Everest Entertainment, Mulakshar Productions Pvt. Ltd. and Raajwarasa Productions’ Sapala (Marathi; UA) is a thriller.
Uday Rohekar (Sameer Dharmadhikari) is a writer-director of films. His last few films have flopped and so he behaves weirdly. His wife, Chitra (Dipti Ketkar) , had suffered a heart attack. Living with Uday and Chitra is their maid, Kaushalya (Neha Joshi). Actually, there is a secret about Kaushalya, which only Uday knows.
One day, a film writer, Deepak (Chinmay Mandlekar), comes to narrate a subject to Uday and Chitra. Things go awry during the script narration. In the aftermath, Chitra dies. Deepak now decides to write the script based on the incidents that transpired at Uday’s house. Uday himself agrees to collaborate with Deepak in the scripting. What happens thereafter?
How did Chitra die? Does the film get made? Is it successful? Does Deepak get credit for the script? What is the secret about Kaushalya?
Shriniwas Bhanage’s story is quite weird. Uday’s plan, revealed in the end, is childish and too round and about. His screenplay is contrived and, therefore, fails to engage the viewers. Shriniwas Bhanage’s dialogues aren’t up to the mark.
Chinmay Mandlekar does a fine job as Deepak. Sameer Dharmadhikari performs ably as Uday Rohekar. Dipti Ketkar is okay in the role of Chitra. Neha Joshi is impressive as Kaushalya. Sunil Jadhav and Nakshatra Medhekar lend fair support.
Nikhil Lanjekar’s direction is below the mark, limited as it is by the weak script. Devdutta Manisha Baji’s music is barely passable and even his background score is nothing to dance about. Digpal Lanjekar’s lyrics are so-so. Priyanka Mayekar’s camerawork is ordinary. Action and stunt scenes (by Prashant Naik) are average. Pratik Redij’s art direction is ordinary. Sagar Vishwanath Shinde’s editing needed to be sharper.
On the whole, Sapala is a flop show.
Released on 26-1-’24 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PVR Inox Pictures. Publicity & opening: poor.