‘Zapuk Zapuk' review: Suraj Chavan is the boss of an uneven fairy tale
Baipan Bhari Deva director Kedar Shinde's Zapuk Zupuk stars Suraj Chavan, the social media sensation who won the Marathi version of the Bigg Boss reality show in 2024. In the Marathi-language Zapuk Zapuk, Chavan plays an extension of his virtual image – a simpleton with a big heart, a rustic manner and unique catchphrases.
Suraj is a peon at a small-town school who expresses himself through his alter ego Surajveer. The caped crusader Surajveer is everything Suraj isn't – brave, authoritative and attractive.
The object of Suraj's affections is socially superior to him in every way. Narayani (Jui Bhagwat) is the daughter of the local politician Punjab Rao (Milind Gawali). Despite her wealth, Narayani is a deadly earnest social worker type, electing to teach at the school where Suraj works (although she does get the job because of her dad's clout).
Suraj's Walter Mitty fantasies get a Cyrano De Bergerac-scripted twist when he gets the artist Shekhar (Indraneil Kamat) to write love letters on his behalf for Narayani. Rajkumar (Hemant Pharande), who is related to Punjab Rao's second wife Vrunda (Deepali Pansare), steps in as the ogre in a fairy tale with a clueless father, an evil stepmother, a prince and princess pairing, and a clown.
Omkar Mangesh Dutt's screenplay is as conventional as its leading man is unorthodox. Plot turns that studiously avoid dark edges or dangerous curves await Suraj, Narayani and Shekhar. The only relief from the predictable and overstretched storytelling is offered by Suraj's achingly authenticity and his fantastical moments.
The 144-minute film doesn't quite know what to do with its hero, played by a self-made orphan who rose out of poverty to fame. Although the most resonant scenes revolve around Suraj, the movie misses the opportunity to package Chavan as a contemporary version of Dada Kondke's buffoonish heroes.
Kondke's characters had more control and authorship over their destinies, unlike Chavan. Zapuk Zupuk doesn't patronise Chavan nor descends into cringe comedy. But the focus on the Narayani-Shekhar romance and Narayani's domestic troubles takes away from a deeper exploration of Suraj's back story.
Suraj's child-like manner is further emphasised by the company he keeps – a bunch of school students. Seemingly incapable of grown-up reactions or emotions, Suraj is boxed in as the classic Fool – a character Chavan plays perfectly.
Chavan supplies most of the humour, through scenes that echo the actor's videos on social media. Chavan is also very good in a scene with his onscreen sister, played by Payal Jadhav.
The gimmick of casting Chavan turns to be the chief attraction – and the film's only one. Although Jui Bhagwat is sincerity personified, the literally wide-eyed Narayani, who is unaware of the effect she has on Suraj, doesn't inspire confidence.
Play
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Kamal Haasan's Thug Life Sees A Drop On Day 2, Mints Rs 7.5 Crore At Box Office
Last Updated: The two-day box office collection of Thug Life stands at Rs 23 crore nett in India. The Kamal Haasan starrer Thug Life released in theatres on June 5. The film opened to mixed responses from fans and critics. While many praised its impressive cinematography and visually striking presentation, others were disappointed with the predictable storyline and sluggish screenplay. Talking about its box office collection, the film witnessed a huge drop on its day 2. According to the early estimates by industry tracker it minted around Rs 7.5 crore across all languages in India. The second day saw a major drop in the numbers as the film performed decently on its first day at the box office and collected a whopping Rs 15.50 crore. This implies the film suffered a loss of more than 55 per cent. With this, the two-day box office collection of the movie stands at Rs 23 crore nett in India. Thug Life is a Tamil-language gangster action drama helmed by Mani Ratnam. Released in multiple languages, the film brought together a powerhouse cast featuring Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Joju George, Ali Fazal, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sanya Malhotra, Nassar and Rohit Saraf, among others in pivotal roles. This film marked a significant collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan after 38 years since their iconic film Nayakan (1987). The music of the film is composed by the legendary AR Rahman, marking his third collaboration with the actor and 19th with the renowned filmmaker. Ravi K Chandran handled the cinematography, and the editing work was managed by A Sreekar Prasad, ensuring a high-quality visual and auditory experience. Set against the backdrop of a gritty underworld, the film explores the themes of power, betrayal and redemption. It is packed with atmospheric storytelling, intense performances and a strong emotional core. After its theatrical release, the makers have already announced that the film will be made available on Netflix. While some reports claim that Thug Life will stream on the streaming giant from August 7, an official confirmation regarding the date is still awaited. According to reports, Netflix has purchased the digital rights of the film for Rs 149.7 crore. First Published:
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Exclusive! Munawar Faruqui on celebrating Eid with wife and family: It feels special now; says he and wife met "at the right time"
Munawar Faruqui; PC: Tejas Kudtarkar In Junagadh, a young Munawar Faruqui would eagerly await Eid —not just for the celebrations, but for the joy of receiving Eidi from his elders and donning new clothes. Years later, now settled in a posh Mumbai apartment, Munawar's excitement for Eid remains just as vibrant, though the roles have beautifully reversed—he's now the one giving Eidi. As the nation comes alive with festivities, the former Bigg Boss winner sits down with Bombay Times to share his heartfelt reflections on Eid, family, and the traditions that continue to shape his life. 'Eid is the number one festival for me' Eid, for Munawar, is much more than a festival—it's the pinnacle of celebration, a time to bond with family and spread happiness. 'Eid is the most celebrated festival and the number one festival for me. Eid for me is always with the family and distributing food,' Munawar tells us. As a child, Eidi was a treasured part of Eid, a moment to feel valued and excited about new beginnings. 'We would look forward to Eidi which will range from one rupee to ten. And the uncle who would give us ten rupees would be revered the most (laughs). We would aim to collect at least Rs 100-120. All the boys would wear new clothes, and then go to a mela near our village. The next day we would collect more money and go to a waterpark. So, it used to be a two-day festivity. And those were some of the most beautiful days, where we would just be happy,' Munawar recalls. Now, Munawar experiences the joy from the other side of tradition—giving Eidi and spreading happiness himself. 'The tables have turned,' he says, adding, 'And it is beautiful. I feel very blessed that I am able to help or give people Eidi. Eidi is not a few bucks, but it is happiness. Whenever I give Eidi to the younger ones, I see myself in them. It would take me back to my young days.' The festival is also a reminder to be grateful. Munawar, who started his career as a standup comedian, admits he has a lot to be grateful about. 'When I used to go school, I would hop on a friend's cycle. Once his mother taunted me, and since then I started walking to the school. I used to pray to God that I just need a cycle. I would pray that I just need a cycle and I don't want anything else. And when my cycle got repaired, I used to feel I have everything. I was happy with just a cycle, so now everything is a bonus. I am the happiest. I often I sit in my apartment, and it clicks me where I am; I admire everything about life,' the Malaal singer shares. 'Eid ki biryani ka swaad hi alag hai' Munawar Faruqui; PC: Tejas Kudtarkar While Munawar claims he can make anything, and loves cooking, he avoids making anything on Eid. 'I don't experiment on Eid,' he quips. He adds, 'I love eating biryani any day, anywhere. But the biryani that is made on Eid is different. Eid ki biryani ka swaad alag hai, when you eat with your family and it is made in such large portions. I love Sheer khurma, but I prefer it when it is a day old as the mile gets thicker. So, my wife makes fresh Sheer khurma just the way I like it. She keeps the consistency exactly the way I prefer.' 'It was important for both of us to meet at the right time' This is Munawar's second Eid with his wife – makeup artist Mehzabeen Coatwala. Munawar praises his wife's role in organizing Eid, especially taking care of the shopping. 'My wife has taken care of that department really very well of shopping. She is very organized. She takes care of herself and the kids,' he mentions. As the family of four – the two have two children – celebrates Eid this year, Munawar states, 'We were together last year together. And it feels special now. Last two years, I would go to my sister's place for Eid. But this time everyone is going to come to my place for Eid. Now my family is here. So, forty people will be here and we will throw a dawaat.' Talking about finding his true companion, Munawar states it is all about the timing. 'There comes a time, when you get better with relationships, and understanding people. You aren't immature anymore; you don't look for relationships that you aren't sure where they will take you. So, with time, age, and experience, you understand what a life partner is and how important they are. It was important for both of us to meet at the right time. Also, to find your destination, you need to go through the journey. Sometimes the journey can be beautiful, and sometimes it can be bad. However, even the bad ones turn out to be beautiful. Some people find their destination sooner and some later. Hume thoda waqt laga but it is a good ending. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages and quotes !
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Saturday Feeling: Gen Z's superfast fashion, ‘Stolen' review and other stories
It was at an airport a year ago, while chatting with a young UI/UX engineer who was on the same delayed flight, that I learnt about fashion cycles shrinking to two weeks. She worked for a fashion brand that changed its collection every two weeks since Gen Z followed social media trends and switched out their wardrobes about once a month. I was surprised because this is a generation that has brought 'eco-anxiety' and 'climate grief' into everyday vocabulary. A few weeks later, Myntra launched its M-Now 30-minute clothing delivery service targeted largely at Gen-Z and since then a host of other companies have been talking about their 60-90-minute deliveries for clothing. Who needs a new outfit in 30 minutes? That's the question we set out to answer this week, and found out what's driving the buying patterns of Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012 and the generation influencing most buying decisions in a family. Their personal style is driven by trends, the internet, and never being caught in the same outfit twice. Which means they often shop for a new outfit every day of the week, giving Monday-Sunday dressing a whole new meaning. Pooja Singh spoke to 40 people outside colleges, via social media DMs, in the Metro, while browsing at shopping malls, and at local markets. She found that Gen Z is playing an endless game of catch-up and it is a story about excess, but it's also an indicator of the industry's own complicity in this superfast cycle. The cover of Mint Lounge dated 7 June 2025, which has stories on Gen Z's shopping habits, new galleries transforming the art world, and more. At a time when fine-dining menus evolve with fresh takes on hyperlocal cuisines, the culinary culture of Maharashtra remains confined to a few select dishes. But there's more to Marathi food than vada pav and misal. A new era of chefs is changing the narrative by showcasing the diverse food heritage of the state with bold, progressive formats. Think puran poli baklava, karvanda Cosmopolitan, and goda masala pizza, that too served in an omakase in Japan, writes Rituparna Roy. Read more. There's a quiet shift in the Indian art market landscape. Newer art galleries are whetting the appetite of collectors, both seasoned and novice, as interest continues to evolve. Many of these galleries showcase the personal collections of longtime art collectors. For some, the galleries represent a chance to give their artworks a home. For others, it's a way to tap into a growing fraternity that's interested in acquiring art, reports Abhilasha Ojha. Read more. Poets have often called love an insanity, a disease that destroys the one who experiences it, steals their tranquility and sleep; its only reward being the sights, sounds and smell of the beloved. Mehak Jamal's book, Loal Kashmir, takes you into this world of love and insanity told through 16 non-fiction stories, exploring the human cost of conflict and the resilience of lovers in Kashmir. These stories, told to Jamal by people who have faced the twin demons of militancy and army atrocities for decades, are full of beautiful nuances, without being preachy, Zeyad Masroor Khan writes in his review. It's an insider's view of the cost of loving and caring while living in a conflict zone. Read more. Only a handful of Hindi films, including Mukkabaaz (2018) and Afwaah (2023), have addressed the modern face of lynching in India. Karan Tejpal's Stolen doesn't imitate, but it comes close to capturing the dread of WhatsApp videos of lynch mobs. It's a searing, scary film about two brothers and a desperate mother—Gautam (Abhishek Banerjee) has come to pick up his brother, Raman (Shubham Vardan), from the railway station. Jhumpa (Mia Maelzer) is accusing Raman of stealing her baby. The misunderstanding turns into a nightmare and unfolds as the kind of film that makes you feel some hope for Hindi cinema and none for the country, writes Uday Bhatia. Stolen is now streaming on Amazon Prime. Read more. Cold showers are touted for sharper focus, reduced inflammation, and mood boosts. Silicon Valley CEOs swear by them. Fitness influencers frame them as proof of grit. But beyond the invigorating jolt, what does science really say? Tanisha Saxena speaks to experts and finds that pairing short cold showers with breathwork aids post-exercise recovery, mental clarity and metabolic resilience. It taps into the body's natural stress adaptation systems that not only boost circulation and metabolism, but also train the nervous system to better handle real-life stress. The key, though, is to do it small doses. Exposing yourself to cold water for 11 minutes per week is said to boost the production of beneficial neurochemicals in the body. Read more. The new Redmi Watch Move ( ₹ 1,999) by Xiaomi is a budget-friendly smartwatch that aims to deliver a compelling set of features without breaking the bank. It's an important intervention, since most affordable smartwatches in India often come with heavy compromises and significant inaccuracies in fitness tracking. The 1.85-inch AMOLED display is one of the biggest and brightest displays in the segment—there's vibrant colours, deep blacks, and pretty good contrast. You can customize the interface via the Mi Fitness app (available for both Android and iOS). The watch also supports Hindi to widen its cache of users. Xiaomi punches above its weight with this device, delivering features that fly in the face of its price, concludes Abhishek Baxi. Read more. Amazon's business model may be riddled with ethical problems, but there's no doubt the Kindle is a popular device among avid readers. A newish, less-visible feature in Kindle devices allows users to share their library with others. Given Amazon's tendency to bury such options deep inside its ecosystem, it is likely that this hack may be news to many readers. If you want to legally share your library with another user, you can use the Amazon Household platform, and it works pretty much like Amazon Prime's family plan, writes Somak Ghoshal. Read more.
