- Date of Release: 30 October 2023
- Genre: Drama
- Language: Marathi
- Watch At: MAMI Film Festival
Dhekun
Introduction
Onto the next MAMI release and I have finished watching the new Marathi short film Dhekun, a part of the Marathi Group 2 of short films playing at the MAMI film festival. I must admit that I was slightly disappointed with the lineup of Marathi films at MAMI, not because of the quality of the products, but for the reason that some of the recently released films this year which are also available on OTT, are a part of MAMI. I wouldn’t have had an issue if only a couple of films were repeated, but to have an entire slate of films(most, not all) which were previously released only this year was slightly a dampener. However, it was some of the short films that seemed interesting, and one of them was the Marathi film Dhekun. As always, I did venture into the film without knowing what to expect, so then does Dhekun manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
Dhekun follows the story of a son suffering from the problem of bedbugs who suddenly stumbles upon a startling family secret. What happens next? The story here is nuanced and subtle while presenting a very matured take on a modern day relationship between a son and his mother. And this was particularly refreshing given that the story was not set in a metro city, which added intrinsic layers of maturity and freshness to the drama. The screenplay standing at 25 minutes works wonderfully well due to the non-hurried nature of the drama that has the ability to suck you into the narrative through its world building, while keeping the ‘mystery’ intact until the very end.
The drama opens with the introduction of the character of the son, a matured individual who shares a cordial relationship with his single mother. The setting is of a little village that has a sense of calmness to the proceedings. And the setting also represents the mood and mindset of the protagonist who seems to be calm and collected but in process of finding his identity. The writers introduce a conflict in the screenplay which might seem to be stray and frivolous but it has a large impact to the drama, overall speaking. The issue of bedbugs troubling the protagonist is handled with poise while never straying away from the tone of the drama which was never a comedy in the first place. And there is a sense of mystery to the proceedings with respect to certain unsaid actions of a particular character.
The proceedings are engrossing while the makers continue with the non-hurried events while dropping subtle hints that act as a foreshadow for the ultimate reveal. I also liked the integration of an episode from the Mahabharata and equating the same with the drama which was unfolding here. The parallels that could be drawn were uncanny and credit to the writers for exploiting the same. The drama does meander a little before bringing the issue of the bedbugs to the fore while leading the protagonist to a startling revelation. I did feel that the revelation was good but probably another 5 to 10 minutes could have been devoted towards a back story of sorts while also enunciating the mindset of the protagonist, which would culminate into a heartwarming ending. That may have had a better impact on the minds of the viewers. But overall, the screenplay is wonderfully restrained while beautifully exploiting the complexities of modern day relationships with a past.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational and sparingly used, mostly relying of the stillness of the drama to convey the mood. The BGM is subtle and never overpowers the drama. The cinematography is beautiful and the first shot of a reflection in water just sets the tone of the drama beautifully. The editing is sharp and crisp. Director Kshitij Joshi does a wonderful job by handling a complex subject with utmost sensitivity. And his ability to play with the stillness of the drama was simply incredible to witness.
Performances
The performances are outstanding here. Pranjali Shrikant(you may know her from the outstanding film Aatmapamphlet) as Anandi has such a towering presence at a very young age, and she does a wonderful job here despite a very limited screen time. This is a name that you shall here more often going ahead! Ketaki Narayan as the mother is a woman of few words. But her expressions and eyes speak a thousand words that is reflective of the emotional baggage that she has been carrying within her. She was just wonderfully restrained and brilliant to watch. Atharva Shaligram as Vasu had such a complex character to essay with him being matured but also having to showcase his vulnerability with respect to his identity. And he hits all the right notes throughout the film. He was a joy to witness onscreen, showing restraint while emoting beautifully.
Conclusion
As a part of our MAMI coverage, Dhekun is a subtly nuanced tale of secrets and acceptance, and boasting of wonderful performances that makes for a heartfelt watch.
