Film Review: Vaalvi [Termites]

Starring: Swapnil Joshi, Subodh Bhave, Amita Date Kulkarni, Shivani Surve

Director: Paresh Mokashi

‘Vaalvi’, which literally translates to termites in Marathi, stays with you for quite a while after it is over and that, perhaps, is one of the many traits of a successful movie.

Director Mokashi, famed for films like ‘Elizabeth Ekadashi’, ‘Chi Va Chi Sau Ka’ and ‘Harishchandrachi Factory’, has yet again brought a unique film to the table.

In a nutshell, ‘Vaalvi’ is the story of Aniket (Joshi), who is frustrated with his wife, Avani (Date-Kulkarni), and conspires to get rid of her with his girlfriend Devika (Surve) but things get complicated when Avani’s psychiatrist, Anshuman (Bhave) gets involved.

Although the plot itself is also interesting, what pushes ‘Vaalvi’ up a notch is Mokashi’s witty handling of a bizarre premise. Striking the perfect balance between comedy, thrill and anticipation, this fast-paced dark comedy thriller keeps the viewers hooked in right from the get-go.

‘Vaalvi’ is at once bleak and downright hilarious. There is, however, a method to Mokashi’s deceptive chaos and craziness, which is all tied together beautifully at the end.

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On a deeper level, the film perhaps seeks to explore the many facets of human behaviour. For instance, the ways which otherwise ordinary individuals react, both to each other and their surroundings, when cornered by increasingly desperate situations.

The talented cast further bring out the intricacies of the script, co-authored by Mokashi and Madhugandha Kulkarni. Joshi and Bhave’s comedic timing and their interactions with each other and others on screen is a joy to see. Joshi is seen portraying a character very different from his usual repertoire and it is a joy to see him bring out the intricacies of his character. Bhave’s understated but powerful presence captures the sometimes confused, sometimes timid nature of his character brilliantly. Surve’s feistiness and Date-Kulkarni’s terrific portrayal of what having a mental health condition might look like bring it all together in this dark but incredibly funny drama.

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Jointly produced by Zee Studios and Kulkarni, this must-watch Marathi film with subtitles is now available to global audiences on Zee5 Global.