinematography is appropriate. Deepak Sharma’s action and stunt scenes afford some thrill. Art direction (Devendra Tawade, Nitin Borkar and Siddhesh Salvi) is ordinary. Nitesh Rathod’s editing should’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Apsara is too routine to make an impact at the turnstiles.
Released on 10-5-’24 at Gem (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Filmastra Studios. Publicity & opening: poor.