Priyatama

Plot: The film is based on Shakespeare’s 'Romeo and Juliet' and is a romantic journey of two lovers belonging to different strata of the society

Review: While 'Romeo and Juliet' has been adapted in the Indian film industry n number of times, this time it happens in the Marathi industry. It is actually more inspired by 'Ram-Leela' albeit with little modifications.

Coming from the ‘potraj’ community, Parshuram’s (Siddharth Jadhav) life is dedicated to serving Goddess Mariaai. He is someone who lives a simple life with his mother and brother until one day when he bumps into Gauri (Girija Joshi), who is the village sarpanch’s daughter. It is love at first sight for both of them but the feeling takes time to sink in. Following a series of hurdles, including the difference in their living standard and upbringing, they decide to get married. Unfortunately Juliet Gauri’s father catches Romeo Parshuram when he is about to tie a mangalsutra around her neck. What happens next is the same old ‘girl’s-family-chases-both-of-them-while-they-escape’ situation and the climax does not need any special elaboration, does it?

The crux of the story is the same as 'Romeo and Juliet' and it is only the setting that changes. If nothing else, the texture and colours used in the film deserve special mention even though they are quite similar to that of 'Ram-Leela'. Siddharth Jadhav is the last person one would expect to be a part of a love story especially one like this, but his powerhouse performance is laudable. Girija does not have much acting to do but she brings a certain kind of freshness with her screen presence.

Artistically sound, is what the film is. Watch this one if you are a fan of the ‘pyaar ke liye qurbani’ type of love stories.