RAGHU 350’ (MARATHI) REVIEW

The Raghu 350 (Marathi; UA) by Sudarshan Film Entertainment explores corruption in college politics. Studying at the same college, Raghu (Vijay Gite) and Shantanu (Chinmay Udgirkar) are close friends. Raghu enjoys giving a hand to everybody. Shantanu is very involved in all campus events. Aditi Kamble's Charutha is loved by Shantanu.

Raghu is getting ready to run for the college elections, but on the yearly day he gets jailed. Three years out from jail, Raghu and pal Bandya (Tanaji Galgunde) operate a motor workshop. Like Shantanu during their college years, Raghu too works for Bhaiya Saheb (Sanjay Khapre), a gram panchayat leader. The gram panchayat elections are not far off. Opposing Bhaiya Saheb this year will be Shantanu, who also heads an NGO helping farmers and others. Though Shantanu had maintained a distance from Raghu after his detention and for other reasons too, the former expects that the latter will paint for him rather than for Bhaiya Saheb. Raghu leaves Bhaiya Saheb to accompany Shantanu. The elections are won by whom? Will Shantanu and Charutha get married?

The plot of Vijay Gite is not unique as older movies also have films with similar narrative lines—two buddies separating ways, then reuniting, same love interest, etc.). The script of Abhishek Narayangaonkar is not very interesting as most of the times it consists of expected events. The drama has not many high spots. Dialogues by Mahesh Vaskar and Nilesh Katke are ordinary.

Fair as Raghu is Vijay Gite. In the part of Shantanu, Chinmay Udgirkar looks well and behaves naturally. As Bhaiya Saheb creates a good impression, Sanjay Khapre does also. As Charutha, Aditi Kamble performs a decent job. As Bandya, Tanaji Galgunde leaves his mark. As Rajesh, Rohit Aawale is good. As Raghu's father, Shivraj Walvekar has moments. Among the ordinary supporters are Milind Dastane (the college principal), Mahima Waghmode (as Nisha), Bharat Shinde (as Gopya), and Rambhau Jagtap (as Vinayakrao). Others go by pass.

The directing of Ashish Madke is mediocre. Fairly good is Music (Ashwin G. Bhandare and Omkar Swaroop). Lyrics (Prof. Dr. Vinayak Pawar, Suhas Munde and Ashwin G. Bhandare) are okay. Amit Baing and Dax Mathew’s choreography is average. Ashwin Bhandare’s background music is passable. Karan Tandale’s cinematography is good. Robert John Fonseca’s action and stunts are quite thrilling. Anand Sathe & Team’s art direction is functional. Sunil Jadhav’s editing ought to have been sharper.