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.

Chasni – Just Sweet not Diabetic

A 25 year old love meets a 25 year young lover and interesting family fun happens. Good performances, great visuals and rocking music.

3.5 Stars

Jignesh Vasavada

It took a long time to arrive, yet it seemed worth the wait. Chasni does add the much needed sweetness to the dry and coarse run that Gujarati Film Industry had been witnessing thanks to the World Cup and Exams.

Yet, it is not still the perfect film of 2019.

1. Love and values still seem to rule the Gujarati film narrative.
2. Finally, some Ariel shots of a city, other than Ahmedbad’s Nehru Bridge, Surat, rocks.
3. So, you are in love with a girl, you know her house and don’t know who her father is? Wow!
4. The saga still continues, seat belt and helmets are still missing.
5. This is the first Gujarati film that goes by the rule, Actors refer to permit while drinking.
6. Sejal ben is so beautiful that she actually sleeps with her make-up on, seriously!
7. The daadi seems to have a voice of a young lady, wonder what she eats?
8. Brushing of teeth is not the priority of our actors, bed tea and breakfast is the norm.
9. I still don’t understand, is the girl living in a hostel in the same city? Surat?
10. There must be truly lot of money in a driving school!

All said and done, Chasni is a nice, well-paced light-hearted movie which is definitely a one-time watch, with the family.

A simple story line which yo-yos between a Gujaratified ‘Crazy Stupid Love’ to Dikri Vhaal No Daryo, it keeps you engaged.

Ramnikbhai, a typical Kathiyavadi living in Surat is married for 25 years and gets shocked by a 25 yr young kid Rahul into realizing that he is married in a love-less relationship. Thus begins the journey of a love-guru advising the veteran in re-gaining his wife and life. In between we also journey upon the love-lost-re-united life of Rahul and Shreya.

Now, Abhinn-Manthan, the director duo do a good job over-all. But the story is quick in the first half, drags with unwarranted emotional scenes in the second half. Some scenes are weak, some a just not required. A deft re-look at the over-all product could have actually cut 20-30 mins making it a crisper product.

However, what really stands out in the film which has great performances is the class cinematography of the veteran Tapan Vyas (yes, I am his work’s fan, and no, I have not been paid to write this!). He just hooks us with his skills forcing us to marvel at the shots and at all times reminding us that we could actually be watching a Bolly/Hollywood kind of product.

The other department where the film scores is the music. Some truly hummable, well-timed songs help the narrative and keep us hooked. Tuj Re is not only pictured romantic but actually feels soothing. The Break-Up song reminds you of the Heer toh Badi Sad hai ji format, rocking and fun for a Gujarati Movie. Take a bow Manthan Joshi and Prashant Satose.  

Next up is a cameo sort of role of the under-utilized Ojas Rawal. What lovely comic timing. Simply lights up the screen, every time he enters. We could actually hear the audience delighted with his presence. Maira Doshi is cute and beautiful, but could work on her dialogue delivery. Sejal Shah as Vasanti is just perfect. You can’t get it wrong with her or for that matter with Divyang Thakkar. Only challenge with Divyang was the limited expressions, which however were completely overshadowed by the confident body-language and the chemistry.

Last but not the least, Manoj Joshi. He seems to be carrying the film on his shoulders. Which is good as well as painful some times for the viewers. He gives us some truly amazing scenes in the bedroom (arrey baba veg ones), drinking, fantastic Cinema Hall scene, but he could have given some more screen space to the youngsters and there could have been a balance. No, I am not complaining, just hoping the good product could have been better. More power to the ever-green Joshiji. 

Go out and watch Chasni, with your family, it is full of fun, humour, values and a paisa vasool. 

Trust me, it is not every time that I get to say this.

Pics Courtesy: Chasni Promotions on the Internet