Laalu, a bright middle-class boy in his tenth standard board exam year, is pushed by his mother Daksha to turn good marks into a merit rank. Over one long, anxious school year the whole household rallies around that single ambition through the usual teenage distractions. The film weighs a mother's love against a boy's need to simply be a boy.
Best of Luck Laalu was one of the surprise winners of the 2017 Gujarati season, a family drama that turned the pressure of a tenth standard board exam into something an entire state recognized. Writer-director Vipul Mehta builds it around Amatya Modi, nicknamed Laalu, a bright middle-class boy, and his mother Daksha, played by Supriya Pathak, who wants him to convert good marks into a merit rank. The whole household orbits that single ambition for one long, anxious school year.
The film works because it refuses to pick an easy villain. The mother is not cruel, the boy is not lazy, and the tension comes from love pulling in the wrong direction. Supriya Pathak drew the loudest praise, grounding the story with a performance that feels lived in rather than staged, and young Smit Ganatra holds his own opposite her. Sachin and Jigar supply a warm soundtrack, with Nayan Ne Bandh Rakhi Ne and the playful Luv U Luv U giving the drama room to breathe.
Reception was strong. It was declared a box office hit, its premiere pulled in names like Anupam Kher and Javed Jaffrey, and audiences on the Times of India portal rated it around 3.8 out of five. Its 7.5 on IMDb remains among the higher scores for a Gujarati film of its year. The pacing is generous, and at over two hours the exam anxiety can feel stretched, but the payoff lands. Vipul Mehta would go on to direct Chaal Jeevi Laiye, and you can see the same instinct here, mainstream emotion handled with a light, sincere touch. For anyone who sat through Indian board exams, or watched a parent sweat them, this one hits close.
Verdict
A sincere, well-acted exam-pressure drama anchored by Supriya Pathak. One of 2017's most liked Gujarati films, even if it runs long.
What works
- Supriya Pathak's grounded, lived-in performance
- Refuses an easy villain in its conflict
- Warm Sachin-Jigar soundtrack
- A box office hit with a 7.5 IMDb score
What holds it back
- Over two hours can feel stretched
- Exam anxiety is drawn out
- Mainstream, predictable emotional arc
- Little that is stylistically new
Cast & crew
Writers: Vipul Mehta
Music: Sachin-Jigar
Cast: Smit Ganatra (Amatya 'Laalu' Modi), Supriya Pathak (Daksha Modi), Muni Jha (Haresh Bhai), Simran Natekar (Forum Shah), Devarshi Trivedi (Sushil Sampat), Rishabh Joshi (Vicky Ganatra), Kurush Deboo
Producers: Rashmin Majithia (Coconut Motion Pictures)
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Vipul Mehta
More Drama Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Best of Luck Laalu worth watching?
A sincere, well-acted exam-pressure drama anchored by Supriya Pathak. One of 2017's most liked Gujarati films, even if it runs long. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Best of Luck Laalu about?
Laalu, a bright middle-class boy in his tenth standard board exam year, is pushed by his mother Daksha to turn good marks into a merit rank. Over one long, anxious school year the whole household rallies around that single ambition through the usual teenage distractions. The film weighs a mother's love against a boy's need to simply be a boy.
What is the IMDb rating of Best of Luck Laalu?
Best of Luck Laalu (2017) holds an IMDb rating of 7.5 out of 10 from 186 votes.