Banner: Moonwalk Production
Producer: Aayush Phadnis & Eshaan Phadnis
Director: Kiran Phadnis
Cast: Rajeev Govinda Pillai, Sulagna Panigrahi, Rajesh Shringarpure, Roopa Ganguly & Girish Karnad
Music: Ismail Darbar, Som & Siddharth Chopra
Débutante director Kiran Phadnis in his debut directorial offering ‘Ek Adbhut Dakshina – Guru Dakshina’ did try to tackle the touchy subject of a relationship between a Guru & his disciple but mid way he got carried away and brought in multilateral sub – plots of the triangular love story, the revenge angle, the naxalism’s deceit & treachery et al. Needless to add he meandered away and confusingly, fully or rather deliberately lost his focus.
An orphaned boy Dev (Rajeev Govinda Pillai) is adopted by a Guruji (Girish Karnad) and brought him to his dance academy in Kolkata, owing to his dancing skills. Impressed by his talent, Guruji takes him under his wings. However, Dev’s one-sided love for Guruji’s daughter Sanjukta (Sulagna Panigrahi) changes their lives forever. Sanjukta finds herself seduced by Chhau dancer Gambhira (Rajesh Shringarpure) instead, who seems like a man of dubious intent. It turns out that he is a Naxalite, on a secret mission. Dev suspects Gambhira’s motives and warns Sanjukta but she doesn’t pay heed. Dev is heartbroken & Guruji is devastated, when Sanjukta secretly marries Gambhira. Post marriage, Gambhira shows his true colors, thus ruining the life of his wife & Guruji. Meanwhile, an accident takes Dev to Himachal. An then starts the revenge drama too.
Kiran Phadnis had a good backing and a fair chance of a lifetime but he faltered miserably in his debut directorial effort. Need I say anything more.
Performance wise both Rajeev Govinda Pillai & Sulagna Panigrahi have made a decent debut and that’s just about it. But on the other hand it is Rajesh Shringarpure who has left a lasting impression. Lastly senior actors like Girish Karnad & Roopa Ganguly have tried their level best to bring some semblance to the entire sordid affair.
Tail Piece: if you are still interested in watching ‘Ek Adbhut Dakshina – Guru Dakshina’ then go ahead and do so. The risk is entirely yours. I rest my case here.
