Tips Films Ltd.’s Sridevi Prasanna (Marathi; UA) is a love story. Sridevi (Sai Tamhankar) and Prasanna (Siddharth Chandekar) meet through a matrimonial site. While Sridevi approves of Prasanna, the latter does not. Sridevi’s family is modern and her grandmother (Sulbha Arya) and father (Sanjay Mone), especially, want that she go in for a love marriage rather than an arranged one. Sridevi’s brother (Sameer Khandekar), on the other hand, is for arranged marriages.
Despite Sridevi liking Prasanna, she agrees to marry Rishikesh (Siddharth Bodake). Both, Sridevi and Rishikesh, are professors in the same college. Sridevi’s family approves of Rishikesh. In fact, the family is clueless about Sridevi’s meetings with Prasanna or even about his existence. Meanwhile, Prasanna seems to have found a match in Neerja (Rasika Sunil). But Prasanna then has a change of heart as he starts falling in love with Sridevi.
So do Sridevi and Prasanna get married?
Aditi Moghe’s love story looks contrived more than convincing. Her screenplay raises some questions which she has not answered. If Sridevi’s family is so much in favour of a love marriage, why does she not reveal anything about Prasanna to her family members? And why does she agree to marry Rishikesh in spite of having feelings for Prasanna? Why does Prasanna send his picture with Neerja, to Sridevi? It appears that he does so only to further the drama. Of course, the comedy punches in the drama are truly entertaining but they work irrespective of the main story. In other words, while the comic punches evoke laughter, the love story and drama are found lacking. Therefore, the audience doesn’t experience a fulfillment one needs to experience in a love story — and this, despite laughing a lot. Aditi Moghe’s comic dialogues are punch-packed and evoke laughter.
Sai Tamhankar acts very well in the role of Sridevi. Siddharth Chandekar does a fine job as Prasanna. Siddharth Bodake is alright as Rishikesh. Rasika Sunil lends good support as Neerja. Sulbha Arya makes a lovely mark as Sridevi’s grandmother. Sanjay Mone makes his presence felt as Sridevi’s father. Vandana Sardesi is adequate in the role of Sridevi’s mother. Sameer Khandekar and Aakanksha Gade are natural as Sridevi’s brother and sister-in-law. Ramakant Dayama and Shubhangi Gokhale lend fair support as Prasanna’s parents. Rahul Pethe definitely has his moments as Prasanna’s friend, Gaurav. Pallavi Paranjape is effective as Gaurav’s wife. Pooja Wankhede, Siddharth Mahashabde and Jiyansh Parde are alright. Shreyas Talpade adds star value in a brief appearance in a song-dance number.
Vishal Vimal Modhave’s direction is average. While he has embellished the film with entertaining comedy, his narration of the main drama leaves something to be desired. Amitraj’s music is good. The redone version of the Dekha jo tujhe yaar (Hindi) song is the best number. Kshitij Patwardhan’s lyrics are nice. Pappu Maalu and Sagar Das’ choreography is appealing. Aditya Bedekar’s background music is quite good. Arjun Vishwas Sorte’s cinematography is eye-filling. Mahesh Kudalkar’s art direction is of a fine standard. Faisal Mahadik’s editing is sharp.
On the whole, Sridevi Prasanna may make the viewers laugh because of entertaining comedy but it will not score at the box-office because its crux — the love story — is too ordinary.
Released on 2-2-’24 at Plaza (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru AA Films. Publicity: very good. Opening: ordinary.