Unaad
Introduction
It is still a Monday and a start of another wonderful week. And with the weekend releases out of the way, I have got myself some rime to explore and scout for content which are doing the rounds across various OTT platforms. First up, I finished watching the new Marathi film Unaad which is now streaming on Jio Cinema. There were two reasons which prompted me to opt for this film. Firstly, Unaad did give me a vibe of a slice of life, coming of age drama which is honestly one of my newfound favourite genres currently. Secondly, I stumbled upon the fact that the director of Unaad Aditya Sarpotdar had previously directed the hilarious Zom-Com(Zombie Comedy) Zombivli, a film that I had absolutely adored. Besides this, I knew nothing on what Unaad had to offer and I decided to go into the movie blind. So then does Unaad manage to impress, lets find out.
Story & Screenplay
Set in the Konkan region, Unaad follows the coming of age tale of three boys who get involved in a bit of an issue following an incident. Will life give them a second chance? The story here is sweet and refreshing particularly with respect to the setting of the drama. My first thoughts about the film was that though this was a Marathi film, it had a soul of a Malayalam film. And I say that because Malayalam films are known to take a slender story and weave a nuanced screenplay around it. And that is exactly the case with Unaad wherein the screenplay standing at a shade above a 100 minutes does make for a leisurely yet textured watch with plenty of heartfelt emotions.
The drama does open with the introduction of the principal characters against the backdrop of a beautiful coastal town/village. The setting itself was a breath of fresh air which was almost a reminiscent of the setting in Killa(with a different age demographic). There was a vibe of positivity to it which reflected beautifully on the drama that was unfolding. Soon, the writers dwell into the character development and the dynamics between characters that essentially fuels the narrative ahead. You are acquainted with the young protagonist who is basically aimless in life while whiling away his time by acting as a tour guide and chilling with his friends. Soon the writers introduce a conflict immediately after the protagonist suffers a heartbreak thus resulting in a chain of events that justify the coming of age saga.
The proceedings are interesting and engrossing wherein you are invested in the journey of the characters. I did feel that certain elements in the story were slightly manipulative and far fetched(for instance the incident that gets the protagonist in trouble) but wholistically it did not hamper my viewing experience. The writers do well in controlling the melodrama while keeping things light and frothy throughout. At no point, does the drama get heavy or stretched. Another thing done well with respect to the writing is the representation of the Koli culture which was accurately depicted.
The events in the second hour begin on a rocky note with respect to the characters given the situation that they find themselves in. So it is the restart that makes for a heartwarming watch wherein the transformation of the characters takes place. The turn of events are warm and would leave you with a tingling feeling of positivity. My only issue at the end was that things did get a little preachy and a little too simplistic. The final act needed to be spaced out a little more to truly complete the circle of the story and it just fell short. Nevertheless, the screenplay is well written overall and it made for a refreshing viewing.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational but they make for a warm presence that goes perfectly in sync with the refreshing drama. The music and the BGM take you on different levels of emotions while also being well rooted to the Koli culture, something that I found fascinating to watch. The cinematography is beautiful and some of the most breathtaking and scenic scenes of the coastal town of Konkan are captured wonderfully well. The editing is crisp and sharp throughout. Director Aditya Sarpotdar does a wonderful job in weaving a sweet little coming of age story which is filled with tender emotions. Yet, he ensures the fizz in the tale by keeping things light and frothy which is a sign of a wonderful director.
Performances
The performances are wonderful by the ensemble cast. Avinash Khednekar as Parag and Devki Daftardar as Bandya’s mother have their moments to shine. Priyanka Tendolkar as Swara’s sister is first rate and does a wonderful job in the finale act. Jadhavrao Chinmay as Jameel is just fabulous to watch amd he does such a fine job. Abhishek Bharate as Bandya is wonderfully restrained and so organic in his approach. Hemal Ingale as Swara is feisty and assertive which a towering screen presence and she does a brilliant job. Ashutosh Gaikwad as Shubham has such expressive eyes and they speak a thousand words. His mannerisms and body language gradually change through the film which was representative of his character transformation. An excellent act by a very talented actor!
Conclusion
Unaad is a sweet little coming of age drama with good performances that makes for a refreshing watch. Available on Jio Cinema.
