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Valu (2008)
Three characters, a wild bull, a reluctant forest officer and a village deep in the interior of Maharahstra. The wild bull goes on a rampage destroying a lot in the village and to stop it, a forest officer is called to catch the bull. The Marathi film “Valu” directed by debutant director Umesh Kulkarni has this one line story which forms the skeleton of a interesting two hour movie.
Valu is a village tradition in Maharahstra where a bull is let loose in the village in god’s name. The bull is free to roam anywhere in the small village of Kusavade until it goes berserk and starts destroying crops and the village. To counter the menace, a forest officer is called from the government forest department. What happens after that is what the story about.
Valu is not as much of a story as in having a start or a climax. Its all about catching the bull but then it explores the socio-economic condition with respect to caste, gender and the political struggle. A reluctant forest officer who thinks catching a bull is below his status, a aging village headman (sarpanch), a wannabe sarpanch who wants each and every opportunity to be the sarpanch, a mad woman who is trying to protect the bull, an old woman who is the only one who feeds the bull. a young couple who are separated because of the bull, the village priest who has a bowel problem, his wife who’s only dream is to build her own latrine, a couple who wants to see their daughter be a successful heroine, a villager who is helping the forest officer with everything and prides of his closeness to the officer, the forest officer’s brother who is making the documentary of the whole process make a long list of interesting character each different and each with its dreams and belief.
Capturing their every antics and goof-up is the documentary film maker. It makes the story interesting as each person tries to be best in front of the camera
Valu does not have a hero or heroine but has characters each as important as the other in the movie and the plus point of the movie is the one-line story and a great script. Valu biggest plus point is the script and the characters and the actors who play the characters. Each character has been well-defined, well-etched and does not look like a mere add-on.
While watching Valu, I could not help comparing them with the TV News channel. A political rivalry, a love story, an environmentalist who is in minority, the fascination of reality TV and to capture this all, a film maker who wants to make an exciting documentary. The emphasis of the film maker is to tell an exciting story rather than the truth much aligned to the new channels of today who want to sensationalize the news as an entertainment and not as news.
While watching the movie with Sandeep, he was excited to watch because he could relate a lot to the language and tradition shown in the movie. This is a compliment to the movie to show the Maharahstra as real as possible,
Valu does not have any songs but the background score by Mangesh Dhakde is too good. Another good aspect is the Cinematography by Sudhir Palsane. The dry mountains, the serpentine roads, the village has been captured beautifully. Atul Kulkarni waking up and standing on the door while the sun rises behind him, the dry golden hills, the dark bull standing on the barren hills are some of the shots worth mentioning.
Watch the scene when husband and wife are fighting in a shop as their small daughter watches. Three characters seen through three doors. A wonderful scene.
As for the actors, there are many. Atul Kulkarni as the forest officer, Swanand Gaddamwar is as usual very good. Then there is Dilip Prabhavalkar, Mohan Aghase Bharati Achrekar, Amruta Subhash, Jyoti Subash and many others. A worthy mention is Girish Kulkarni who plays the role of Jeevan, the man who helps the forest officer around the village. Amruta Subhash did seem to be a little out playing the village girl but by the end of the movie she did seem to hold on quite well.
I wish the editing was more crisp as some scenes seem to drag a little but then its a minor drawback.
I was losing faith on Marathi movies again with some pathetic release the last few months with most movies being a poor remakes of English or Hindi movies. Kedar Shinde’s last two movies namely “Bakula Namdev Ghotale” and “Yancha Kahi Name nahi” disappointed a lot. He seem to be losing the magic of “Aga Bai Arechya”
Valu does come as a breath of fresh air and hopefully Marathi film makers come up with such nice stories. Remakes just does not make any creative idea.
Valu is funny, entertaining and thought-provoking. Its a good story, brilliantly shot and good acting.
It has been just released (25th January 2008) and if it is still playing, go and see it. Its worth a watch
Rating: 8.5/10
25 Responses to “Valu (2008)”
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Very nice review. I saw VALU in Pune @ Asian Film Festival, 2 months back where it was premiered.
Still I went to watch in theatres on 27th. Really good. Marathi Cinema seems to be checking new fronts and glad that audience are accepting(though slowly).
hi,
I saw ‘Valu’ yesterday night in a theater. Ofcorz its a Saturday night show and full of our Marathi public. It was a house full show where evryone was enjoying the movie from start to end.
@ movie,
Its all credit goes to Director ofcorz cast is the key factor but all those are master of their profession. But Umesh (Director) knows all the aspects of the village life very deeply.
Excellent Drama, Cinema photography, Background music. And a House full entertainment.
Just go and watch it once u will go for second one.
IS there some way for people in the US to get hold of such wonderful films. Another one was VANAJA
thanks for the review and bringing such films to notice….
-n
How do you get to watch Marathi movies in Amsterdam?
neeraja i highly doubt if getting hold of such stuff is possible..especially amseterdam
well make google your best friend
and try amazon
also sometimes in the USA if you request your local “indian store” he might be able to specially get it for you
i live in india and i badly wanna lay hands on vanaja myself but the thing is its only got festival releases
so i have no clue whther or not it might/has got a DVD release
I had heard about it, hence to watch to yesterday. I went 10 before the show, expecting i can ticket very easy as it is a marathi movie.
But i was in for a rude shock. The show was housefull and had to purchase the tickets in black.
But boy it was a wonderful expererience. The Director has depicted the village life style very well. But i failed to understand why the VALU was shown so much passive?? He never looked troublesome.
Movie drags a bit in the second half. But still its a very good effort by the direct.
And most importantly, ita great respite from all the brainless Bollywood comedies as well marathi comedies of Bharat Jadhav / Makrand Anaspure / etc.
@vivek
I was wondering if there are Marathi torrent sites that I do not know of.
Between lot of craps ..marathi industry sometime gives some gems …Shwas ..dombivil fast and now i guess Valu … …
32
I agree. I am thinking of taking the whole family for the movie and see the movie again.
Umesh
Completely agree with u
Neeraja
I have stayed 3 years in Amsterdam and believe me you will get marathi movies from the Net, legal and illegal. You will rarely find regional cinema promoted outside India. South Indian Cinema is an exception and they are doing well too.
Vivek
Offbeat movies are hard to find anywhere!
Arun
I would agree that the marathi movies nowadays were getting too much comedy like the Laxmikant/Ashok Sharaf comedies. No logic no story and no acting.
Neeraja
There are
Anand
The marathi film industry has to look at the Marathi theatre for inspiration and would find lots of good stories there but unfortunately they are looking for old bollywood hits like e.g. “Sade Maade Teen” was based on “Chalti ka naam gaadi”
-Punds
@Neeraja, wrt no.7,
Yaar, please dont discuss about torrents and other ill-legal ways of downloading movies. I know, you know, not to put links here, lekin, some newbie might drop some bombshells, and the poor editors will have to work over-time to clean that up….
But, you are glad to discuss that in the emails :)
@OM
Yeah you are right. Sorry.
@Full2Faltu
Can you email me the info/links at neeraja(dot)sigma(at)gmail(dot)com ?
thanks :)
Editor Note( Email partially edited…you dont want your email flooded with spam, do you…:) )
hi i stays in kolkata and i want to see valu. does anybody here knows if there is a cd/ dvd out in the market? pls let me know
must watch i shud say
its pure dhamal
do go & watch in theatres
de culture shown is exactly de way it is in rural Maharashtra
in fact its a gr8 movie
hats off to all those involved in making it
on screen & off screen
‘VALU rockss’
Superb Script and screen play. After ‘Value’, we can say that Old days of marathi film industries has come again.
Good Story and balance direction by Umesh Kulkarni. keep it up!!!!
Hmmmm. Can’t find it online, legally or illegally. If you have links with you can you please mail them at : mogambohappyhappen(at)gmail (dot)com :)
Is there any place in or around Goa where I can get CDs/DVDs of marathi films?
We, Preyas Arts (www.preyasarts.com), are officially distributing this movie in the US and Canada and have already received a print with us in the US (with English subtitles). At present, we have received a great response from all over the US and Canada. Soon, we will publish the dates of US shows on our website. Do visit us to see the full trailer and listen to an audio jingle.
If anyone of you live there and are intereted in arranging a show, please contact me at info@preyasarts.com. Thank you.
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How can I get Torrent for Marathi Movies or can Download, Specially Films relating to “SHIVAJI MAHARAJ” Please tell me Torrent sites.
Thank You.
sjagdish008@yahoo.com
eagerly waiting to buy this…till that let us wait and see if it is released on http://www.apalimarathi.com ( i saw a few movies/plays there )
In the meantime, check out the trailers here:
http://www.valuthefilm.com
Forget VALU friends. Saddhya concentrate on “uladhaal” mhanjhe marathi HERA PHERI… hahaha… marathi chitrapata che sthar kadhi sudharnaar? Valu ek vichitra aani faaltu picture kaadhla Umesh ni aani tyala subhash ghai saarkhya self proclaimed showman, flop director cha saath… marathi maansaa la murkhaat kaadhle…spasht ritya… valu ni itkya zoraaat shinga maarle ki lokk kharya arthi jhinjya odhat aahet aazun… Bottom line the message “STOP CRUELTY AGAINST INNOCENT ANIMALS” never reached with movie.
Bakwas!
Ridiculous!
&&&&&&
Boring.
Its vary nice movie.
Finally could catch the movie on this weekend. Agreed with Sandeep, Umesh, Kanishka and Arun. The most authentic dialogues of rural Maharashtra. Full marks to that. Rest of the film was strictly OK IMHO.
But have to agree with Ajit too…I really felt that I was watching some old Marathi cinema - polished for the new generation.
I saw this movie last month here in South Korea. Realy nice movie. All credits goes to the whole movie team and also villager who has done such a great acting.