‘BAMBOO’ (MARATHI) REVIEW | 26 January, 2023

Creative Viibe Productions’ Bamboo (Marathi; UA) is a love story.

Chintamani alias Chintya (Abhinay Berde) is a simpleton who lives with his father (Atul Kale) and grandfather (Shivaji Satam). While Chintya’s father is a shopkeeper, his grandfather writes books on sex under a pseudonym. Even Chintya and his father are not aware of the fact that the grandfather has authored sex books. Zuluk (Vaishnavi Kalyankar) likes Chintya’s simplicity. Both, Chintya and Zuluk, grow fond of each other. Chintya’s friend, Madan (Parth Bhalerao), is in love with Zuluk and tries to come close to her by creating problems between Chintya and Zuluk.

Luck favours Madan when a misunderstanding creates a rift between Zuluk and Chintya. What is the misunderstanding due to? And what happens thereafter?

Ambar Vinod Hadap has penned a story which is one of convenience, just like his screenplay. The entire track of misunderstanding between Zuluk and Chintya is so weird that it looks forced. Why would Chintya carry a bag full of books to college without checking the contents of the bag? Why would he give Zuluk an entire bag when all that he wants to give her is a love letter kept in the bag (which, incidentally, contains books on sex)? Why would Zuluk’s father immediately tear pages from one of the books in the bag, to pack his wares? It is questions like the above which beg answers, but the writer seems to be least bothered because he hasn’t even addressed those questions. Except for a few double-meaning dialogues and a little bit of comedy, there is hardly anything in the drama to merit mention.

Abhinay Berde is alright as Chintya. Vaishnavi Kalyankar does well as Zuluk. Parth Bhalerao leaves a mark in the role of Madan. Shivaji Satam lends good support as Chintya’s grandfather. Atul Kale has his moments as Chintya’s dad. Samir Choughule has been wasted in a brief role as Zuluk’s father, Shashikant Prabhulkar. Snehal Shidam stands out in a brief role as Prateeksha. Tejaswini Pandit and the others are okay.

Vishal Sakharam Devrukhkar’s direction is just about passable. While Samir Saptiskar’s music is okay, his background score could’ve been better. Lyrics (Abhishek Khankar and Sachin Pathak) are okay. Sujit Kumar’s choreography is ordinary. Yogesh M. Koli’s camerawork is fair. Mahesh Salgaonkar’s production designing is nothing to shout about. Editing (Guru Patil and Mahesh Killekar) should’ve been sharper.

On the whole, Bamboo is a dull fare.

Released on 26-1-’23 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Filmastra Studios. Publicity: so-so. Opening: quite good (due to Republic Day holiday).