Debu Dev Tethechi Jaanava

Mohan Joshi suits the role of Debu and he has done a brilliant job as the preacher.

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After the death of his father due to excessive drinking as he is in debt,young Debu and his mother go and live in his mamas maternal uncle)s house in another village. Debu grows up to be a very responsible young man who looks after the entire family comprising his grandfather,mama,mami, their lazy son,Debus mother,wife and son. He works on the fields the entire day and after that he helps the villagers with their problems. Mama dies of shock as his fields are taken away by the moneylender from whom he had taken a loan.

When an epidemic spreads in the village,his wife blames him for the death of his little son as Debu insists that she take the child to the doctor instead of going to the local goddess. Debu gets affected by all this and one day leaves home. He decides to dedicate his life for society and its people by changing their thinking. He does it in his own small way,mainly through preaching and eventually becomes a famous saint. When asked what his name is,one of the followers looks at him and finds a food-pan in his hand and thus introduces him as Gagde Baba and hence he comes to be known by that name

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The film is based on the life and thoughts of Gadge Baba in the early 1900s. It deals with superstitions in society in a scientific way. This is a real story of Debu,who was born in Shegaon village in the Amravati district of Maharashtra. After being dejected in life,he became a preacher who travelled all over wearing his food-pan upturned on his head and carrying a broom. Wherever he went he would start cleaning the streets for which he was given money. He used that money to build schools and colleges,shelters for the needy and hospitals for the poor. He conducted his discourses in the form of kirtans whereby he would educate people against blind faiths and rituals. He was one of the great social reformers of Maharashtra,who taught people the importance of cleanliness.

Mohan Joshi suits the role of Debu and he has done a brilliant job as the preacher. In fact he looks the part. However as the young Debu,he looks ill-fitted,what with his wig to make him look young. The rest of the cast is passable. Ashok Patkis music is pleasant and may catch on. Its the subject that holds interest and since it is a real story,it makes an impact on the minds of the viewers about the importance of science,cleanliness and life in general. Nilesh Jalamkar,who has penned the story as well as directed the film,has handled the subject well.

RATING: Two stars to the film: one for Mohan Joshi in the part of Gadge Baba and one for Nilesh Jalambars good direction.