Aatmapamphlet

I wish films like 'Aatmapamphlet' got made more. But I guess the dearth of such films are also what makes it special and helps stand out.

A coming-of-age Marathi feature supported by terrific casting and their performances, the writing, the film making, cinematography, editing, production design... (I could go on).

There are more reasons to give @ashishbende's film a chance at the theatres than I can count.

If you're looking for a wholesome story and are keen on taking a trip down memory Lane, this is for you.

For the sake of supporting good cinema, please give it a chance at the theatres.

It requires a theatrical experience.

Aatmapamphlet (2023) : Movie Review -

Ashish Bende has his stamp all over Aatmapamphlet. The protagonist is named after him, and that's the only realistic thing about the film. Aatmapamphlet carries a humour that has all chances to go bouncer over the heads of Marathi audiences. This kind of peculiar humour hasn't been attempted in Marathi cinema, or, for that matter, in Indian cinema. The best I can remember is Italian cinema and British capers, and the most universally known example is Amelie (2001) in French cinema. Aatmapamphlet is one step ahead because it has out-of-the-world theories and is very poignant about lifestyle and social commentary. There's nothing so cinematically attractive in the film, and that's why you relate to it very quickly. Numerically, you'll have about 45-50 laughs in 90 minutes. Believe me, this average is too high for any comedy you remember from recent times.

Aatmapamphlet is a narration of the biopic of our hero, Ashish Bende (Om Bendkhale). He is not a famous person; his story can't be called a biographical, autobiography, or anything of that sort, so he gives it a new, unique name, "Aatmapamphlet". The film is about his childhood as he falls in love at first "hand'' with his girlfriend, Srishti (Pranjalii Shrikan). Ashish gets support from his friend Borya and his classmates to approach Srishti and set things up. The film is all about their conversions, how they look at society and its norms, social events, and the nation's current affairs, including every big thing that happened in our country. Then there is a climax, about which I'll speak later.

Aatmapamphlet has a weird title, and somewhere it helps you understand what kind of sky-level humour it is going to serve you. I am not exaggerating, but this is the only adjective I could have thought of: "Aatmapamphlet has a God-level humour!" That's it. That's the headline. I have been through thousands of films and many Marathi movies, but I haven't been able to relate to such humour in a children-oriented film like this. Even Woody Allen needed sexual comments and female sex appeal to explore his weird comedies. The last memories are almost a decade old now with Balak Palak, Timepass, and Killa. Aatmapamphlet overtakes them because it is damn intelligent and intellectual. Like the protagonist says, "It's getting symbolic". I say it's metaphorical too. There are dozens of moments where I was like, "Waah.. wahh.. kadakk.." I don't remember when the last time I had so much laughter was, and that also put my brain to work. Paresh Mokashi is a humorous version of Satyajit Ray. That's not an exaggeration or a paid statement; that's the truth. Ray made many intense and dark films, but with Hirak Deshe, he went wild and crazy, and Mokashi's thoughts always take me back to those days. We may or may not get a creative force like him again who can generate a product that's massy, classy, and ahead of time. So better value him right now. I don't need to explain his previous works here because you are all aware of them. He is just getting better with different genres. Aatmapamphlet is the craziest comedy with the uttermost sensible context ever written in Marathi cinema, while most of the great comedies are illogical and brainless. Hail Mokashi and Bende for that.

Manas Tondwalkar and Om Bendkhale play Aashish Bende with the most honesty, and it couldn't have gotten better than them. The older version has a limited time frame, but that's okay. Shrishti, played by Khushi Hajare and Pranjali Shrikant, is mostly silent but extremely gorgeous. That's natural beauty, marriage material, a pure girl, or whatever you want to term it. Chetan Wagh as Borya is hilarious, as Bhimrao Mude, Ketaki Saraf, and others add good support.

Satyajeet Shobha Shriram's cinematography is fine, the editing is super edgy, and the production value is top-class considering the budget. Aatmapamphlet has everything to make you crazy: go clapping, go wild, go hysterical, and scream. It lacks only one thing, and that's a good "climax". In 90 minutes, we have 85 minutes built so high that those 5 minutes in climax and pre-climax of boring and soapy 'happy ending'. Remove those 10 minutes, and this would have been a modern classic for ages. It just missed it due to the regular climax, which isn't suitable for an irregularly classy film like this. Ashish Bende should be proud of himself for getting things done the way he wanted. Of course, you need a genius like Mokashi close to you, but how about creating another genius? If he can continue in the same vein with his next film, then Bende could be the next big thing for me. I should call him the "Woody Allen" of Marathi cinema. As a whole, Aatmapamphlet is a brainstorming comedy that you have been dreaming of being made in Marathi cinema. Go and enjoy, and make sure you go with your gang and create a hysteria inside the cinema hall.

RATING - 6/10*

The film is very different, narration style is very very different.. Written is so powerful that it conveys what it wants.. The humour is so good that laughed naturally after so long and are actually very naturally written.. Writing turns movie up or down.. We mostly laugh in stand ups now a days to known jokes also because of that stand up performer only. Otherwise nothing new comes nowadays that touches.. Here humour is classic.. No vulgarity, abuses nothing.. Pure feelings.. All actors child and old are too good.. A wholesome movie to enjoy in theaters. All were continuously having laughs in theater throughout.

Go go go for it.

Have you ever wondered, WHAT happens when we cross the boundaries of storytelling?

Well, "Aatmapamphlet" is the answer. This film has managed to tell the story in a way which has never been told with such a subtle and impactful humor.

And I do not need to mention Paresh Mokashi for his creativity as most of the Marathi audience already knows him, thanks to his previous bangers and he continues to do that with the writing for this film.

Ashish Bende has managed to execute this story an present it on screen in a way which I have never seen before. In a one sentence: This movie cannot be considered within the lines of Bollywood or Hollywood because it has crossed them all. Thank you so much to creators for creating and presenting this beautiful art of cinema to us.

The only miss from this movie is it's climax, it kind of looks dilusional when compared with rest of the movie. But let it be, since I did not see that coming lol.

Marathi movies like this have managed to create something unique and new, which do not compete with rest of the world of cinema but creates an art in itself. They are not bounded by fame or the collection to make them shine brighter than other, but they are managing to reach the audience they're supposed to. If you are watching this movies then you are among the lucky ones and if you are not then you're missing out on this blissfull craetionss.

This is real Fun Ride. All caste related things were shown without hurting anyone's feelings The religious fights these days were shown so much beautifully & How great life will become of Indians.

At some point film seems boring but it grasps your attention again, connects you with humourous punches.

The shooting style & the structure of presenting movie is quite unique & Never used in Marathi before. I think in any movie before.

"Paresh Mokashi" has this beautiful perspective,to show struggle in funny way.

Anyway it excites you till the climax & The climax is really great.

"bhavano" watch it.