Gopal is a warm-hearted schoolboy written off as a backbencher because grades, not character, are how the world around him keeps score. His mother pushes him to perform while his father and his friend Bholo see the child behind the report card. The film follows how a family and a school system reckon with what a child is really worth beyond marks.
Back Bencher reached theatres in July 2018 as Gujarati cinema's take on the exam-pressure drama, a genre Indian audiences know well but rarely see localised with this much warmth. It follows Gopal, a good-natured boy the system files under backbencher because marks are the only yardstick anyone bothers to use. Director Kirtan Patel builds the story around a simple question that parents and teachers keep dodging, whether a child's worth can be read off a grade sheet at all.
Reviewers on IMDb and Moviebuff pointed to the direction and the casting as the film's real strengths, calling the handling smooth and the performances natural. Krish Chauhan carries the picture as Gopal, all innocence and quiet ache, and his scenes with Om Bhatt as his friend Bholo give the film its easy, lived-in charm. Dharmendra Gohil and Ami Trivedi play the parents caught between love and ambition, and their tug of war over what is best for their son gives the drama its pull. Rajeev Mehta turns up as the principal to land the closing lesson in his familiar style, and the soundtrack by Kedar and Bhargav keeps the mood tender rather than heavy.
It is not a subtle film. The message sits right on the surface and a few stretches push the emotion harder than the story needs, leaning on speeches where a look would do. Even so, it works as a sincere, family-friendly watch that says something worth hearing about how schools and homes measure children. See it with your kids and read each other's faces on the way home.
Verdict
A sincere, family-friendly Gujarati drama that trades subtlety for heart and mostly earns it on the strength of its young lead.
What works
- Krish Chauhan's endearing lead turn as Gopal
- Warm, natural friendship at its centre
- Smooth, unfussy direction by Kirtan Patel
- A relevant message about grades versus a child's worth
What holds it back
- Message sits too openly on the surface
- A few scenes over-egg the emotion
- Leans on speeches to make its point
- Slim critical footprint and reach
Cast & crew
Writers: Prayag Dave, Rajesh Rajgor, Sumit Vajrani
Music: Kedar & Bhargav, Nikhil-Pranav-Shailesh
Cast: Krish Chauhan (Gopal Trivedi), Dharmendra Gohil (Jagdish bhai (Gopal's father)), Ami Trivedi (Kavita (Gopal's mother)), Om Bhatt (Bholo), Rajeev Mehta (Principal), Dev Desai (Smith)
Producers: Harjeet Sodhi, Kalpesh Haria, Kirtan Patel, Nilesh Amin, Pritesh Patel, Rajesh Mistry (Purple Wings Production)
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Kirtan Patel
More Drama Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Back Bencher worth watching?
A sincere, family-friendly Gujarati drama that trades subtlety for heart and mostly earns it on the strength of its young lead. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Back Bencher about?
Gopal is a warm-hearted schoolboy written off as a backbencher because grades, not character, are how the world around him keeps score. His mother pushes him to perform while his father and his friend Bholo see the child behind the report card. The film follows how a family and a school system reckon with what a child is really worth beyond marks.
What is the IMDb rating of Back Bencher?
Back Bencher (2018) holds an IMDb rating of 8.3 out of 10.