Review: Samarth: When 400-Year-Old Wisdom Meets Modern-Day Anxiety!
Few saints have had as deep and lasting an influence on Maharashtra as Samarth Ramdas. Revered for his teachings on courage, discipline, self-control and devotion, he remains one of the most respected spiritual figures in the state. His association with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has also become an important part of Maharashtra’s historical and cultural memory, with Ramdas’ philosophy often being discussed in the context of Shivaji Maharaj’s vision of Swarajya, courage and duty. Samarth, a newly released Marathi film, draws from this timeless philosophy and attempts to bring it into the present, asking a simple yet relevant question: can wisdom from nearly four centuries ago help a person deal with the anxiety, confusion and emotional pressures of modern life?
Mr. Borgainkar (Pushkaraj Chirputkar) is a disciple of Swami Samarth. Fed up with the hustle and bustle of city life, he decides to move back to his village and devote himself to spreading the teachings of Samarth. His wife (Sharvari Jemenis) supports his decision, but their young son, Samarth (Bhushan Pradhan), is deeply disturbed and harbours a grudge against his father for seemingly giving more importance to Samarth’s teachings than to him. He eventually goes to live with his Mama (Prasad Khandekar) in a bigger town and grows up to become a civil engineer. He lands a job with a major construction company, where the owner’s daughter, Urvashi (Disha Pardeshi), gets close to him. Back in his village, his childhood friend Goku (Hardik Joshi) becomes a lawyer, while Suma (Isha Keskar) continues to look after his father. When a bridge collapse lands Samarth in jail, his life takes a dramatic turn. How he fights back with the help of his loved ones and draws strength from the teachings of Samarth forms the crux of the story.
The film’s biggest strength is its sincerity. The story and screenplay keep the narrative simple and allow the philosophy of Samarth Ramdas to emerge through the protagonist’s emotional journey rather than turning the film into a purely spiritual discourse. The direction maintains a restrained tone, giving importance to silences, conversations and moments of introspection. The music and background score complement the spiritual mood without overwhelming the narrative. Bhushan Pradhan delivers a natural and emotionally grounded performance, particularly in scenes where his character struggles with pain, anger and uncertainty. Pushkaraj Chirputkar delivers a fantastic performance. Better known for his comic roles, he proves here what a fine actor he is with a restrained and nuanced portrayal. Hardik Joshi is effective, as is Isha Keskar, while Sharvari Jemenis provides solid support. Disha Pardeshidelivers a strong performance and also gets an opportunity to showcase her dancing skills effectively. Prasad Khandekar puts in a decent performance.
Samarth succeeds in delivering its message without becoming preachy.
Rating: ***
By Keerti Kadam