Vaalvi

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Vaalvi
Vaalvi film poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
मराठी वाळवी
Directed by Paresh Mokashi
Written by Madhugandha Kulkarni
Paresh Mokashi
Produced by Madhugandha Kulkarni
Starring
CinematographySatyajit Shobha Shriram
Edited byAbhijeet Deshpande
Saurabh Prabhudesai
Music byMangesh Dhakade
Production
company
Release date
  • 13 January 2023 (2023-01-13)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMarathi
Box officeest.₹7.25 crore [1]

Vaalvi (translation: Termites) is a 2023 Indian Marathi-language dark comedy thriller [2] film directed by Paresh Mokashi and produced by Madhugandha Kulkarni under the production banner of Zee Studios. The film stars Swapnil Joshi, Anita Date Kelkar, Subodh Bhave and Shivani Surve and was released theatrically on 13 January 2023 and digitally on ZEE5 on 24 February 2023. In the film, Aniket (Joshi) plans to murder his mentally unstable wife, Avani (Date Kelkar), by faking a double suicide along with his girlfriend, Devika (Surve), but unforeseen circumstances compel them to team up with a psychiatrist, Anshuman (Bhave). [3]

Contents

Vaalvi was a major critical and commercial success, it earned over ₹7.25 crore at the Box office and emerging as the year's Sixth highest grossing Marathi film. Vaalvi won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi at 70th National Film Awards. [4]

Plot

Aniket, an unhappily married man, plots a vile scheme with his dentist girlfriend Devika to dispose of Avani, his wife of 14 years who has severe mental disorder and threatens to resort to legal means if he ever tries to divorce her, and frame it as a suicide. The main plan involves Aniket lying to Avani about his company's bankruptcy and a possible repossession of their house by debt collectors in order to convince her to make a suicide pact with him. Oblivious to her, Aniket's gun is loaded with blanks and once Avani shoots herself, Aniket will consume his suicide note, which states that the decision was made of free will. With her death being proven a suicide, Aniket will go scot free and move into a new apartment with Devika. The two go through the plan at her clinic to ensure the plan does not fall through.

After pasting a foreclosure notice on the door, he finds Avani sleeping on the floor, a side effect of the anti-depressants she takes. She has been fostering termites for microbiology experiments, supposedly trying to train them to eat plastic "like the ones in Germany". After Avani expresses her desire to commit suicide that day itself, they settle on writing their notes instead.

The next day, having lied to Avani that he wants to visit his office one last time, Aniket files an FIR for his apparently missing gun, only for him to find out that a crime branch officer must accompany him during the investigation; luckily, there is no officer available at the moment. He then goes to Devika's clinic under the ruse of a scheduled root canal appointment, takes on the guise of a delivery driver (which he can say he wore to throw debt collectors off his trail) and leaves for his house. When Avani does not answer the door, Aniket enters to find her lying on the floor, presumably sleeping after taking her medication. Aniket decides to shoot her himself, planting the gun, a bottle of anti-depressants and her note as evidence.

Aniket goes back home, planning to feign shock at his wife's apparent suicide. However, her corpse and suicide note have mysteriously vanished, prompting Aniket to summon Devika to the scene. They scout the house for clues, finding a positive pregnancy test in the bathroom. A mysterious person calls Aniket, telling him he knows what they did and asks them to meet him at a given location as soon as possible.

Aniket and Devika are perplexed to find that the caller was Dr. Anshuman, Avani's psychiatrist, who somehow has Avani's corpse and suicide note with him. He explains that he had an intimate relationship with Avani during her psychiatric evaluation. After Aniket left the house earlier that day, Avani called Anshuman to inform him that she is pregnant with his baby. Realizing that this could put his reputation in jeopardy, Anshuman immediately visits Avani, later administering her a fatal overdose of anti-depressants. Aniket's arrival prompted Anshuman to hide in a nearby bathroom from where he witnessed the shooting.

As the body sets into rigor mortis, the trio try to find a place to bury it, nearly getting caught by the police and a group of campers. While driving, they come across a car accident, with the police inspector present at the site asking them to drop a woman with minor injuries off to a nearby hospital. The woman realizes that Avani is dead and tries to alert the inspector. In the ensuing scuffle, Aniket strikes her with a steel bottle, killing her instantaneously. On finding the dead bodies in the car, the inspector pulls his gun on Anshuman and Aniket, but is shot dead by Devika before he can take any action.

Realizing it is dawn, Devika, Anshuman and Aniket decide to drive back to Aniket's house and store the bodies there, planning to go back at night to find a place to bury them. Shortly after they have placed the bodies on a couch, a falling chandelier crushes all three of them. As the police investigate the scene, the final shot shows some termites gnawing on a nylon rope.

Cast

Release

Theatrical

The trailer was released on YouTube on 4 January 2023 and the film was theatrically released on 13 January 2023. [7]

Home Media

The film was digitally released on ZEE5 on 24 February 2023. [3]

Reception

Critical reception

The film received positive reviews from critics. A Reviewer of Scroll.in wrote "The pitch-perfect cast has just the right attitude to a movie that invites us to consider the depth of human depravity and instead gives us an efficient and effective cruel comedy, as bloodless as it is ruthless". [8] Akhilesh Nerlekar of Loksatta wrote "The dialogues, background music, cinematography have all come together well. There are subtle mistakes at some places, but if you ignore them, you can enjoy this movie. The works of Swapnil Joshi, Anita Date, Shivani Surve and Subodh Bhave have been done well". [9] Jaydeep Pathak of Maharashtra Times says "Even though the content of the film is very serious and 'tense', 'dark humor' keeps sneaking in the film from time to time with cheesy dialogues. The 'grey' shade in the content perfectly captures Mangesh Dhakane's background score". [10] Subhash K. Jha of Firstpost wrote "Vaalvi is delightfully iconoclastic in its attitude towards middleclass morality". [11] Ajit Andhare of Deccan Chronicle wrote "Something is happening in every scene and it is enough to keep you hooked to the end, albeit with some cliched cinematic liberties". [12] Mayur Sanap of Rediff.com wrote "It has an original setting with very interesting plot, and its suspenseful pace keeps you riveted from the outset". [13] Shaheen Irani of OTTPlay wrote "Vaalvi has an interesting start. It leaves you curious with the clock ticking and the chandeliers moving". [14]

Box office

Vaalvi has collected ₹1.88 crore at the box office in its first week. [15] Film collected ₹1.40 crore in 4 days [16] and 2.54 crore in 9 days of its release. [17] The film was collected ₹3 crores in the first 2 weeks. [18] It crossed ₹7 crore at box office in five weeks of theatrical run.

Accolades

AwardYearCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
National Film Award 2024 Best Feature Film in Marathi VaalviWon [4]
Fakt Marathi Cine Sanman 2023 Best Film Won [19] [20]
Best Director Paresh Mokashi Won
Best Actor in a Lead Role Swapnil Joshi Won
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Anita Date Kelkar Nominated
Best Performance in a Comic Role Namrata Sambherao Nominated
Best Performance in a Negative Role Shivani Surve Nominated
Best Story Madhugandha Kulkarni, Paresh Mokashi Won
Best Screenplay Won
Best Dialogue Nominated
Maharashtracha Favourite Kon? 2024 Favourite Film VaalviNominated [21] [22]
Favourite Film Critics'Nominated
Favourite Director Paresh MokashiNominated
Favourite Director Critics'Nominated
Favourite Actor Swapnil JoshiNominated
Subodh BhaveNominated
Favourite Actor Critics'Nominated
Swapnil JoshiNominated
Favourite Actress Shivani SurveNominated
Favourite Supporting Actress Anita DateNominated
Favourite Writer Critics'Madhugandha Kulkarni, Paresh MokashiWon
Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar 2024 Best Film VaalviNominated [23]
Best Director Paresh MokashiNominated
Best Actor Swapnil JoshiNominated
Best Supporting Actor Subodh BhaveNominated
Best Supporting Actress Anita DateNominated
Best StoryMadhugandha Kulkarni, Paresh MokashiWon
Best ScreenplayNominated
Best Background ScoreMangesh DhakadeNominated
Best EditingSaurabh Prabhudesai, Abhijeet DeshpandeWon
Filmfare Awards Marathi 2024 Best Film VaalviNominated [24] [25]
Best Director Paresh MokashiNominated
Best Actor Swapnil JoshiNominated
Best Supporting Actor Subodh BhaveNominated
Best Supporting Actress Anita Date-KelkarWon
Best Story Madhugandha Kulkarni, Paresh MokashiNominated
Best Screenplay Won
Best Cinematography Satyajeet Shobha ShreeramNominated
Best Editing Abhijeet Deshpande, Saurabh PrabhudesaiNominated
Best Sound Design Shishir ChousalkarNominated

Future

Vaalvi 2 was announced at a party on the occasion of Paresh Mokashi's birthday. Madhugandha Kulkarni, Paresh Mokashi and Mangesh Kulkarni of Zee Studios announced that they are coming up with Vaalvi 2 soon. [26]

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References

  1. ↑ "Why Marathi cinema is captivating the youth and how youngsters are making space for its growth on social media platforms". The Indian Express . 3 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  2. ↑ "Critically Acclaimed, Popular Thriller-Comedy Marathi film Vaalvi is all set to Release on OTT, Deets Inside". Zee News. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 "घर बसल्या पाहता येणार 'वाळवी' चित्रपट; OTTवर या दिवशी होणार रिलीज". Lokmat (in Marathi). 16 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Swwapnil Joshi is elated as 'Vaalvi' wins Best Marathi Film and says, 'This is my first-ever National Award'— Exclusive!". The Times of India. 16 August 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  5. ↑ "Video: 'महाराष्ट्राची हास्यजत्रा' पाठोपाठ नम्रता संभेराव आता मोठ्या पडद्यावरून प्रेक्षकांना हसवण्यासाठी सज्ज, प्रोमो व्हायरल". Loksatta (in Marathi). Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Vaalvi Movie Review: An intriguing thrill-com with interesting characters". The Times of India . 13 January 2023. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "Here's Why Swapnil Joshi Finds His Film 'Vaalvi' Most Difficult To Promote". Outlook India. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  8. ↑ "'Vaalvi' review: A cold-blooded murder gets killers hot under the collar". Scroll.in . 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "Vaalvi Movie review : मराठी प्रेक्षकांचं डोकं पोखरणारा स्वप्नील-सुबोधचा 'वाळवी' पाहायलाच हवा, कारण…". Loksatta (in Marathi). 13 January 2023. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "सिनेरिव्ह्यू: वाळवी". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "Vaalvi: A Marathi crazy crime caper that will have you in splits". Firstpost. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "Movie Review | Vaalvi': The termites you won't mind watching". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  13. ↑ SANAP, MAYUR. "Vaalvi review: Wildly Entertaining". Rediff. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  14. ↑ "Vaalvi review: Swwapnil Joshi-Subodh Bhave's film gives you something". OTTPlay. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  15. ↑ "Ved and Vaalvi Collection : मराठी सिनेमांचा बोलबाला, 'वेड'नंतर आता 'वाळवी'चा कोटींमध्ये गल्ला". Zee 24 Taas. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  16. ↑ "थांबायचं नाय! मराठी चित्रपटांचा बॉलिवूडला धोबीपछाड; 'वेड' पाठोपाठ 'वाळवी'चीही कोटींमध्ये कमाई". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  17. ↑ "Marathi Movies : मराठी सिनेसृष्टी पुन्हा बहरली! 'वेड' अन् 'वाळवी'वर उमटली प्रेक्षकांच्या पसंतीची मोहोर..." ABP Majha (in Marathi). 23 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  18. ↑ Bhirvandekar, Harshada. "Vaalvi Box Office Collection: 'वाळवी'ची बॉक्स ऑफिसवर यशस्वी घौडदौड! पाहा कलेक्शन". Hindustan Times Marathi (in Marathi). Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  19. ↑ "कलाकारांच्या सन्मानासाठी रंगणार 'फक्त मराठी सिने सन्मान' सोहळा". Saam TV (in Marathi). Mumbai. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  20. ↑ "Fakt Marathi Awards | फक्त मराठी सिने सन्मान सोहळ्यात 'वाळवी' ठरला सर्वोत्कृष्ट चित्रपट,सचिन पिळगावकर यांच्या कारकिर्दीला सलाम". Navarashtra (in Marathi). 18 September 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  21. ↑ "'महाराष्ट्राचा फेव्हरेट कोण' पुरस्कारांमध्ये यंदा एक नवा पुरस्कार…!". Zee 24 taas (in Marathi). 16 January 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  22. ↑ Bhirvandekar, Harshada. "Maharashtracha Favourite Kon: यंदा कोण ठरणार 'महाराष्ट्राचा फेवरेट'? प्रेक्षकांना देता येणार आपला कौल!". Hindustan Times Marathi (in Marathi). Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  23. ↑ "'झी मराठी चित्र गौरव'मध्ये 'या' चित्रपटाने मारली बाजी, तर सर्वोत्कृष्ट अभिनेता-अभिनेत्री ठरले…; पाहा विजेत्यांची संपूर्ण यादी". Loksatta (in Marathi). 17 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  24. ↑ "Nominations for the RR Kabel Filmfare Awards Marathi 2024: Full list out". filmfare.com. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  25. ↑ "Winners of the RR Kabel Filmfare Awards Marathi 2024: Full list out". filmfare.com. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  26. ↑ "Vaalvi's Cast And Crew Celebrate Film's Success, Now Sequel On The Cards". News18. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
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