‘SARJA’ (MARATHI) REVIEW | 14 April, 2023

Rajvardhan Films Creation’s Sarja (Marathi; UA) is the story of a young and smart man in the village.

Sarja (Tushar Nagargoje), Gauri (Jyoti Shetasandhi) and Dhanraj (Aakash Patkar) are childhood friends who are now in college. Vaishali (Aishwarya Bhalerao) joins their college. Sarja and Vaishali become friends. Their friendship soon turns into romance. But Vaishali dumps Sarja who feels dejected. Meanwhile, Dhanraj is in love with Gauri (who is the daughter of the village patil) but the latter treats him only as a good friend. This agitates Dhanraj who is the son of the village sarpanch. What happens thereafter?

Dhananjay Manohar Khandale has penned a routine story and a dull screenplay. The drama, therefore, never really involves the viewers. Several twists and turns are predictable and rob the drama of the excitement quotient. Khandale’s dialogues are dull.

Tushar Nagargoje is average in the title role. Jyoti Shetasandhi does an ordinary job as Gauri. Aishwarya Bhalerao is okay as Vaishali. Aakash Petkar is so-so as Dhanraj. Anil Nagarkar, Rohit Chavan, Jagannath Ghadge, Vishnu Kedkar, Prashant Pise, Gauri Khadale and Kunal Gaikwad provide routine support.

Dhananjay Manohar Khandale’s direction is dull. Harshit Abhiraj’s music is below the mark. Lyrics (Vaibhav Deshmukh and Dhananjay Manohar Khandale) are okay. Aadesh Vaidya’s choreography hardly deserves separate mention. Background music (by Harshit Abhiraj and Santosh) is so-so. Rahul Motling’s camerawork is okay. Art direction (by Sunil Londhe and Anand Sathe) is nothing to shout about. Subodh Narkar’s editing is loose.

On the whole, Sarja is a dull and drab film.

Released on 14-4-’23 at City Light (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Box Hit Movies. Publicity & opening: poor.