I saw ८७ रुपयांचा शाईचा पेन (87 Rupayancha Shaicha Pen) in kiff 2015,this heartwarming Marathi film that serves as a gentle, nostalgic time machine. Directed by Ravi Parshuram Nimbalkar and set in rural Pune, the movie captures a beautiful truth: to a child, the smallest desires are the biggest adventures.
The story revolves around a young schoolboy (Sairaj Sarde) obsessed with buying a fountain pen worth ₹87. In a rural government school, graduating from a pencil to an ink pen is the ultimate rite of passage. The film beautifully chronicles his innocent, desperate hustles to save up this seemingly small yet monumental amount.
What makes this film deeply human is its authenticity. The dusty village roads, stained fingers, and playground camaraderie aren't staged; they feel lived-in. The child actors deliver flawless, unforced performances that ground the movie in pure innocence. It treats a child’s longing not as trivial, but with the emotional weight of a grand quest.
While the pacing slows slightly in the middle, the film’s sheer charm effortlessly pulls you back. It is a warm, evocative piece of cinema that reminds us of a simpler time—when joy wasn’t digital, but found in the smooth glide of blue ink on paper.