Shree Natraj Pictures’ Adham (Marathi; UA; meaning ‘Crook’) is the story of a man who has to choose between his guardian and his beloved.
Vicky (Santosh Juvekar) has been raised by Anna Bhosale (Kishor Kadam) after being orphaned in his childhood. Anna Bhosale is the ring leader of a mining mafia around Pune. For years, Vicky has looked after the interests of his godfather as he is the trusted henchman.
Vicky falls in love with Nandini (Gauri Nalawade). The problem is that Nandini is a key member of the anti-mining mafia movement in and around Pune. Vicky is confused. On the one hand is his lady love and on the other is his loyalty towards Anna Bhosale who wants to eliminate Nandini. Whom does Vicky go with?
Abhishek Arvind Kelkar and Tushar Anil Khandge’s story is clichéd and devoid of any novelty. The drama, therefore, does not completely involve the audience. In fact, the predictability of their screenplay comes in the way of the audience’s enjoyment of the drama. Abhishek Arvind Kelkar’s dialogues are dull.
Santosh Juvekar does well as Vicky. Gauri Nalawade is fair in the role of Nandini. Kishor Kadam shines as Anna Bhosale. Shashank Shende lends good support as Datta Bhau. Suhas Palshikar (as Deshpande sir), Suhas Shirsat (as Ranjeet), Umesh Jagtap (as Mane) and Padmanabh Bind (as Sameer) lend ordinary support.
Abhishek Arvind Kelkar’s direction is hardly better than his routine script. Rohit Nagbhide’s music and background score are so-so. Lyrics (Vaibhav Deshmukh and Vaibhav Joshi) are alright. Choreography (by Siddesh Dalvi and Subhash Nakashe) is functional. Dhanesh Potdar’s cinematography is commonplace. Action and stunt scenes (by Prashant Naik) are just about okay. Padmanabh Damle’s art direction hardly deserves mention. Santosh Gothoskar’s editing is alright.
On the whole, Adham is too dull to make any mark whatsoever at the box-office.
Released on 28-6-’19 at Bharatmata (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Sunshine Studios. Publicity & opening: poor.