Ashach Eka Betavar (On an island like this one)

Yet another Marathi movie.  I am getting really hooked onto regional cinema aren’t I? Honestly, not as much.  Because the law of averages had to catch up some time or the other I guess.  After a string of good Marathi movies, I had the misfortune of walking into one that had a standard storyline meant for a thriller but had extremely disappointing execution in all departments.

If you would like to learn more about Ashach Eka Betavar (On an Island like this one), you can take a look at their website - http://www.ashachekabetavar.com/cast-crew.php#!/page.  Quite fancy for a not so high budget Marathi movie.  They may not have got the movie right, but they have got their marketing spends in the right place.  A nice website that gives you enough information and builds intrigue.

 

Intrigue about a storyline that is supposed to be eerie and maybe even horrific but lands up falling flat.  6 people from different walks of life are going through life as they know it best and get a brown envelope with just their name on it.  Just their name.  Nothing else.  No address. No telephone number.  Nothing. Nada. So obviously it was hand delivered by someone who was given it by a shady looking man shown earlier.

 

Inside, they have an invitation to come over to a jetty along with Rs.10000 which is a decent amount of money in this part of the world. Now, most of them are in a situation where they would rather take a boat trip to a desolate island instead of continuing with their daily lives. Lets take a look at the items on display.

 

Shabana (Sai Tamhankar) A dance bar girl (I thought they were banned) who is being stalked by a local goon to sleep with him.  Amita (Madhura Velnakar) who stays with her brother, much to the irritation of her sister in law.  Yashwant (Kamalesh Sawant) who is a hired killer and is running from the cops.  A Saadhu (Mangesh Desai) who is a conman and wants out.  And of course Akash (Ankush Chaudhary), an ex-cop.

 

They reach the island where they meet 5 more people.  The caretaker Sakharam (Sanjay Narvekar) and his wife. A food inspector Dinanath Dharmadhikari (Yatin Karyekar), An advocate T Kamath (Sarad Ponkshe) and a Dr. Vijay (Sanjay Mone).  They reach a house on the island to be welcomed with a CD that informs them of their impending death due to crimes that they have committed and are best known to them only.

 

Surprisingly, after the initial panic, everyone seems to be fine to stay back.  Even after Kamath gets killed on the first night, the rest of the gang seems to be get back to their sprightly swimming pool and song and dance self without batting an eyelid.  One of the many flaws of the movie.  Flaws that appear from the first shot of the eerie man in a trench coat who puts the names of all the victims on the envelopes.

 

AEB is directed by Sanju Hinge was a photographer for 25 years.  But I cannot quite understand how his photography experience doesn’t reflect in the way that the movie looks which is very ordinary at best.  Ditto for the performances as well.  There is really nothing that Hinge or anyone associated with the movies gives you to look forward to.  Law of averages as I said earlier.  4 on 10. And yes – the story is inspired from Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” (Ten Little Niggers / Indians). 

 

Trailer on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WInyVNlffc