Jilabi: Marathi Movie Review

Rating: ⭐️
Plot: Corrupt Inspector Vijay Karmarkar takes charge of a wealthy industrialist’s murder case, seeing it as a chance to profit. However, he soon finds himself entangled in deeper troubles, complicating his life further.

Team:
Director:- Nitin Kamble
Writer:- Machindra Bugade
Cinematography:- Ganesh Utekar
Editor:- Sadique Iqbal
Music:- Amar Mohile
Production Design- Kaushal Singh
Cast:- Swapnil Joshi, Prasad Oak, Shivani Surve, Parna Pethe, Ganesh Yadav

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Jilabi: Marathi Movie Review:
This is the day I feared the most when the so-called Pan India films were en route to the reelification of the movies. I wondered how long before the Marathi films caught the scent of these huge successes. Finally, mainstream Marathi films have started ruining Marathi cinema’s culturally rich and evocative nature. They are doing so by introducing the no-nonsense reel format thrillers and action films. There have been a few in the recent past, but thankfully this is the first one I managed to watch on the big screen.

Directed by Nitin Kamble, Jilabi, is a low-blow half-hearted mystery thriller with nothing new to offer. The story and screenplay by Machindra Bugade are atrocious. Jilabi arrives with the promise of an intense and gripping narrative, but falls short of its lofty ambitions. Despite the star-studded cast, including Swapnil Joshi and Prasad Oak, the film struggles to maintain coherence and fails to deliver the depth required for a compelling crime drama. The plot, centres on ACP Vijay Karmarkar (Swapnil Joshi), a corrupt police officer entangled in a murder case. However,it feels predictable and riddled with clichés. While the premise had potential, the execution leaves much to be desired. The story lacks the complexity and layered storytelling that is essential for a crime thriller, instead resorting to formulaic twists that feel both uninspired and forced.

ACP Vijay Karmarkar (Swapnil Joshi) is handed a case of a high-profile murder. The Subhedar family has lost their son-in-law to a treacherous murder. Saurav Subhedar and Gaurav Subhedar (Prasad Oak) are two identical twins who are put into questioning first and then we are instantly introduced to Saurav’s wife, Janhavi (Shivani Surve). Janhavi has a secret affair with Gaurav as she plots to divorce Saurav. The story takes twists and turns as the details of the case unfolds. Is someone from the family responsible for the murder, or is someone from the underworld involved? Watch to find out.

Swapnil Joshi’s portrayal of ACP Karmarkar, although ambitious, falls flat. His attempt to embody the morally ambiguous character lacks the intensity and nuance required for the role. Prasad Oak, as Saurav Subhedar and Gaurav Subhedar, delivers a relatively better performance, but his character’s motivations are underdeveloped, leaving the audience detached from the narrative. Shivani Surve and Parna Pethe, while competent, are let down by underwritten roles that fail to add significant depth to the story. The other supporting cast is horrendous delivering laughable performances. The technical aspects, though commendable on paper, are inconsistent. Ganesh Utekar’s cinematography does capture a gritty aesthetic, but it doesn’t compensate for the lack of engaging visuals that truly pull the audience into the story’s atmosphere. Amar Mohile’s background score often feels overbearing, undermining moments that could have benefited from subtlety. Sadique Iqbal’s editing constantly reminds you of B-grade action films and melodramatic TV soaps.

One of the biggest disappointments is the screenplay, which meanders through a series of implausible events without building genuine tension. The pacing is uneven, with scenes dragging unnecessarily while others rush through crucial plot points. This leaves the film feeling disjointed. Despite marketing itself as a contemporary thriller rooted in Marathi culture, Jilabi struggles to find a unique identity. Comparisons to classics like Satya and Company only highlight Jibli’s shortcomings, as it lacks the grit and authenticity that made those films iconic.
Overall, Jilabi is an underwhelming addition to Marathi cinema, failing to capitalize on its promising premise and talented cast. While it may appeal to fans of the genre looking for light entertainment, those seeking a truly impactful and memorable thriller are likely to be disappointed.