Veejee Films’ Aatli Baatmi Futli (Marathi; UA) is a story about life. Sachin (Siddharth Jadhav) is an autorickshaw driver, who has raised a little girl he found abandoned in his autorickshaw. The girl has a hole in her heart and the only way she can survive is surgery which will entail a heavy cost. Driven to desperation, Sachin steals money from a bank. While returning to the hospital, he lands up in an old couple’s house in a chawl. To his shock, the husband, Bhaskar Wankhede (Dr. Mohan Agashe), is planning the murder of his wife, Savita (Rohini Hattangady). It soon emerges that Bhaskar also wants to die. The contrast is too much: Sachin is trying hard to save his adopted daughter’s life while the old couple is trying just as hard to end their lives. What happens finally? Do the Wankhedes die? Does Sachin succeed in saving his daughter’s life?
Jainesh Ijardar’s story is neither too convincing nor too engaging. Except for the shocking ending, it doesn’t quite appeal. The screenplay, written by Jeevak Muntode, Amman Advani, Jainesh Ijardar and Vishal P. Gandhi, is quite weak, especially in the first half. The attempt to tickle the funny bone is disastrous as the light moments simply fail to make the viewers laugh. The drama after interval is better but only at times. However, even the post-interval portion is unable to move the viewers emotionally. Climax is definitely good and has shock value. Jeevak Muntode and Adwait Karambelkar’s dialogues are okay; they should’ve been more hard-hitting.
Siddharth Jadhav acts ably as Sachin. Dr. Mohan Agashe delivers a fine performance in the role of Bhaskar Wankhede. Rohini Hattangady makes a fine mark as Savita Wankhede. Pritam Kagne has her moments as Lalita. Vijay Nikam irritates as Tiger Bhai because of the devoid-of-comedy light scenes he has. Bharat Ganeshpure is ordinary as police inspector Gore. Even his comedy falls flat on its face. Ananda Karekar is unimpressive as Patil Kaka. Baby Treesha Thosar is fair as Sachin’s adopted daughter, Meenu. Amir Tadwalkar is average as Simon. Gautami Patil makes her presence felt in an item song. Amol Kagne, Rajendra Jadhav, Anagha Joshi, Sachin Bhilare, Shashank Wadekar, Jagruti Datir, Sunil Pendulkar, Sonu Ahire, Sushant and the others lend weak support.
Vishal P. Gandhi and Jainesh Ijardar’s direction is dull. Agnel Roman’s music, and Chaitanya Kulkarni’s lyrics are okay. Song picturisations (by Rahul Thombre and Tijo George) are fair. Sai-Piyush’s background music ought to have been better. Amit Suresh Kodoth’s camerawork is fairly good. Production designing (by Ravi Naik) is functional. Ravi Chauhan’s editing should’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Aatli Baatmi Futli is a flop show.
Released on 19-9-’25 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Filmastra Studios. Publicity: so-so. Opening: weak.
