Kaashi Raaghav follows three lives that quietly collide: a grieving mother, a lonely truck driver, and a child who has lost his way. Moving across Kolkata, Varanasi and Gujarat, the story digs into guilt, betrayal and the long road back to redemption. What begins as separate struggles slowly braids into one shared search for belonging.
Kaashi Raaghav is one of the boldest swings Gujarati cinema took at the start of 2025, a drama that refuses the industry's usual comfort of family comedy. It threads together a grieving mother, a weary truck driver and a lost child, letting their guilt and longing bleed into one another across Kolkata, Varanasi and Gujarat. Director Dhruv Goswami treats the material with restraint, trusting silence and landscape to carry emotion that lesser films would rush to spell out.
The performances are the anchor. Deeksha Joshi is quietly devastating as Kaashi, and Jayesh More gives Raaghav a lived-in heaviness that keeps the film honest. The Times of India handed it four and a half stars and called it a film worth rewatching for its brilliance, singling out Pratik Parmar's cinematography and the songs Nindru Re and Maa Ganga. Gujcinema echoed the praise with a four out of five, crediting its emotional depth and its willingness to look past regional convention toward something more universal.
It is not flawless. Reviewers who admired the ambition still flagged an uneven second half, patchy dubbing and a narrative that occasionally loses its rhythm. Even so, the film earns its reputation because it aims higher than most of its peers and mostly gets there. If you want proof that Dhollywood can hold grief, faith and redemption in the same frame without flinching, this is a strong place to start.
Verdict
A rare Gujarati drama that trades comedy for grief and redemption, carried by Deeksha Joshi and Jayesh More and worth the watch despite a shakier second half.
What works
- Deeksha Joshi's quietly devastating lead
- Jayesh More's grounded turn as Raaghav
- Pratik Parmar's cinematography across Varanasi and Kolkata
- Emotionally resonant songs Nindru Re and Maa Ganga
What holds it back
- Uneven, slower second half
- Patchy dubbing in places
- Narrative rhythm occasionally slips
- Ambition outruns execution at times
Cast & crew
Writers: Jatan Pandya, Jhanvi Chopda, Dhruv Goswami
Music: Vatsal Goswami, Kavan Bhatt
Cast: Deeksha Joshi (Kaashi), Jayesh More (Raaghav), Shruhad Goswami (Ghanoo), Pihushree Gadhvi (Shobhita), Preeti Daas (Chandni)
Producers: Dhanpal Films
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore Drama Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Kaashi Raaghav worth watching?
A rare Gujarati drama that trades comedy for grief and redemption, carried by Deeksha Joshi and Jayesh More and worth the watch despite a shakier second half. Kevu Che rates it 4 out of 5.
What is Kaashi Raaghav about?
Kaashi Raaghav follows three lives that quietly collide: a grieving mother, a lonely truck driver, and a child who has lost his way. Moving across Kolkata, Varanasi and Gujarat, the story digs into guilt, betrayal and the long road back to redemption. What begins as separate struggles slowly braids into one shared search for belonging.
What is the IMDb rating of Kaashi Raaghav?
Kaashi Raaghav (2025) holds an IMDb rating of 8.0 out of 10.