Aastha, a young widow, lives with her mother-in-law Meera, a college professor carrying her own quiet grief. When Sharan, a ghazal singer, moves in next door, both women find their settled lives unsettled. Adapted from a Kaajal Oza Vaidya short story, the film asks whether a second chance at love is permission a person has to grant themselves.
Chandlo is a quiet, grown-up romance, the kind Gujarati cinema rarely slows down enough to make. Adapted from a Kaajal Oza Vaidya short story, it follows Aastha, a young widow living with her mother-in-law Meera, a college professor still carrying her own unspoken grief. When Sharan, a ghazal singer, moves in next door, both women find their settled lives quietly unsettled, and the film asks whether a second chance at love is permission a person has to grant themselves.
The writing is the real draw. Rather than manufacture villains, the film lets social expectation, age and the logistics of loss do the resisting, and it treats every character with patience. Shraddha Dangar plays Aastha with a lived-in realism that never tips into self-pity, and Kaajal Oza Vaidya, making her acting debut, brings a striking stillness to Meera, a woman caught between duty and want. Manav Gohil gives Sharan warmth without turning him into a rescuer. Reviewers singled out the delicate handling of second chances and the film's refusal to rush its emotions.
It is not for everyone. The pace is deliberate to the point of drift in places, the ghazals do some of the emotional work the script could have carried itself, and viewers wanting incident over mood may find it slight. But as a study of longing that survives loss, Chandlo is unusually assured. It trusts its actors, respects its audience, and lands a tender, unforced ending. It is one of 2023's most quietly rewarding Gujarati films, and a rare mainstream showcase for older characters who are allowed to want something for themselves.
Verdict
A tender, grown-up romance about second chances after loss. Beautifully acted and unusually patient for mainstream Gujarati cinema.
What works
- Mature, unhurried writing
- Shraddha Dangar's grounded performance
- Kaajal Oza Vaidya's assured acting debut
- Treats second-chance love with rare tenderness
What holds it back
- Deliberate pace drifts at times
- Leans on ghazals for emotion
- Light on plot incident
- Niche appeal for a mainstream release
Cast & crew
Writers: Kaajal Oza Vaidya (story)
Cast: Manav Gohil (Sharan), Shraddha Dangar (Aastha), Kaajal Oza Vaidya (Meera), Jayesh More
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Hardik Gajjar
More Romance Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Chandlo worth watching?
A tender, grown-up romance about second chances after loss. Beautifully acted and unusually patient for mainstream Gujarati cinema. Kevu Che rates it 4 out of 5.
What is Chandlo about?
Aastha, a young widow, lives with her mother-in-law Meera, a college professor carrying her own quiet grief. When Sharan, a ghazal singer, moves in next door, both women find their settled lives unsettled. Adapted from a Kaajal Oza Vaidya short story, the film asks whether a second chance at love is permission a person has to grant themselves.
What is the IMDb rating of Chandlo?
Chandlo (2023) holds an IMDb rating of 7.9 out of 10.