Chandlo

It is remarkable how director Hardik Gajjar transformed the short story "Chandlo" by Kaajal Oza Vaidya into a 110-minute romantic drama. The initial 50 minutes of the film were nearly flawless; however, a significant twist occurs, leading to a gradual loss of rhythm, despite the presence of excellent music. While the film is not a failure, the noticeable decline in quality is particularly striking given the strong start.

According to IMDb, the film centers on a woman who enters an arranged marriage devoid of affection. Over time, she develops love for her husband, which enables them to confront their challenges together.

However, I must clarify that the film diverges significantly from this premise - actually IMDb has a wrong plot! In this film, Meera and Aastha live together, with Meera choosing to dedicate her life to supporting Aastha, who is grieving the loss of her husband, Utsav. Meera endeavors to assist Aastha in moving forward, but progress is slow until a renowned singer, Sharan, moves into the apartment above them. As Sharan and Aastha form a bond, Meera observes her daughter-in-law beginning to heal and rediscover joy. Nevertheless, Sharan has other plans.

The cast includes writer Kaajal Oza Vaidya in the role of Meera, Shraddha Dangar as Aastha, Manav Gohil as Sharan, and Jayesh More as Tapas, all of whom delivered commendable performances.

Kaajal Oza has crafted a narrative that addresses the complexities of age in relationships, a topic that is gradually gaining attention worldwide. Its inclusion in a Gujarati film is both surprising and commendable. I found it to be quite enjoyable.