When I saw that Mahesh Manjrekar (MM) has both written and directed Filter Coffee, I immediately bought the tickets. The show was at a very inconvenient time - 4 pm on a Friday evening – but that’s small price to pay for good art and artists!! If you are looking for convenience – watch Instagram stories and Facebook videos…This one is from a man who directed and acted in National Film award winning Astitva - deserves our respect, commands our inconvenience. So here I was standing in front of Shivaji Mandir theatre at 3.45pm waiting to get in.
The story is simple – an artist couple (husband dead..) owns an art gallery run by Anita Sarnaik (Urmila Kanetkar) and her assistant Manasi (Ankita Lande). Manasi and her lover Vikram (Virajas Kulkarni) portrayed to Anita - as part of a conspiracy - that Vikram is an artist and an accomplished gallery administrator. Anita falls for it and hands over the business to Vikram. She soon finds herself as recipient of the ill-gotten success from Vikram’s unethical business practices. Ambitious Vikram’s next target is Anita who does not accept him as lover. The plot revolves around the emotional complexity amongst Vikram, Anita and Mansi, Vikram’s moral turpitude both in the business and relationships and lastly a bird’s eye view of the art industry in general.
Good:
All the actors – Urmila, Ankita and Virajas deliver the goods. Urmila effectively portrays Anita’s love for her dead husband and her friendship with the husbands’ friend – Sandeep (Vikram Gaikwad) and her compassion for Vikram is clearly visible. Virajas takes the cake as immoral womanizer and conspirator – Vikram. Ankita has a smaller role but she does not disappoint. Vikram Gaikwad’s subdued act as Anita’s friend and secret admirer is worth the watch.
Set - Living room of a bungalow in Vile Parle East which is tastefully decorated – adorned with paintings (frankly disappointed with the choice of painting given that this supposed to be artist couple’s house but let’s move on). The background is mixed that suggests that there is a garden outside but also shows buildings in distance – realistic. Set was acceptable.
Bad:
Deeply disappointed with the story. The character depths are completely missing especially the menace that Vikram’s character should command (to justify the end of the drama) is just not there. Bollywood and Hollywood is strewn with such menacing characters and MM could have just picked one but alas!! I could not decide whether Vikram’s character in the final act is mentally ill or pure evil.
Conspiracy is revealed too early – confessions come too fast.
There are a lot of gaffs as well – In one scene, Anita goes to make coffee and comes back dressed to step out. In another one, within a minute of Vikram asking Anita to go out for brunch – starts eating breakfast!! Sandeep’s character too has not been dealt with effectively.
The end too is not justified – it is difficult to believe that Anita’s choice of plan to deal with Vikram’s ambition, infidelity and evil.
This could have been a very tight suspense – if not suspense at least a good thriller but fails to become either.
Final verdict:
Watch it – if you at all choose to do it – for the actor performances. Don’t do the mistake that I did. Do not go for MM’s glory -it not there in this one – hopefully he will not disappoint next time. In the final act, the entire audience whole heartedly applauded the actors who came on the stage – surprisingly (actually apt) – MM wasn’t there or I would have booed him.....
