Ultra Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.’s Lokshahi (Marathi; UA) is a political-cum-family drama.
Yashwant Chitre (Sameer Dharmadhikari) is an influential politician but he has been paralysed waist-down. Yashwant lives with his father, Gajanan Chitre (Dr. Mohan Agashe), older brother, Prakash (Dr. Girish Oak), sister-in-law, Suhasini (Bhargavi Chirmule), nephew, Sadashiv (Amit Riyaan), niece, Rohini (Sonal Waghmare), and Rohini’s husband, Vishwas Ghadge (Shantanu Moghe). Yashwant’s wife, Uma (Ajita Kulkarni), a social worker, had chosen to live separately, away from her politician-husband. Their daughter, Iravati, was also taken away by Uma when she (Iravati) was still very young. Now grown up, Iravati (Tejashri Pradhan) is also a social worker. Her mother, Uma, is no more. Iravati loves Shridhar (Ankit Mohan), himself a social worker. But relations between Shridhar and Iravati have been strained ever since Shridhar got to know that she was the daughter of Yashwant Chitre. That’s because Shridhar was convinced that Yashwant Chitre was the reason behind his father’s demise.
Anyway, Yashwant Chitre is killed publicly on the day he is to announce his daughter’s name as his political successor. Nephew Sadashiv was keen to step into Yashwant Chitre’s political shoes. So was Sadashiv behind his uncle’s murder? Or was Shridhar the murderer? Or was it someone else? Is the mystery solved?
Sanjay Amar has written a story which has some intrigue, political drama, family drama, romance, etc. However, his screenplay oscillates between the present and the past (flashback), in the process, confusing the viewers, sometimes. It is not clear to the audience why the security officer of Yashwant Chitre disappears soon after Yashwant Chitre is shot dead, because that would clearly indicate to even a dumb person that he (security officer) was involved in the murder. It is also not clear why Sadashiv saves Iravati’s life because he was so keen on becoming Yashwant Chitre’s political successor that he would stand to gain if Iravati was eliminated. It is twists like the above, which dilute the impact of the drama. Emotions are conspicuous by their absence although it is also a family drama, besides being a political one. Sanjay Amar’s dialogues are nice.
Sameer Dharmadhikari acts well as Yashwant Chitre. Tejashri Pradhan is good as Iravati Chitre. Dr. Mohan Agashe lends fair support in the role of Gajanan Chitre. Dr. Girish Oak has his moments as Prakash Chitre. Amit Riyaan is fairly nice as Sadashiv Chitre. Bhargavi Chirmule provides nice support as Prakash Chitre’s wife, Suhasini. Sonal Waghmare is ordinary as Prakash’s daughter, Rohini. Shantanu Moghe is alright in the role of Rohini’s husband, Vishwas Ghadge. Ankit Mohan does an average job as Shridhar. Prasanna Ketkar lends routine support in the role of ACP Vasant Bhosle. Sushrut Mankani (as security officer Kishore Waghmare), Ajita Kulkarni (as Yashwant Chitre’s wife, Uma), Yogita Tharwal (as Shridhar’s paternal aunt, Ashwini), Ashok Kulkarni (as Goverdhan Patil) and the others lend average support.
Sanjay Amar’s direction is so-so. Sanjay-Rajee’s music is fair but there is no song which stands out. Lyrics (by Sanjay Amar and Shyam Malekar) are ordinary. Amey Nare’s background music is excellent and enhances the impact of the drama. Pankaj Kacchhawa and Kasturi Sunil Shelar’s cinematography is alright. Sanjay Amar’s production designing is very nice. Prakash Jha’s editing is reasonably good but could’ve been tighter.
On the whole, Lokshahi is too ordinary to make a mark at the turnstiles.
Released on 9-2-’24 at Glamour (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru AP Communications. Publicity: so-so. Opening: poor.