What happens if someone looks at a photo and the person or object in the photo materialises in front of you? The Marathi film Ina Mina Dika is based on this fantasy. It is a comedy film starring Ashok Saraf, Prashant Damle, Archana Patkar, Rekha Rao and Sudhir Joshi. Archana Patkar had produced the film while Raju Parsekar was the director. As evident, the title is borrowed from the famous song Ina Mina Dika from Aasha (1957). There was also a Hindi film Eena Meena Deeka (1994), but based on a different plot.

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The Plot

Vasudeo Inamdar (Prashant Damle) is known as Ina. Ina works as a clerk in an office on a meager salary. He is not known for his efficiency. He sleeps in the office and commits some blunders like dispatching a consignment of apples to Kashmir! No wonder, the apples are sent back, leading to the frustration of his boss Mr. J D Shahane (Viju Khote). Shahane vents out his fury on Ina and orders the loss to be recovered from his salary each month.

Ina’s wife is Shalu/Shalini (Archana Patkar). They had a love marriage but Shalu is frustrated because Ina is unable to fulfill any of her wishes. The items on her wish list include a colour TV, refrigerator, steel cupboard and so on. She is a dominating character and knows how to have her way.

Without informing Ina, she brings a colour TV home on instalment basis. Ina is angry and helpless at Shalu’s behaviour but she is no mood to listen. He tells her he does not have the resources to fulfill her demands. He sees a Mehmood song playing on the TV – Main marne chala hoon. Drawing inspiration, Ina attempts suicide by putting a rope around his neck and hanging from the ceiling fan in the kitchen. Unfortunately the rope is flimsy and he falls down. Shalu rushes to see what happened.

Ina is admitted to the hospital. His close friend Mina (Ashok Saraf) comes to visit him. His full name is Digambar Minapure. He explains in detail the origin of Ina’s and Mina’s short names. Mina is a car mechanic but he is shown flirting with girls rather than enjoying the company of cars.

In one such scene, he attempts to flirt with a girl when her car breaks down. The girl intends to teach him a lesson and summons her friends. They gang up and start beating Mina. He is saved by Laxmi (Rekha Rao), a tiffin delivery girl (dabbewali) by profession. As expected, there will be a romantic track between the two.

Ina is recovering but a new complication enters his life. If he looks at a photo and falls asleep, the person or object in the photo will come to life in his dreams. This happens for the first time in the hospital, when he looks at the girl in the calendar. This is Sonika, a film actress (played by Anuradha Patel). She comes alive, fondles him and also sings a song. It takes some time for Ina to realize his “problem” and convince others that he is speaking the truth. This leads to some hilarious experiences. Ina sees his childhood photo, falls asleep, and the young Ina comes to meet him.

Later, to convince Mina, he looks at a painting of Narasimha and the man-lion avatar materialises and attempts to kill Mina. Ina wakes up in time and Mina is saved (as the avatar vanishes when the dream breaks).

Shalu is concerned about Ina’s problem and goes to a psychiatrist Dr D’costa (Sudhir Joshi) for consultation. He agrees to meet and treat Ina. Ina names him Dr. “Dika”. But Dika is a crooked character. He is engaged in some criminal activities like drug trading and distribution. He sees an opportunity to earn easy money with Ina’s assistance.

He makes Ina look at a photo of currency notes and then hypnotises him to fall asleep. As expected, money materialises from thin air. His plan is ready.

Dika manipulates Shalu and convinces her to help him in his money generation scheme by using Ina’s special ability. Shalu is reluctant but agrees when he promises that she can have all the luxuries she had been wishing for. The scheme is successful. The only catch is the money will disappear as soon as Ina wakes up. Through proper planning, Dika manages to procure the money and spend it before it vanishes. Poor Ina is subjected to prolonged periods of induced sleep.

But Mina is suspicious of Dr Dika. Through chance meetings, he knows about the man’s character and is worried about Ina. With the help of Laxmi (who is now his wife), he decides to expose the doctor and save his friend.

Will he be successful? And what about Shalu? Will she let go of her greed and enjoy a normal life with Ina?

The Music

The music by Shrikant Telang is good but the songs don’t contribute much to the story. Sudesh Bhosle, Uttara Kelkar and Jayshree Shivram lend their voices to Shantaram Nandgaonkar’s lyrics.

My Thoughts

The film works mostly because of its casting. Ashok Saraf is impeccable in his timing and reactions. Prashant Damle and Archana Patkar are perfect as the quarreling husband and wife. Sudhir Joshi plays the vile cum comedy character of the doctor convincingly.

The fantasy scenes could have been more exciting but this would be because of budget constraints. Some of the comedy scenes are stretched, the Ashok Saraf and Rekha Rao track could have been trimmed. There are masala elements like a cameo from a Hindi actress (Anuradha Patel), a seduction song between Shalu and the doctor, and the climax chase sequence shot in Goa to keep the viewer engaged. Overall, a decent effort!