Dhyanimani

Dhyanimani (Marathi film) review :

Adapted from its namesake Marathi play which attracted critical and commercial acclaim in the early 90's , Mahesh Manjrekar produced and Chandrakant Kulkarni directed Dhyanimani doesn't match up to the recent 'play-to-cinema translations' like 'Katyar Kaljat Ghusali' (2015) and 'Natsamrat' (2016). Most of the time, the psychological thriller is let down by its own predictability.

A young couple Samir (Abhijeet Khandkekar) and Aparna (Mrunmayee Deshpande) visit the elderly Sadanand Kaka's (Mahesh Manjrekar) Konkan side resort for an outing. They are welcomed by his wife Shalini (Ashwini Bhave) who suggests the couple stay in their own house for better hospitality.

Shalini is a doting mother to Mohit who is away on a school picnic. When Mohit doesn't return late in the night, Shalini panics and sends Sadanand to look for him. Samir and Aparna offer help. What they discover is shocking to say the least...

The movie starts off well with a gripping first half hour. However, the background score plays spoilsport by making you guess the twist in the plot quite early (atleast I could even without watching the original play!!).

Anyways, the big revelation is done at intermission point itself after which the movie gets down to explain the 'why' and 'what next' aspect of it. Frankly, even that part is sloppy and the climax, though shocking, doesn't appear entirely convincing.

Of the cast, Mahesh Manjrekar is refreshingly restrained as the mature and accommodating husband. It's one of his best performance - a meaty role which he nails completely. Ashwini Bhave tends to go OTT in certain crucial scenes. Mrunmayee Deshpande impresses as the pregnant lady unwittingly thrown in to a crisis.

Dhyanimani could've offered more thrills and chills if only it had not been so goddamn predictable. I would recommend you to toss a coin. Heads you go to the cinemas this weekend; tails you wait for its tv premiere.

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.