Medal – Super Story, Performance & Grit

Jayesh, Maulik, Story & a gritty Producer = Success

What happens when a you combine a powerful actor with a host of equally powerful supporting actors, a great story and a risk-taking producer? Well, you are awarded with a Medal.

November has been very good for Gujarati cinema with a second good movie hitting the box office.

Medal leaves you with a good lump in the throat for its story, treatment and powerful performances.

This was an elaborate web-series meant for an yet to be launched JoJo OTT, however wisdom prevailed and the series was crisply edited to become a 2 hour crisp film. If you observe minutely, you could point out the pace especially when it comes to training the kids and the abruptness of the love life. But one can conveniently ignore even the fact that Thotha is kabuli chana and simply enjoy the narration and flow of the story.

The story is of PT master-turned-english teacher essayed by Jayesh More who has anger issues, in-law issues, nostalgia issues and issues sticking to a job, especially if it is a well-paying one. After a slightly confusing first 10 mins the story takes track where Ajit is posted to a village school (Government one with pension) where he joins with a sense of purpose, egged by memories of his friend.

You are now transformed to a village life with all its nuances, dialogues, social norms, humour and most importantly the sad state of affairs be it school or the village at large. The day to day clashes between our honest and duty-bound Jayesh More with the  PT sir (Hemang Dave in a super negative role) with three other teachers (who have not been able to unmute themselves all through the film) and the super performer Maulik Nayak (as a peon-cum-clerk). All of this curated by the indomitable principal played by Archan Trivedi.

One by one the students get inspired first to the class then to the playground. All of which is to conclude into a medal seeking challenge at the Khel Kala Mahakumbh. Interspersed within this is the social stigma of untouchability and an aggressive village headman played by Chetan Dahiya (his 64^th film). No wonder he keeps riding a horse without stirrups!

How will the movie end, will our Jayesh More succeed or will he fail and get a bail, the climax is the most-catchy part of this entire movie, leaves you in good spirits.

The Heroes of the movie:

Producer: Hardly does anyone credit this title but Dhruvin Dakshesh Shah (of the Superstar Fame) did well to pick up the story and give it shape and life. It is not easy to take the audience back to the villages and expect them to applaud. Well played.

Director-Writer-Editor: Dhaval Shukal scores big in his maiden Gujarati Film, while the writer and actor Vaishakh Ratanben gives a lot of substance to the story. The dialogues are really earthy and a lot of them are very catchy. Not easy in today’s time. Rraja Choksi & Dhruvin seem to have been ruthless in the editing and that is why the movie doesn’t drag.

My personal favourite, Tapan Vyas (he seems to the DOP for every Gujarati movie) again transforms you to a village with a very classy feel. 

Kushal Chokshi’s music too helps build the story and keep the momentum, with a few  likeable songs like Tarla No Desh and Ehsaas Taro, but nothing beats the ever-favourite Arvind Vegda who makes a couple of cameos and leaves a good impression as DJ Snake.

But the supreme honours ought to go to the most under-represented stars of Gujarati film Industry, Jayesh More and Maulik Nayak. This duo, whenever they pair up produce miracles. Fantastic performances really touch your heartstrings. Hemang Dave should leave comedy and take over negative roles. He excels in this department big time. A plump-postmaster Shaunak & mukhiya Chetan Dahiya too make impacts in the little screen time they get. Of course Kinjal Rajpriya has a decent presence but her character rarely creates impact. In the entire film, their love story grows and deflates.

Despite the film being dominated by such superstars, child artists Bhavya Sirohi, Arya Sagar and Karan Patel leave a good impression.  

There are some continuity issues, some stories don’t go too deep like the Mukhiya and the friend’s story or the love story. The sports preparation too seems ill-planned. A lot of scenes are repeated, but all of that is forgiven for the end product is a good package.

Don’t miss the wall graffiti in the villages, it just lifts the scenes multiple notches higher.

Medal, whether the team wins or not is something you will have to go to the theatre and see, all I can say is I am buying tickets for my parents to watch this movie. It is that nice a product.

Kem Chho – Maybe Majama

Jignesh Vasavada 2.75 Stars Universal saga of a married man trapped with a gorgeous kathiawadi wife, nagging parents, wayward brother and an underpaid job in this beautiful world.

 

It is one of those times in my life as a movie reviewer (as opposed to a critic) that I am bemused (not confused). People next to me, around me were all laughing away to glory while I was chuckling once in a while and scratching most of the time.

That is the effect Kem Chho has on you as a movie. And Mind you, there was more male laughter than female laughter. No marks for guessing why.

Taking a break from the routine let me try and present the rights and the wrongs.

All that is Right

The premise of the movie is perfect. Happy to note that filmmakers are now experimenting with slice of Gujarati life concepts in films too. It is a positive change.

Promoted as a saga of a married man, Kem Chho got its Target group right. They know, like all Bollywood does, connect to the heart of a married man, he will spend any amount of money to watch his own plight projected on the large screen.

Next is the star cast. Tushar looks like a poor, tall, bechara married man (with a slight paunch). He has done an above average job and could have done better if the role and story had been defined more.  Kinjal Rajpriya rocks in the look and the dialogue department. She has been the girl to watch in recent times. Right from Shu Thayu, Kinjal has shown that she is capable of not only acting well but adapting to characters and presenting herself very effectively. Watch out for her too.

Chetan Dahiya, the natural humorist always scores effortlessly. His presence brings life on the screen. Ditto with Jay ‘Palty’ Panda.

Rest all, fit into their respective places decently.  

Dialogues, some punchy and some funny, overall, this department scores well too. Sorryavansham joke was a killer. 

Songs are nice and hummable. They sound good to listen to and may hit a chart or two.

The hoardings, publicity, outreach and the timing is all in the right place. You cannot afford to miss any of this.

All that is NOT Right

Why the subtitles, baba? The dialogue and subtitles were all over the place.

Where is the story? Why so many sub-plots? Why digress from the married man’s gatha to force the audience to pakdo their matha? Story is loose and at most points appears to be dragging. There are just too many subplots which could have been done without. Somehow we keep losing the focus from the dreary life of the hero and heroine and get dragged into unwanted storylines. Too many loose ends are not tied too.

Connected to this is the pace and duration. This film could very well have been 20-30 mins crisper and would have communicated the same message well.

The viewer feels stupid at some very illogical twists.

Why would an insurance guy go to a 80 year ill man to sell a policy?

So, your wife is talking about divorce and you simply jump out to meet an ex-flame?

Your son/husband/brother has locked himself in a room to commit suicide and all you do it just keep banging the door???? Really?

You want to supplement your family income and you only make one feeble attempt at selling?

Your father has been a violent person for all your 20+ years of life and just two dialogues make him forget everything and turn into a good man?

Come on, please. I am confident the writer and filmmaker is much more intelligent to commit such mistakes.

Still, I suggest, go out and watch this once, especially if you are a married man. You never know what scene, dialogue or event you may connect with.

No, I promise you, no married man cried at the end of Kem Chho (still wonder why this name!)

Pics Courtesy Movie Promotions 

Shu Thayu - Bus Kai Nai

Shu Thayu…Saheb…Tamne Shu Thayu

Jignesh Vasavada

2.5 Stars 

Ahmedabad: August 25, 2018

Expectations are sure a huge burden to carry. The shoulders of Krishnadev Yagnik and team sure seem strong to have been sculpted to carry the same.

So, when Shu Thayu was announced, it was a weighed with the huge burden of the comeback team of Chello Divas (yes, the same film which has more than 25 different versions disguised as Urban Gujarati cinema). Did it really carry the burden well, or are the team themselves saying, Shu Thayu?

Read on, but not before my mandatory 10 observations.

1. Has Malhar lost age and Kinjal gained glamour? My God, what good and nice looking pair!!!

2. The premiere was like a rich wedding party with a proper colour theme. You could actually see bystanders asking, Shu Thayu?

3. Looks like the sequel of Chello Divas is such a huge burden that they even gave Michael the same quantum of role as in the original film.

4. So, there is progress. Helmets are visible with bikes. Only that the heroine’s head is cheaper and less important than the hero’s because only he is wearing the helmet.

5. Every scene is a magnificent product placement. You can actually count the brands, the locations and the products that make their appearance and disappearance.


6. Malhar desperately needs a dialogue (delivery & content) makeover. The stereotyping is also stereotyped.

7. What is By Swear of your mom? I assume, Maa Naa Sum? Dal is lentil soup (for the puritan English speaker) not curry.

8. Over-ambition or pure confidence, the film has sub-titles with the hope of targeting non-Gujarati audience.

9. The producer seems to have used the Karsandas location for a hospital, looks more like a swasthya kendra with MRI facility.

10. So, what is finally the heroine’s name, Deepika, Dipali, or Dipli? You keep wondering all the time.



The madness begins from the word go. The loud gets louder and the overacting gets exaggerated and the film commences. But then you have been promised an unFORGETable laugh riot, so you begin adjusting and taking in, as Manan expresses his love and intention to marry 3D (Deepika/Dipali/Dipli) to her father. A street smart, smart alec fast forwards us through his funny journey of love and acceptance and manages to get a yes and the film begins.

Few situations later our man hits his head on the stone and the audience too feels the pain, all the way to the end. The injury is multi-pronged, the dialogue writer’s head too seems to have been hit, the screenplay writer’s head too, the location guy’s head as well as the gag writer’s head. All of them suffer amnesia/loss of memory, speed, innovation, flow and the product goes for a toss.

In the state of forgetfulness and foolhardiness, Manan’s reception and marriage take place (yes, in the same order) and his friends help him through the entire journey.

What was being built up for a laughter riot, emotion of friends, ingenuity and love turns laborious, unbearable and sometimes funny. There are occasions of laughter and some real good slapstick but most times you are engulfed by the lack of innovation in the scenes and dialogues. The film gives you fun in installments like the Reception sequence, the initial falling in love scene, most of the interactions with Mitra Gadhvi and the friends.


Malhar sometimes even seems to be mumbling dialogues. While he does put on good acts, it just does not add up, after all there is only this much you can do with 4-5 dialogues that have been written for you. Mitra Gadhvi (Chikna) excels in a great performance. His character, his performance, his timings are just spot on. Aarjav Trivedi, drooling in his delivery is pretty artificial, Yash does a good job while the beautiful, glamorous Kinjal Rajpriya is under-utilized. Rest of the characters have a forgettable outing.

The screenplay, the story, the dialogues fall very short of expectations not giving us enough meat to chew on for the 2hrs plus something time. Music is present but nothing stands out. Songs, have good lyrics but not very hummable, at least not in the first go. 

Krishnadev Sir, Chello Divas rocked, Karsandas super rocked, even Vandha Vilas, I personally found it hilarious, but Shu Thayu forces me ask, Saheb, Tamne Shyu Thayu?