Raju Bhai Thakar is a tradition-bound patriarch with a Gujarati proverb for every occasion, ruling a boisterous household where his children and cousin keep pushing modern ideas he refuses to allow. The family's routine is upended when his long-absent wife Kalindi returns home, forcing old wounds and new tensions back to the surface. Through the laughter and the squabbles, the Thakars keep proving that whatever their differences, they always stand together.
Kehvatlal Parivar reunited Siddharth Randeria with director Vipul Mehta for a family comedy built around Raju Bhai Thakar, a patriarch who keeps an old Gujarati proverb, a kehvat, ready for every situation. His grown children want to modernise the family business and the kitchen, his cousin Shamu keeps needling him, and the household tips into chaos when his wife Kalindi walks back in after years away. It is broad, warm, crowd-pleasing cinema, and audiences answered. The film ran a silver jubilee and finished as one of the highest-grossing Gujarati releases with a blockbuster verdict.
Critics were largely on its side. Keyur Seta at Cinestaan gave it three out of four, praising the story, direction, music and climax while flagging how oddly the family reacts when a presumed-dead member reappears. Parakh Bhatt of Sanj Samachar landed at three and a half out of five and singled out Randeria and Bhavya Gandhi, the comedy and the song choreography. Komal Nahta reviewed it positively, and the Gujarati Bhasha portal went to four out of five, though it found Sanjay Goradia's stammering character a tired way to farm laughs. Writing for Culture Mix, Carla Hay admired the visuals and the lead performances but felt the sentiment turned mushy and a couple of supporting roles slid into caricature.
What holds it together is Randeria, comfortably in his element, and Supriya Pathak, who gives the returning wife more feeling than the loud comedy around her always allows. The Sachin-Jigar songs, including the Falguni Pathak number, keep the energy up. It is not subtle and it leans on stock types, but as a festival-season family watch it delivers exactly what it promises.
Verdict
A warm, broad family comedy carried by Siddharth Randeria and Supriya Pathak that became a Gujarati box office blockbuster.
What works
- Siddharth Randeria in full command as Raju Bhai
- Supriya Pathak grounds the emotional beats
- Catchy Sachin-Jigar soundtrack
- Warm, crowd-pleasing family entertainer
What holds it back
- Leans on broad, stock character types
- Goradia's stammering gag feels dated
- Sentiment turns overly mushy in places
- A few supporting roles tip into caricature
Cast & crew
Writers: Vipul Mehta
Music: Sachin-Jigar
Cast: Siddharth Randeria (Raju Bhai Thakar), Supriya Pathak (Kalindi Thakar), Vandana Pathak (Bhadra), Sanjay Goradia (Shamu Thakar), Bhavya Gandhi (Himesh Thakar), Shraddha Dangar (Heta Thakar)
Producers: Rashmin Majithia
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Vipul Mehta
More Comedy Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Kehvatlal Parivar worth watching?
A warm, broad family comedy carried by Siddharth Randeria and Supriya Pathak that became a Gujarati box office blockbuster. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Kehvatlal Parivar about?
Raju Bhai Thakar is a tradition-bound patriarch with a Gujarati proverb for every occasion, ruling a boisterous household where his children and cousin keep pushing modern ideas he refuses to allow. The family's routine is upended when his long-absent wife Kalindi returns home, forcing old wounds and new tensions back to the surface. Through the laughter and the squabbles, the Thakars keep proving that whatever their differences, they always stand together.
What is the IMDb rating of Kehvatlal Parivar?
Kehvatlal Parivar (2022) holds an IMDb rating of 8.2 out of 10.