Juna Furniture Marathi Movie Review: Mahesh Manjrekar’s film is too illogical and contrived

JUNA FURNITURE (Marathi)

Producers- Satya Manjrekar and Saiee Manjrekar

Director- Mahesh Vaman Manjrekar

Cast- Mahesh Manjrekar, Medha Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Sivaji Satam, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Girish Oak, Vijay Nikam, Bhushan Pradhan and Anusha Dandekar

Platform of Release- Theatres

Rating:

By Jyothi Venkatesh

It’s true that many senior citizens are called Juna Furniture (old furniture) nowadays. Their problems and their silent cries deserve to be heard, and they deserve justice. Juna Furniture demands that justice, but in a not-so-convincing or logical way. The idea is overwhelming and flabbergasting, but unfortunately the initial storytelling falters at many places and the film tends to end up as over dramatic and melodramatic at times.

The film attempts to explore the real problems of senior citizens but gets overdriven by its revenge drama and social movement more than the actual context of the film. The film is about an old couple who are longing to meet and talk to their son, whom they have grown up to be an IAS officer. One day, the mother is not feeling well and is taken to the hospital.

The father tries to call his son for financial help but can’t reach him because the son is busy at a party. His negligence causes his mother’s death, and then the father decides to drag the son to court. How the court case goes on and on though it does sound a little bit illogical forms the crux of the plot. The old father fights for compensation money, which he has spent on his son’s education and other hobbies- a staggering Rs. 4,72,86,100.

Also read: Main Ladega Review: Poignant and Inspirational!

As far as the performances are concerned, all that I can say is that Mahesh Manjrekar passes off convincingly in the film though he is not at his best as an actor. Bhushan Pradhan plays the son who is a sophisticated villain but leaves no impact at all as a meek fellow with no courage, no brain, and no dialogue.

Medha Manjrekar is quite decent in her well-written role of a supporting ailing wife, whereas Anusha Dandekar sounds a tad irritating with her broken Marathi. Upendra Limaye’s gangster is lovable, but too overboard.

Sachin Khedekar makes a perfect judge, though one just cannot say that he is at his best. Shivaji Satam, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Girish Oak, Sharad Ponkshe, Sachin Khedekar etc aren’t anything great either, though Vijay Nikam has a colorful character.

Alas! It’s time to acknowledge the fact that Mahesh Manjrekar who had made socially relevant films like Astitva, Vaastav, Kaksparsh, and Natsamrat, isn’t the same director anymore.