“Prawaas” is a Marathi word that means Journey. Our journey starts the minute we come into this world. We learn and unlearn many things;We laugh and we cry; We get happy about our achievements and we get sad about our setbacks. We meet different people during this journey and with them we establish different relationships. Each of these relationships teaches us something unique and gives us many memories to cherish forever. We begin our journey with these relations. And then there comes a day when we have to say goodbye to them and proceed on a new journey. But before we reach that point, there are several things and tasks that we have to finish, responsibilities to discharge.
We always say life is too short to waste. So, when we know this, we should make the best out of our situations and circumstances. If we can help someone in need, then nothing can be more satisfying than that. When we start living our lives doing things that make us happy and people around us, that is what gives us an eternal happiness.
If you agree to whatever I said so far, you will like this review of the movie “Prawaas” and the movie. “Prawaas” is a Marathi movie that I watched a couple of weeks ago. And believe me, it was so deep. With Ashok Saraf, Padmini Kolhapure, Shashank Udapurkar, and Vikram Gokhale acting, this movie is a beautiful watch. Whoever will watch this movie will find something they can relate to. No wonders, it has been nominated for 51stInternational Film Festival of India 2020, INDIAN PANORAMA and ICFT -UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Award and Rajasthan International Film Festival. Recently, AMFF – Ambar and Bharari Akhil Bharati Marathi Chitrapat Maha Mandal has nominated Prawaas for 16 categories. So, let’s jump into the review.
Title: Prawaas
Language: Marathi
Genre: Drama
Director, Screenplay, Dialogues: Shashank Udapurkar
Cast: Ashok Saraf, Padmini Kolhapure, Shashank Udapurkar, Vikram Gokhale, Shreyas Talpade (guest appearance)
Duration: 02hr 13min
Story Plot:
Abhijaat Inamdar and Lata Inamdar (played by Ashok Saraf & Padmini Kolhapure) is a 60+ years old elderly couple. Their son Dilip (played by Shashank Udapurkar) works in the USA. Abhijaat needs dialysis as both his kidneys aren’t functioning correctly. He has a few days left to live and has to go for regular check-ups. He is a guy who is full of life. One day, Abhijat gets encouragement from a spiritual guru-cum-classical singer (played by Rajat Kapur). He feels that he hasn’t done anything meaningful in his life. One day, he decides to do something he should be proud of before proceeding towards his final journey.
With this desire, he starts a car ambulance service. Lata is not in favor of his new venture. She discuss this with Dilip. According to them, his health does not permit him to take up such a task that requires physical work. Dilip tries to convince his Dad but no luck. Abhijaat understands their intentions, but it is hard for him to let it go because the happiness and satisfaction he is getting is priceless.
Later a casual conversation with his friend make Dilip re-think the choices that he has made in his life, and that’s when he understands the true meaning behind his Dad’s words.
Abhijaat continues his Ambulance service. But his efforts show their results when Lata also joins him in this service. She also experiences the eternal satisfaction when they are able to take a pregnant woman to the hospital in time.
During one of his routine Ambulance trips, he saves a little girl name Disha who lost her mom and dad in one-car accident and is in complete shock. He came to know from his uncle that Shreyas Talpade is her favorite actor. Abhijaat shares his hidden desire to work in films and how it went on the back burner. To make Disha smile, he contacts one of his previous passengers who happened to work in the production field in films, he requests Shreyas Talpade to meet Disha. Less that he knew that Disha would ask Shreyas to let Abhijaat act in his film.
He gets a lot of appreciation for his acting in the film and also gets an offer for another movie after that. But he refuses to do that as he feels his real service to humankind will be through this ambulance service. And he becomes the “The Ambulance Man” for everyone, and for himself. He gets recognition, awards for his words. But unfortunately, his health do not support him for very long. And he says his final goodbye and proceed towards his final journey.
“Je Shesh Aahe, Te Vishesh Aahe” – this dialogue is the crux of this movie. We all have a lot that is left. We feel that time is running out of our hands, and we have two choices- whether to let it see slipping through our hand or making the best out of it. If we choose the latter, then that will make our life’s journey meaningful.
Final words,
Everyone must watch this movie. It is straightforward yet conveys a profound message. It will surely make you think are you living your life to its fullest? And whenever you are in your low moments, remember the words – “Je shesh aahe, te vishesh aahe” because in between shesh and vishesh lies our prawaas. Here is a trailer of this movie.
I have recently watched the movie ‘Prawas’, and I totally agree that movie is worth watching for every parents and their children as well. Well said life is all about understanding the value between ‘shesh’ and ‘vishesh’. Loved your review Alpana.
You are absolutely right Archana.