Not for kids, (or adults)

Maruti Mera Dost
Cast:  Chandrachur Singh, Ritika Shrivastava, Erik Nanda, Sushmita Mukherji
Director: Manikya Raju
Rating: «

When you watch the live-animation film Maruti Mera Dost, you cannot help but wonder who this film is aimed at. It cannot be for children given the twisted values of a black magic-using evil grandmother called Kokoi (Sushmita Mukherji, frightening for all the wrong reasons) wanting to kill a child, heir to a vast estate.
The foundation of the story of Ramayana is all well and good, as is the paean to Hanuman, but melodramatic scenes around a weeping eight-year-old is just too much.

Production-wise, there is absolutely no consistency. The times of the day change with the point of view of characters, a setting that looks like Rajasthan in one instant transforms into lush Kerala rice paddies in others. The styling and casting is ghastly – women dressed like saas-bahu characters transposed onto a supernatural comic fable. As for the film stock, focus, colour correction — the list of technical anomalies is extensive. The only redeeming feature is the visual effects utilised to portray devils and otherworldly creatures.

Rameshwari (Ritika Srivastava) is raised by her devoted father (Chandrachur Singh) and stepmother. She befriends young Maruti (Erik) who becomes her self-appointed bodyguard. But Kokoi is determined to eliminate Rameshwari, driving the girl to copious tears and unnecessary melodrama, till the expected happily ever after.

Torturously long, without any concept of drama, further hampered by boring songs, uninspired direction and acting, this is not recommended viewing for children (or adults).