Marathi Film ‘Yek Number’ Explores Politics and Love with Strong Performances

The Marathi film ‘Yek Number‘, directed by Rajesh Mapuskar, presents a narrative combining political ideals and a love story, set against the backdrop of a rural and urban divide. The film, which recently premiered on October 10, 2024, explores the ideology of Raj Thackeray‘s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena without being a biopic, instead framing its story around a young man named Pratap and his quest for love.

Pratap, played by Dhariya Gholap, is portrayed as a politically disoriented youth eager to win the heart of his beloved, Pinky, portrayed by Sayli Patil. Pinky is fascinated by Raj Thackeray’s ideologies, pushing Pratap to fulfill the challenging task of bringing Thackeray to their village to impress her.

As Pratap ventures into Mumbai and joins a street theatre group to achieve his goal, another subplot unfolds, depicting Thackeray being targeted by terrorists. The film intricately merges these parallel narratives, offering an engaging post-intermission storyline that critics have noted for maintaining a delicate balance, largely sticking to its core narrative amidst elements of propaganda.

The production, a debut for renowned actress-producer Tejaswini Pandit, was undertaken by Zee Studios and Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment in collaboration with Sahyadri Films. In interviews, Pandit praised the lead actors’ performances, noting their compelling portrayal of the main characters. “Dhairya Gholap and Sayli Patil perfectly captured the essence of Pratap and Pinky,” she remarked during a press engagement.

Sayli Patil, reflecting on her experience, recounted a memorable moment during filming that involved delivering a dialogue in the local Gawran language, which received applause from the crew. Her co-star Dhairya Gholap also expressed his camaraderie with Patil during the project, stating that their initial interaction helped solidify their on-screen chemistry.

The movie, while being a dramatic depiction of a simple premise, is noted for its strong performances and engaging direction, attributes that have placed it among notable works in the Marathi cinematic domain. The inspiration for the film arose from Thackeray’s historical electoral phrase “Lav re toh video”, adding political undertones to the narrative.