Rating: 1.5 out of 5*

Starring: Jackie Shroff, Smriti Irani, Rajeshwari Sachdeva, Zarina Wahab, Govind Namdeo and Shakti Kapoor

Director: Deepak Balraj Vij

We fail to understand why did the makers of this film attempt a film on the great saint of Shirdi, Sai Baba when they lacked every single good aspect related to making a decent ode to him. Maalik Ek is more of an insult to the great saint than anything else.

Narrated in a flashback mode from the conversations between Dwaraka Mai (Smriti Irani) and Laxmi (Divya Dutta), Maalik Ek tells the story of Sai Baba (Jackie Shroff) who is a beggar but a loved one by all thanks to his compassionate ways. Known to performing miracles, he is hated by Kulkarni (Shakti Kapoor) and Sahukar (Govind Namdeo). The rest of the plot revolves around the people of the village of Sai Baba and how he ends up being a great saint.

The biggest culprit of the Maalik Ek is the docudrama style script by Shirish Latkar and Deepak Balraj Vij that fails to keep you engrossed. Mostly based on mythological aspects related to the famous saint of Shirdi, it completely fails to evoke any excitement in the scenes depicting miracles. It ends up being plain dull and boring.

Jackie Shroff tries hard but ends up giving an average performance. But he does look the part. However his dance movements are unintentionally hilarious. Smriti Irani acts well and Divya Dutta too delivers a good act. Rajeshwari Sachdeva in a brief role leaves her mark. Shakti Kapoor is as usual whereas Govind Namdeo though loud is effective. The most impressive act however is delivered by Zarina Wahab who last week put up an as good act in Rakht Charitra.

While the intention of the makers may be noble, the treatment of the film and direction by a veteran like Deepak Balraj Vij is plain tacky and amateurish. One can easily make out a scene is shot during different times and joined together to make it appear as if shot together. For a devotional film based on Sai Baba at least the music could have been a saving grace but no such luck. Bhajan maestro Anup Jalota's music too is uninspiring.

There is simply no single reason why one should waste his/her money on this extremely tepid film. Just avoid.

--Sampurn Wire