VS Productions and Moraya Productions’ Banjara (Marathi; UA) is the story of three friends and their road trip undertaken during their younger days.
Sameer (Bharat Jadhav), Avinash (Sharad Ponkshe) and Vivek (Sunil Barve) are childhood friends. Sameer is a cricket coach, Avinash is into the business of investments, and Vivek is a filmmaker. The three have been in touch but haven’t met since four years. When they do meet one day, they go down memory lane and recall their road trip to Sikkim, which they had undertaken several years ago.
Sneh Ponkshe has written a story which is hardly engaging or entertaining. His screenplay is so ordinary that it doesn’t involve the viewers. The drama doesn’t have high points and hence the audience watch it unfold on the screen without really feeling for the characters. Sneh Ponkshe’s dialogues are average.
Bharat Jadhav is okay as Sameer. Sharad Ponkshe does a fair job as Avinash. Sunil Barve is so-so in the role of Vivek. Saksham Kulkarni performs ordinarily as young Sameer. Sneh Ponkshe is average as young Avinash. Aaditya Dhanraj is not very impressive as young Vivek. Sanjay Mone lends routine support as Aghori Baba. Frankie J. Mitchell is passable as Amanda. Others barely pass muster.
Sneh Ponkshe’s direction is not of the kind which can make up for the routineness in the drama. Avadhoot Gupte’s music is nothing to dance about. Guru Thakur’s lyrics are ordinary. Rahul Thombare’s choreography is hardly eye-pleasing. Anurag Godbole and Avadhoot Gupte’s background music is average. Gaurav Ponkshe’s camerawork is alright. Satish Gawali’s art direction is okay. Gaurav Rai’s editing is loose.
On the whole, Banjara is a dull fare.
Released on 16-5-’25 at Jai Hind Mukta A2 (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Panorama Studios. Publicity & opening: poor.
