Released last week in U.P. (at Dehradun), Pragya Kapoor, Ek Saath Foundation and Heart-Art Production’s Maali (UA) is the story of two girls, Sakshi and Tulsi. Living in the mountains, Tulsi treats nature as her companion. She faces challenges when she accompanies an anxious and depressed Sakshi to the city.
Shiv C. Shetty and Sonali Rana have penned a very ordinary story and a dull screenplay, both of which cannot hold the audience’s attention for too long. The drama often gets very boring and even dull. The duo’s dialogues are routine.
Auroshikha Dey is so-so as Sakshi. Anita Negi is average as Tulsi. Sujata Sharma (as Sujata), Ishan Anuan Singh and Hemwant Tiwari provide routine support. Others pass muster.
Shiv C. Shetty’s direction is immature. Shashwat Mall’s music is hardly appealing. Camerawork (by Hrithik Shankar Naudiyal and Ankit Shrestha) is fair. Neha Mehra’s editing is loose.
On the whole, Maali is a weak fare.
It collected Rs. 94,361/- in the first week at SilverCity, Dehradun.