Review: Reelstar – A Social Message Wrapped in Southern Style!

In recent times, the gap between Southern movies and Western cinema has noticeably narrowed. After establishing their stronghold in Bollywood, Southern filmmakers are now stepping into regional cinema as well. Marathi films are known for their strong, content-driven storytelling, and now a director duo from the South—Simmy Kodeph and Robin Varghese—have ventured into Marathi cinema with Reelstar. They present the Maharashtrian political landscape with a Southern flavour, all through the eyes of a common man.

Sumit Rane (#PrasadOak) is an investigative journalist who resigns from his job after being reprimanded by his editor (Anant Mahadevan) while pursuing a murder story. Though his girlfriend (Ruchira Jadhav) tries to reason with him, he remains adamant. The narrative then shifts from an urban setting to a rural one, where Bhanudas (#BhushanManjule), a toy seller, struggles to make ends meet. His wife (#UrmilaJagtap) stands firmly by his side. An ardent fan of Amitabh Bachchan, Bhanudas creates reels on Big B’s songs and enjoys modest fame as a “Reelstar.” A bomb explosion leaves him without his motorcycle, and while tracing it, he accidentally uncovers several political wrongdoings. What unfolds from here forms the core of the film.

Although the story is set in a Maharashtra village, it carries a distinctive Southern aroma. The screenplay feels overly stretched, which dilutes the impact of its central theme. The editor could have trimmed several repetitive portions to make the narrative tighter. The music is appealing and elevates key moments, while the cinematography is striking, and the action choreography clearly reflects Southern influences.

Prasad Oak delivers a solid performance, bringing sincerity to his role. Bhushan Manjule impresses, especially in emotional scenes. Milind Shinde is outstanding, and the supporting cast—including Swapnil Rajshekhar, Urmila Jagtap, Ruchira Jadhav, Vijay Patkar, and Kailash Waghmare—adds good value to the film.

Reelstar delivers a relevant social message, wrapped neatly in Southern-style storytelling.

***

By Keerti Kadam