Shreyas Talpade's first production -- Marathi film, Sanai Chaughde -- in association with Subhash Ghai's [Images] Mukta Arts [Get Quote], revolves around arranged marriage, and the way the youth looks at it today. The film is directed by Rajiv Patel, and was originally titled Kaande Pohe.

Kaande Pohe is a dish associated with the Maharashtrian match-making ritual. According to tradition, the prospective bride prepares a dish called Kaande Pohe for the prospective groom and his family.

The film's protagonist Rahul Borgaonkar (played by Subodh Bhave) runs a match-making agency called Kaande Pohe. One of his big challenges is getting Sai (Sai Tamhankar) married because she comes with a past.

Sai was in love with Aniket (Shreyas, in a cameo) and gets pregnant with his baby. They decide to marry but Aniket dies in an accident. Suddenly, Sai is left with a baby, and no spouse. She starts looking for a partner, who would accept her and her baby.

Rahul decides to fix Aaditya (played by Santosh Juvekar) with Sai. She tells Aaditya about her past. Aaditya now finds it difficult to make up his mind about Sai, as his parents would be ashamed with this social taboo. They fall in love gradually, and Rahul tries to exploit this affection and convinces Aaditya to marry her. But soon after, he overhears nasty comments about Sai, and has a change of heart.  

What does Rahul do next? Will he try to change the mindset of the society or will he change the motto of his agency? Watch the film to find out.

Writer-director Rajiv Patil and scriptwriter Sanjay Pawar have tried their best to make the perfect Kaande Pohe dish. But it lacks essence. What starts as a simple match-making film gets entangled with social issues.

The director cannot convey his message, and tries his best to salvage the film by resorting to predictable methods.

On the music front, Avdhoot Gupte has given some rocking tunes.

Subodh and Santosh are good actors but they have no impact onscreen. Sai is good.

If only Patil had flavoured this dish well, this Kaande Pohe would have been tastier.

Rediff Rating: