Set during Alauddin Khilji's invasion of Gujarat in the fourteenth century, Kasoombo follows Dadu Barot, the chief of a village at the foot of Shatrunjaya hill. When Khilji's army marches to plunder the sacred Palitana Jain temples, Dadu and a small band of warriors choose to stand in its path. What follows is a story of faith, sacrifice and an outnumbered fight to protect a heritage worth dying for.
Kasoombo is Gujarati cinema swinging for scale, a period war film that most regional industries would not dare attempt on this budget. Vijaygiri Bava adapts Vimalkumar Dhami's novel Amar Balidan into the fourteenth-century stand of Dadu Barot and a small band of villagers who defend the Palitana Jain temples on Shatrunjaya hill against Alauddin Khilji's invading army. Shot on a sixteen-acre set built for roughly fifteen crore, it wants to feel like an epic, and for long stretches it does.
The performances carry it. Dharmendra Gohil anchors the film as the aging chief Dadu Barot, Raunaq Kamdar brings the younger fire as Amar, and Darshan Pandya makes a coldly effective Khilji. Critics were generous and largely agreed on why. The Times of India's Kanksha Vasavada gave it four and a half, praising the direction, music and screenplay, and TV9's Meena Kansagara matched that score for its dialogue and action. Mid-day's Rachana Joshi and Newzdaddy's Chetansingh Chauhan settled on four, both singling out the casting, VFX, cinematography and Mehul Surti's soundtrack.
The reservations are consistent too. Almost every reviewer flagged a slow start and a runtime that tests patience, with a few long scenes that could have been trimmed and a title song that lands softer than the rest. None of that sinks the film. What Kasoombo gets right is conviction, a sincere retelling of a forgotten sacrifice mounted with craft that Gujarati audiences rarely see at home. If you can sit through the deliberate build, the payoff earns its tears.
Verdict
A rare big-budget Gujarati war epic that trades speed for sincerity and, once it settles, delivers a rousing, well-crafted stand.
What works
- Ambitious, large-scale period production
- Strong lead performances, especially Dharmendra Gohil
- Mehul Surti's soundtrack and rich cinematography
- Sincere, emotionally earnest storytelling
What holds it back
- Slow opening stretch
- Runtime tests patience
- A few overlong scenes
- Title song underwhelms
Cast & crew
Writers: Vijaygiri Bava (adapted from Vimalkumar Dhami's novel 'Amar Balidan')
Music: Mehul Surti
Cast: Dharmendra Gohil (Dadu Barot), Raunaq Kamdar (Amar Barot), Darshan Pandya (Alauddin Khilji), Chetan Dhanani (Arjun), Shraddha Dangar (Sujan), Monal Gajjar (Roshan), Firoz Irani (Visabha)
Producers: Twinkle Bava, Nilay Chotai, Dipen Patel, Jayesh Pavra, Pravin Patel, Tushar Shah
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Vijaygiri Bava
More History Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Kasoombo worth watching?
A rare big-budget Gujarati war epic that trades speed for sincerity and, once it settles, delivers a rousing, well-crafted stand. Kevu Che rates it 4 out of 5.
What is Kasoombo about?
Set during Alauddin Khilji's invasion of Gujarat in the fourteenth century, Kasoombo follows Dadu Barot, the chief of a village at the foot of Shatrunjaya hill. When Khilji's army marches to plunder the sacred Palitana Jain temples, Dadu and a small band of warriors choose to stand in its path. What follows is a story of faith, sacrifice and an outnumbered fight to protect a heritage worth dying for.
What is the IMDb rating of Kasoombo?
Kasoombo (2024) holds an IMDb rating of 8.4 out of 10.