Lifeline Marathi Movie Review: Ashok Saraf starrer film is gripping and heartwarming

LIFELINE (Marathi)

Producer- Karishma Bhuta

Director- Saahil Shirwaikar

Cast- Ashok Saraf, Madhav Abhyankar, Sandhya Kute, Bharat Dabholkar and Jayant Wadkar

Platform of Release- Theatres

Rating:

By Jyothi Venkatesh

Pandit Kedarnath Agnihotri (Madhav Abhyankar), a staunch, dogmatic Kirvant, is insecure about the progressive medical science. However, Dr. Vikram Desai, (Ashok Saraf) his worthy rival believes that science and rituals can go hand-in-hand. What is their rivalry about? Who is right? This forms the crux of the interesting but a tad predictable plot, which makes you root for organ donations in a big way.

Kedarnath Agnihotri, a priest who performs the last rites of the dead is a hot-tempered guy who has a kind of contempt towards science or progress. One day, while performing the last rites of a person, he gets into an ugly argument with Dr. Vikram Desai (Ashok Saraf) on the point of salvation after death versus science. Ironically, life brings the same Pandit Agnihotri at the doorstep of Dr. Vikram Desai when his son’s heart is diagnosed as being damaged.

As a plot, I should agree that it keeps you hooked throughout its duration, in spite of the fact that you know right at the outset who would win the battle in this tug of belief war. Saahil Shirwaikar does the job of direction deftly and proves that he is a master of treatment.

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As far as performances are concerned, it is an author-backed role for the veteran actor Madhav Abhyankar who sashays through his role of the arrogant priest with the ease of a veteran while Ashok Saraf as Dr Vikram Desai holds on his own and impresses the viewers with his natural performance. Bharat Dabholkar is just about okay and has done nothing which can be spectacular, in the negative role of a corrupt doctor while Jayant Wadkar is good as the broker between the doctor and the patient. Sandhya Kute as the wife of the priest Kedarnath Agnihotri scores in her role with effortless ease.

Ashok Patki’s music is alright while Rajesh Shirwaikar’s lyrics are meaningful. Sameer Mhatre’s background music is okay. Aniket Khandagale’s camerawork is just above average, though Pramod Kahar’s editing is quite sharp. On the whole, Lifeline is a film worth watching only for the sake of Ashok Saraf and Madhav Abhyankar who take the gripping as well as heartwarming film to yet another dimension with their relatable performances