Two friends, a broker and a civil engineer, dream of becoming builders but have neither land nor money. They chase an opportunity in the redevelopment of an old residential building, trying to win over its stubborn residents. Their plans are complicated when a superstitious real estate tycoon fixes on the same plot as his personal lucky charm.
Builder Boys is a small, likeable comedy built on a genuinely fresh premise. Writer-director Chanakya Patel, who earlier made Chabutro, follows two friends, a broker and a civil engineer, who dream of becoming builders but have neither land nor money. Their shot comes through the redevelopment of an ageing residential building, where they must win over a floor of stubborn residents while a superstitious real estate tycoon treats the same plot as his personal lucky charm.
The idea is the film's biggest asset. Redevelopment politics, society meetings and the small greed of everyday people are rarely mined for Gujarati comedy, and Patel gets into the plot quickly without wasting the opening on filler. Raunaq Kamdar and Shivam Parekh make an easy pair, their chemistry doing most of the lifting, and Esha Kansara rounds out a cast that keeps the tone warm rather than loud. Siddharth Amit Bhavsar's music sits neatly inside a compact, roughly two-hour runtime.
The reviews landed in agreement. Kanksha Vasavada of the Times of India gave it three and a half out of five, praising the fresh concept, the story and the performances, while Rachna Joshi of Mid-day settled on three, happy with the acting, direction and music but frustrated by a slow first half and a reliance on montage to move the story along. Those are fair knocks. The film is more pleasant than sharp, and it never quite pushes its clever setup to its full comic or dramatic potential. Even so, as a clean, family-friendly watch that trades on a smart, contemporary idea rather than recycled jokes, Builder Boys is a welcome addition to the year's lighter Gujarati fare.
Verdict
A likeable, family-friendly comedy powered by a smart premise about redevelopment. It charms even when it never fully sharpens the idea.
What works
- Fresh, contemporary redevelopment premise
- Easy chemistry between Kamdar and Parekh
- Gets into the plot without filler
- Clean, family-friendly tone
What holds it back
- Slow first half
- Leans on montage to move the story
- More pleasant than genuinely sharp
- Undercooks its own clever setup
Cast & crew
Writers: Chanakya Patel
Music: Siddharth Amit Bhavsar
Cast: Raunaq Kamdar, Shivam Parekh, Esha Kansara, Kalpana Gagdekar, Bhavini Jani
Producers: Neha Rajora, Setu Kushal Patel
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore Comedy Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Builder Boys worth watching?
A likeable, family-friendly comedy powered by a smart premise about redevelopment. It charms even when it never fully sharpens the idea. Kevu Che rates it 3 out of 5.
What is Builder Boys about?
Two friends, a broker and a civil engineer, dream of becoming builders but have neither land nor money. They chase an opportunity in the redevelopment of an old residential building, trying to win over its stubborn residents. Their plans are complicated when a superstitious real estate tycoon fixes on the same plot as his personal lucky charm.
What is the IMDb rating of Builder Boys?
Builder Boys (2024) holds an IMDb rating of 6.6 out of 10.