Two small-time thieves steal a bag of cash and stumble into a parallel world where money is worthless and karma is the only accepted currency. Stripped of the one thing they trusted, they have to earn their way through good deeds instead. The fantasy premise lets the film poke at greed and morality in a light comic register.
Aa Te Kevi Dunniya took a genuinely clever idea and built a family comedy around it. Written and directed by Tejas Padiaa, the film drops two small-time thieves into a parallel world where cash is worthless and karma is the only accepted currency, so the money they stole cannot buy them a thing. The premise lets the film ask a simple question in a light register: what are you actually worth when good deeds are the only wealth that counts?
Critics were warm on release. The Times of India gave it three and a half out of five and said it would not leave viewers disappointed, while Divya Bhaskar rated it three and called it a fun watch. Bollywood filmmaker Satish Kaushik publicly praised the concept as positive and bright, and the production leaned on Bollywood craft too, with music director Viju Shah scoring his first Gujarati film and playback singer Nakash Aziz lending two songs. Shot around Ahmedabad's Kankaria lakefront and the Polo Forest, it carries a cleaner sheen than most Gujarati comedies of its year.
The cast does the heavy lifting without a marquee name. Raj Jatania and Yatin Parmar play the two chancers, Kinjal Pandya handles the romance, and a deep bench of character actors fills the fantasy world with color. The film works best when it trusts its own idea and loosens up when it reaches for broad gags. It is not trying to reinvent the industry the way its bigger 2015 rivals did, but as a good-natured moral comedy it lands. Watch it for a premise most mainstream films would not risk and a message that stays warm without turning preachy.
Verdict
A fantasy comedy with a smarter premise than most, warmly reviewed and easy to enjoy even without a star name.
What works
- A genuinely original karma-as-currency premise
- Warm reviews from Times of India and Divya Bhaskar
- Bollywood-grade music from Viju Shah
- Clean production and strong location work
What holds it back
- Leans on broad comedy in stretches
- No marquee lead to anchor it
- The message can turn earnest
- Modest scale shows in places
Cast & crew
Writers: Tejas Padiaa
Music: Viju Shah
Cast: Raj Jatania (Akash), Yatin Parmar (Sameer), Kinjal Pandya (Anjali), Rajkumar Kanojia (Bhiku Bhikari), Falguni Desai (Parsi Aunty), Sanat Vyas (Gordhandas), Sunil Visrani (Jagga), Padmesh Pandit (Manj Baba)
Producers: Vijay Khatri
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Tejas Padiaa
More Comedy Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Aa Te Kevi Dunniya worth watching?
A fantasy comedy with a smarter premise than most, warmly reviewed and easy to enjoy even without a star name. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Aa Te Kevi Dunniya about?
Two small-time thieves steal a bag of cash and stumble into a parallel world where money is worthless and karma is the only accepted currency. Stripped of the one thing they trusted, they have to earn their way through good deeds instead. The fantasy premise lets the film poke at greed and morality in a light comic register.
What is the IMDb rating of Aa Te Kevi Dunniya?
Aa Te Kevi Dunniya (2015) holds an IMDb rating of 7.5 out of 10.