Satarcha Salman

Story: Arun’s dream of becoming an actor has remained unfulfilled and he’s ridiculed by the village. However, Arun challenges the entire village that his son will fulfil his dream and become a superstar. This dream becomes Amit’s journey.

Review: Satarcha Salman has been in the news for a few years and the film finally has released in cinemas now. It’s a simple story of a boy from a rural area who is initially thrust into prepping to be a movie star by his father but who, one day, vows not to even set foot near a shooting setup in his life. But things change and the inevitable happens - Amit, aka Satarcha Salman (Suyog Gorhe) becomes part of a film as an actor. Does he realise his father Arun’s (Makarand Deshpande) dream of becoming a superstar though?

Satarcha Salman is one of those movies that has its heart in the right place but with a story that has been explored in one form or the other over many years. A simpleton’s journey from being a nobody to someone who matters, along with the struggle that’s part of the journey – that’s broadly what this film is about. Ten years ago, Satarcha Salman would’ve worked, but in 2023, it stands out as a sore thumb in a world that’s evolving daily in terms of viewer content. Director Hemant Dhome has been at the top of his game with films like Jhimma and Sunny in the recent past but Satarcha Salman, which, in all probability, has been shot before these, is not even close to the other two. Prasad Bhende’s cinematography is worth appreciating though.

The actors are genuine in this one and they perform with sincerity, but in a predictable and lackadaisical story, their efforts only manage to hold the viewer’s attention in spurts. Suyog Gorhe is natural, as is Sayali Sanjeev. Akshay Tanksale brings comic relief and is an interesting character to watch. Makarand Deshpande and Anand Ingale are relegated to caricatures while Shivani Surve adds glamour to the equation. Other actors and directors appear in surprise cameos, but don’t bring much to the table.

Ultimately, Satarcha Salman promises fanfare and a heart-warming experience, but fails to deliver in both departments.