Sudarshan Film Entertainment’s Raghu 350 (Marathi; UA) is about college politics and corruption. Raghu (Vijay Gite) and Shantanu (Chinmay Udgirkar) are bosom pals and study in the same college. Raghu likes to help everyone. Shantanu takes active interest in all college activities. Shantanu loves Charutha (Aditi Kamble).
Raghu is gearing up to contest the college elections but he is arrested on the college annual day. Following his release from prison after three years, Raghu and friend Bandya (Tanaji Galgunde) open a motor garage. Raghu also works for Bhaiya Saheb (Sanjay Khapre), a gram panchayat leader, as he used to do alongwith Shantanu during their college days. The gram panchayat elections are around the corner. Contesting in opposition of Bhaiya Saheb this year will be Shantanu who, incidentally, runs an NGO and helps farmers and others. Although Shantanu had kept a distance from Raghu after his arrest and for other reasons too, the former hopes that the latter would canvas for him rather than for Bhaiya Saheb. Does Raghu leave Bhaiya Saheb and join Shantanu? Who wins the elections? Do Shantanu and Charutha marry?
Vijay Gite’s story offers no novelty as films with similar story lines (two friends parting ways, then uniting, common love interest, etc.) have been seen in earlier films too. Abhishek Narayangaonkar’s screenplay is not very engaging as it abounds in predictable scenes most of the times. There are not many high points in the drama. Dialogues (by Mahesh Vaskar and Nilesh Katke) are average.
Vijay Gite is fair as Raghu. Chinmay Udgirkar looks handsome and acts ably in the role of Shantanu. Sanjay Khapre leaves a nice mark as Bhaiya Saheb. Aditi Kamble does a reasonable job as Charutha. Tanaji Galgunde makes his presence felt as Bandya. Rohit Aawale (as Rajesh) is okay. Shivraj Walvekar has his moments as Raghu’s father. Milind Dastane (as the college principal), Mahima Waghmode (as Nisha), Bharat Shinde (as Gopya) and Rambhau Jagtap (as Vinayakrao) provide average support. Others pass muster.
Ashish Madke’s direction is ordinary. Music (Ashwin G. Bhandare and Omkar Swaroop) is fair. Lyrics (Prof. Dr. Vinayak Pawar, Suhas Munde and Ashwin G. Bhandare) are okay. Amit Baing and Dax Mathew’s choreography is average. Ashwin Bhandare’s background music is passable. Karan Tandale’s cinematography is good. Robert John Fonseca’s action and stunts are quite thrilling. Anand Sathe & Team’s art direction is functional. Sunil Jadhav’s editing ought to have been sharper.
On the whole, Raghu 350 is a flop show.
Released on 6-9-’24 at Glamour (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Filmastra Studios. Publicity & opening: poor.