u/Zealousideal-Big3046

Watched Jogwa (available on youtube) after a long time, and here are my thoughts:

The positives:

(1) Upendra Limaye's performance as a Jogta who undergoes forced feminization is the highlight. He carries the role earnestly, and his desperation feels earned towards the end.

(2) The village atmosphere feels immersive -- the cinematography is pretty good.

(3) BGM is a melancholic tune giving an eerie grim vibe, well suited to the movie's tone.

(4) The soundtrack is phenomenal -- Lallati Bhandar and Jeev Rangala need no introduction.

Where I feel it could have perhaps improved:

(1) The movie starts off strongly, with "induction" of Tayappa and Suli, but then feels largely episodic. I understand the intent is an observational cinema on the life of Jogtas and Jogtins but it starts feeling a bit dragged after a point. Contrary to my expectations, the tone of the movie, while grim, is largely restrained.

(2) Chinmay Mandlekar is largely wasted in the movie IMO. He could have been given more of a character development but appears more like an extended extra. Similarly, the character that tries to raise awareness about blind faith appears briefly and goes out without leaving a trace.

(3) The climax feels like an awkard middle territory between restraint and catharsis -- It strays away from restraint, which has been the tone of the movie through-out, and becomes a bit over the top with two lovers suddenly "overpowering" the clan.

Overall tho -- it's one of the top-tier Marathi films IMO. Highly recommended watch, if you haven't :)

Just watched it couple of days ago in cinema hall, my take --

The positives:

• Mohan Joshi -- He's the soul of the film thru and thru, and for him to get thru paralysis and act in the movie is an inspiration and grit in itself
• More serious and well intentioned than the first version -- At least it tries to focus on a real and grim issue of farmer suicides rather than engaging in blatant pseudscience as in part 1.
• The cameos of Prasad Oak, Om Bhutkar, Mahesh Majrekar and Gashmeer Mahajani were pretty memorable.
• The Climax and post credits scene

The "not so" positives:

• Snehal gave a strong performance in first half, but I found her character to not progress much during the film and constantly shouting some variant of "my husband committed suicide" starts to become irritating after a point. And her (somewhat actively) wishing for a farmer to commit suicide and going to exterme of attempting suicide so she can "win over" Swami borders on the fringe and harder to sympathize for her.
• Overly simplified solutions -- IMO this was a central weakness of the movie, where Swami suggests what are apparently overly simplified solutions to farmer suicides -- the intent isn't wrong -- education, awareness, avoiding wealth displays but could have been more nuanced.
• While the movie was intense in parts, IMO mixing it with comedy in between diluted a bit for me. I'd rather that the movie kept intense tone throughout for such a topic. Akin to Jogwa or Court.
• The overall quality of soundtrack while good, falls way short of the first movie. From the first movie -- Gurumauli and Kaal Bhairav ashtak were phenomenal!

Perhaps not a popular opinion -- I'd rate this better than part 1 :)