Bhagirath, a postgraduate, walks into a struggling Gujarati-medium school and offers to teach for free in the mother tongue. The principal's daughter Vishwa distrusts his unconventional methods until a school trip to a nearby village unearths a strange relic. The relic flings Bhagirath, Vishwa and the children on an adventure beyond space and time.
Gajab Thai Gayo! arrived with a claim few Gujarati films could make in 2022, that it was the industry's first proper science fiction feature. Neeraj Joshi builds it around Bhagirath, a postgraduate played by Malhar Thakar, who walks into a crumbling Gujarati-medium school and offers to teach for free in the mother tongue. The principal's daughter Vishwa, played by Pooja Jhaveri, has no patience for his unconventional methods, until a school trip to a nearby village turns up a relic that flings the children on a journey beyond space and time.
The ambition is the real story. Joshi cast more than a hundred schoolchildren and pushed local visual effects further than the budget could comfortably carry, and that reach is what critics rewarded and punished in equal measure. Siraj Syed, writing for FilmFestivals, landed at two and a half out of five, admiring the themes, the music by Parth Bharat Thakkar and the young cast while flagging a loose plot and a runtime that sags. Vibes of India was warmer, treating the film as a genuine experiment worth backing. News9 was the harshest, calling the science and the fiction equally underwhelming.
Watched today it plays as a likeable swing rather than a clean hit. Thakar commits fully to a role written against his usual comic register, the message about protecting Gujarati-medium schooling is sincere, and the sheer novelty carries long stretches. The seams show whenever the effects strain or the plot doubles back on itself, and the family-film pacing tests adult patience. Still, an IMDb score of 6.7 reflects an audience that respected the attempt. As a first flag planted in a new genre, it earns its place.
Verdict
A brave first stab at Gujarati sci-fi. The reach outpaces the grasp, but Thakar and the sheer novelty keep it watchable.
What works
- First Gujarati science fiction feature, a real swing
- Malhar Thakar plays sincerely against his comic type
- Ambitious visual effects for the budget
- A heartfelt case for Gujarati-medium schooling
What holds it back
- Plot loosens and doubles back
- Runtime sags in the middle
- Effects strain when pushed
- Family-film pacing tests adult viewers
Cast & crew
Writers: Neeraj Joshi
Music: Parth Bharat Thakkar
Cast: Malhar Thakar (Bhagirath), Pooja Jhaveri (Vishwa), Ujjwal Chopra (Raghuram), Sunil Vishrani (Tom), Vaibhav Biniwale (Mama)
Producers: Bhavesh Patel, Pranav Shah, Atul Patel, Jignesh Patel
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Neeraj Joshi
More Science Fiction Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Gajab Thai Gayo! worth watching?
A brave first stab at Gujarati sci-fi. The reach outpaces the grasp, but Thakar and the sheer novelty keep it watchable. Kevu Che rates it 3 out of 5.
What is Gajab Thai Gayo! about?
Bhagirath, a postgraduate, walks into a struggling Gujarati-medium school and offers to teach for free in the mother tongue. The principal's daughter Vishwa distrusts his unconventional methods until a school trip to a nearby village unearths a strange relic. The relic flings Bhagirath, Vishwa and the children on an adventure beyond space and time.
What is the IMDb rating of Gajab Thai Gayo!?
Gajab Thai Gayo! (2022) holds an IMDb rating of 6.7 out of 10.