Allu Entertainment and Matchbox Shots’ Three Of Us is, as the title suggests, the story of three persons — a lady suffering from dementia, her husband, and her college friend.
Shailaja (Shefali Shah) is forced to take early retirement from her job in the family court as she has been diagnosed with dementia. With her condition, it is not rare for her to often forget things. Her husband, Dipankar (Swanand Kirkire), loves her and cares for her. But they seem to be living a mundane life. Their only son has gone to another city for his studies.
One day, Shailaja asks her husband to take her to Vengurla, a town in Maharashtra, where she had spent some of her childhood days. She is keen to meet Pradeep Kamat (Jaideep Ahlawat), her childhood friend, there. Shailaja and Pradeep had been in love with one another but once Shailaja and her family had left the village all of a sudden, she had never met Pradeep again. They meet now after 30 years. Pradeep’s wife is understanding and actually encourages him to spend time with Shailaja. So, Shailaja, Dipankar and Pradeep visit places, including their school, together. An old horrific memory haunts Shailaja and she feels uneasy. What is that memory? Finally, just a day before Shailaja and Dipankar have to depart, Shailaja and Pradeep spend time by themselves on a giant wheel. Pradeep rediscovers himself in the time spent with Shailaja. On her part, Shailaja comes to terms with her past including the horrific memory she has of Vengurla.
Omkar Achyut Barve, Arpita Chatterjee and Avinash Arun Dhaware have written a story and screenplay which will appeal only to a very thin section of the class and mature audience because the drama is depressing. Of course, it is a heartfelt story and screenplay about a patient of dementia as she struggles with her deteriorating brain functioning but everything that’s sincere is not entertaining too — and what the audience looks for in a film first and foremost is entertainment. Also, the pace of the screenplay is extremely slow, adding to the viewers’ boredom. Since the drama is quite realistic and subdued, there isn’t any of the kind of highs which viewers are used to seeing in films. Emotions are lacking. In a film of this kind, the drama would’ve worked better if the audience were moved to tears. It must be added here that there’s a lot of difference between a depressing drama (which this is) and a sentimental one (which this isn’t). Varun Grover and Shoaib Nazeer’s dialogues may be realistic but they aren’t very forceful or impactful.
Shefali Shah does a fine job as Shailaja. Jaideep Ahlawat is excellent in the role of Pradeep Kamat. His expressions and silence speak as much as the dialogues he mouths. Swanand Kirkire is wonderfully restrained as Dipankar. Kadambari Kadam lends lovely support as Pradeep’s wife, Sarika. Neena Kulkarni has her moments as Kurankar Madam. Sharvari Lohokare is natural as Gauri. Ojasvi Berde and Radha Dharane are cute in the roles of Riddhi and Katha respectively. Shruja Prabhudesai is alright as Rupali. Usha Naik makes her mark as the old lady. Shekhar Samant, Prajakta Samant, Savali Samant and Saloni Samant (as the family travelling in the train), Omkar Patil (as the kid), Supriya Prabhumirashi (as the grandmother), Akshara Kunte (as young Shailaja), Yash Marathe (as young Pradeep), and the others lend the desired support.
Avinash Arun Dhaware’s direction is mature but it caters to the elite audience only. Alokananda Dasgupta’s music is okay. Varun Grover’s poems are in synch with the mood of the film. Avinash Arun Dhaware’s cinematography is appealing. Ashok Lokare and A. Rucha’s production designing is appropriate. Sanyukta Kaza’s editing is sharp.
On the whole, Three Of Us may be a heartfelt film but it is meant more for the festival circuit than for the general public. Its performance at the box-office will, therefore, be dull.
Released on 3-11-’23 at Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Karmic Films. Publicity: so-so. Opening: weak. …….Also released all over. Opening was poor everywhere.