Zee Studios and Aatpat’s Ghar Banduk Biryani (Marathi; UA) is the story of Naxalites who want to avenge the killings of their families at the hands of the local MLA.
Pallam (Sayaji Shinde) is the leader of Naxalites of Kolgad forests. Local MLA Patil (Kishore Kadam) has killed and tortured the families of several people who have, therefore, turned militants under Pallam’s Naxalite movement. Police inspector Raya Patil (Nagraj Manjule) is transferred from Pune to Kolgad. He confronts Pallam. What happens thereafter?
Nagraj Popatrao Manjule and Hemant Jangal Awtade have penned a story which is sketchy and appears disjointed. Their screenplay is fast-paced but it gives the impression that some characters have been added merely to further the simple drama. For instance, Raju’s (Akash Thosar) character looks like an add-on. Also, the track of Raya Patil’s wife, Namrata (Deepti Devi), is unnecessary in the larger scheme of things Pallam’s love track with Maria (Shwetambari Ghute) is quite meaningless. While the comedy is entertaining, the other portion of the drama is dull. The duo’s dialogues are good in comic scenes and alright otherwise.
Sayaji Shinde shines as Pallam. He is especially very good in comic scenes. Nagraj Manjule performs well as police inspector Raya Patil. Akash Thosar (as Raju) is okay in a role that gives him limited scope. Sayali Patil is so-so as Laxmi. Deepti Devi (as Namrata), Shwetambari Ghute (as Maria), Pravin Dalimbkar (as Naxalite Bhurya) and Kishore Kadam (as local MLA Patil) lend routine support. Others are adequate.
Hemant Jangal Awtade’s direction is routine. A.V. Prafullachandra’s music is good but the absence of hit songs is felt. Vaibhav Deshmukh has penned fair lyrics. Ganesh Acharya’s choreography is appealing. Background music is alright. Vikram Almadi’s cinematography is of a fine standard. K. Ganesh has choreographed the action scenes properly. Having said that, it must be added that the action scenes are too lengthy. Kiran Gadekar and Sheshraj Manjule’s art direction is alright. Kutub Inamdar’s editing should’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Ghar Banduk Biryani is an average fare.
Released on 7-4-’23 at Plaza (daily 3 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay by Zee Studios. Publicity: good. Opening: fair (due to good publicity and the Good Friday holiday).