Irada Entertainment, Rajesh Mapuskar and Magic Pictures’ Hirkani (Marathi) is the story of a brave mother whom Shivaji honours by naming a chowk after her. The story is based in the 1600s when Shivaji Maharaj was fighting the Mughals.
Jeeva (Amit Khedekar) lives with his wife, Hirkani (Sonali Kulkarni), and mother, Saguna (Vimal Mhatre), at the foot of Raigad fort. He works for Shivaji and is part of the warrior’s group headed by Bahirji Naik (Makarand Deshpande). Hirkani sells milk. Soon, Hirkani delivers a baby boy.
One day, when Jeeva is away with Bahirji Naik and other soldiers to capture Janjira fort from the Mughals, Hirkani has to go to Raigad fort to supply milk as Shivaji Maharaj is celebrating Kojagiri poornima in the fort. Her neighbour, Bhima mavshi (Mangal Ahire), volunteers to look after Hirkani’s child as Saguna has to be taken to the doctor at the same time.
Hirkani goes to the fort and when she is preparing to leave for home, she spots injured soldiers. On learning that they are the soldiers who’ve returned from the Janjira fort, she fears that Jeeva would be among them. She frantically searches for Jeeva but doesn’t find him among the injured. This takes so much time that the doors of the fort are closed when she reaches them. She requests the door-keeper to open them but he pleads helplessness as, according to rules, the doors would open the next morning only.
Concerned about her little son at home, Hirkani does the impossible. She climbs down the fort from an unmanned exit. One wrong step could cost her her life but the brave Hirkani manages to reach home, although bruised, where she finds her son safe and sound. Shivaji Maharaj decides to honour Hirkani for her bravery and for being such a concerned mother, by naming a chowk in the fort after her, the next day. Hirkani is reunited with her husband and mother-in-law too.
Prasad Gangawane’s story is taken out of history books as it is based on a true-life incident. The story is inspirational and makes the viewers’ chests swell with pride. Chinmay Mandlekar’s screenplay is engaging and interesting. The drama keeps the viewers engrossed from the start to the finish. Although the drama lacks emotions and comedy, it appeals because it is uplifting and inspirational. Chinmay Mandlekar has penned appealing dialogues.
Sonali Kulkarni shines in the title role. She is natural to the core. Amit Khedekar performs well in the role of Jeeva. Vimal Mhatre lends fair support as Saguna. Prasad Oak gets very little scope as Shivaji Maharaj; he is alright. Mangal Ahire makes her presence felt as Bhima mavshi. Makarand Deshpande (as Bahirji Naik), Rajshree Thakur (as Soyarabai), Aishwarya Rajesh (as Chandri) and Prajakta Vadye (as Lachchi) lend average support. Jitendra Joshi, Pushkar Shrotri, Siddharth Chandekar, Priyadarshan Jadhav, Hemant Dhome, Kshiti Jog, Rahul Ranade, Chinmay Mandlekar, Neha Joshi, Shubha Gokhale and Mayank Oak shine in the Rajyabhishek song and lend star value.
Prasad Oak’s direction is nice. Amitraj’s music is quite good; the Rajyabhishek song is the best. Lyrics (Kavi Bhushan, Sandeep Khare and Sanjay Krushnaji Patil) go well with the film’s mood. Subhash Nakashe’s choreography is excellent. Narendra Bhide’s background music is splendid. Sanjay Memane does a fine job of the camerawork. Amar Shetty’s action and stunts are okay. Santosh Phutane deserves kudos for his excellent art direction. Editing (Apurva Motiwale Sahay and Ashish Mhatre) is sharp.
On the whole, Hirkani is an entertainer and will, therefore, score well at the turnstiles.
Released on 24-10-’19 at Bharatmata (daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Sunshine Studios. Publicity: grand. Opening: good.