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The title, in Marathi, literally means “Here comes the smart-aleck.” In the context of this film, it refers to Gargi (Maitreyee Datye), a girl who is 11, who wants to instantly grow up just like her elder sister Gauri (Vishakha Naik). This so that her parents (Guru Thakur and Rujuta Deshmukh) will allow her to do all the things her sister can and get all the privileges that her sibling has but are not permitted for her.
The Ganpati festival is on and one night, Gargi’s grandmother (Suhita Thatte), while putting Gargi to sleep, tells the angry pre-teen that only Ganpati can make her grow up. Next day, the stubborn Gargi misses her school bus and goes to a Ganpati temple in the nearby area, telling the deity that she will not stop perambulating around the temple till he makes her grow up. And he listens…
Suddenly, Gargi is grown-up (Hruta Godbole), but when she returns home, no one naturally recognizes her! The family thinks that Gargi has been kidnapped, probably by this same woman, especially when Gargi takes money from her own piggybank and also takes Gauri’s motorbike and leaves!
One place where she was not yet allowed to go was a local pub, but she now indulges herself there, dancing away when she meets a funky young man called Atharva (Sarang Sathaye). They become friends, and she agrees to his accompanying her for an all-night jaunt where she is bent on enjoying whatever she can. Meanwhile, her panicky family has filed a missing complaint with the local cops. And then at one point, Atharva tells her that he is Ganpati himself.
A deity coming in as a ‘fun’ element always means key social and personal messages and this film is no different. Though stretched on many an occasion, Aali Mothi Shahani delivers apt homilies to pre-teens and even teenagers today who are in a hurry to have experiences beyond their ages. At many points, the script travels into absurd or illogical zones and is stretched beyond limit, and the predictable culmination is laced with some spicy elements that gratify Gargi and are meant to please a section of the audience as well.
Sarang Sathaye’s breezy Atharva helps the film a lot. He is breezy and cheerful and comes up with a winsome portrayal. Maitreyee Datye is a little too loud initially but impresses with her ardent tones, expressions and body language. As the older Gargi, Hruta Godbole is decent. The rest of the cast is alright, and Guru Thakur as Gargi’s father does well both in the role and by doubling up as the film’s lyricist.
The music by Pankajj Padghan has a pleasing range, from the pub-friendly Bonita Bonita let’s dance to the hauntingly intense devotional, Ganesh Vandana. Niranjan Parandkar’s dialogues and Vijay Mishra’s camerawork are of high standard. Anand Dilip Gokhale’s direction and script could have been much crisper and yes, less predictable.
Rating: *** (Just about)
Fine Brew Productions’ & True Hope Film Works’ Aali Mothi Shahani Produced by: JayKumar Munot, Isha Muthe & Shruti Sathe Directed by: Anand Dilip Gokhale Written by: Anand Dilip Gokhale & Niranjan Parandkar Music: Pankajj Padghan Starring: Sarang Sathaye, Hruta Godbole, Guru Thakur, Suhita Thatte,Rujuta Deshmukh, Maitreyee Datye, Vishakha Naik, Sanjay Khapare, Subodh Bhave, Rishi Saxena & others
