Nagraj Popatrao Manjule, Aatpat, Ninetynine Productions and Bahuroopi Productions Baaplyok (Marathi) is the story of a father and his son.
Sagar (Vitthal Kale) leaves his job in Pune and returns to his village to help his father in farming and the small milk business he runs. In the village live Sagar’s father, Tatya (Shashank Shende), mother (Neeta Shende) and a married sister who has returned from her in-laws’ home because the father couldn’t arrange for dowry. Another sister lives in a neighbouring village but she is not allowed by her in-laws to visit her maternal home because of the same reason — no dowry given by the father.
For no reason in particular except, perhaps, because Tatya is very strict, Sagar is always at loggerheads with his father. But Sagar’s perception about his father changes when the father and son set out to distribute his wedding cards among the many relatives who live in the neighbouring village. Why does Sagar have a change of heart?
Vitthal Nagnath Kale has written a story which is good in a few parts only, especially in portions where the father and son indulge in a bit of comedy or where their strained relationship tugs at the heart-strings. Besides that, the story has hardly anything to offer. Makarand Mane and Vitthal Nagnath Kale’s screenplay is stretched a lot because the story-line is so thin. After a point of time, things start getting so repetitive that the drama appears to be one of merely distributing wedding cards. Emotions should have been more underlined. The duo’s dialogues are okay but they ought to have been more heart-touching.
Vitthal Kale is no hero material. His acting, as Sagar, is okay. Shashank Shende does well as Sagar’s dad, Tatya. Payal Jadhav is fair in a brief role as Mayuri. Neena Shende lends average support as Sagar’s mother.
Makarand Mane’s direction is alright but there’s nothing that stands out. Vijay Narayan Gavande’s music is okay while his background music is ordinary. Lyrics (by Guru Thakur and Vaibhav Deshmukh) are fair. Yogesh Koli’s camerawork is alright. Mahesh Kore’s art direction is quite nice. Aashay Gatade’s editing is loose.
On the whole, Baaplyok is a flop fare.
Released on 1-9-’23 at Plaza (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Sunshine Studios. Publicity & opening: dull.
