Monghi, a talented artist trapped in a dutiful twenty-two-year marriage in Bhuj, discovers that her museum-curator husband Dharmesh is having an affair with a younger colleague. Backed by her sharp-tongued mother-in-law Baiji and the village women's secret 'sisoty', she first fights to win him back before slowly realising the marriage was holding her own dreams hostage. What begins as a plea to save a household becomes a woman's decision to finally choose herself.
Kutch Express reframes a familiar domestic story into something warmer and sharper than Gujarati cinema usually attempts. Monghi, a gifted artist buried under two decades of dutiful marriage in Bhuj, discovers her husband's affair and has to decide whether saving the marriage is the same thing as saving herself. Director Viral Shah keeps the tone light before he lets the weight land, and the 'sisoty' of bidi-smoking village women gives the film both its comic engine and its quiet feminist backbone.
The performances carry it. Manasi Parekh turns Monghi's slow awakening into the emotional spine of the film, restrained where a lesser actor would have reached for tears, and the jury at the 70th National Film Awards agreed, making her the first Gujarati actress to win Best Actress. Ratna Pathak Shah, in her Gujarati debut as the outspoken Baiji, is the live wire, and the bond between the two women is the relationship most viewers walked out talking about. Raam Mori's earthy dialogue and the scenery of an underfilmed Kutch add real texture, while Sachin-Jigar keep the music peppy without smothering the drama.
Critics were affectionate rather than ecstatic. Mid-Day's Harsh Desai gave it three out of five, praising the chemistry and the writing, and IMDb viewers echoed the warmth around the two leads. The film does lean on a predictable arc and a few conflicts resolve too tidily, and its message can turn a little didactic, but it earns its ending honestly. For a story built around middle-aged women and unglamorous choices, its National Award haul and healthy theatrical run proved a point the industry needed proving.
Verdict
A tender, well-acted family drama lifted by two superb women at its centre and a historic National Award for Manasi Parekh.
What works
- Manasi Parekh's National Award-winning lead performance
- Ratna Pathak Shah's scene-stealing Gujarati debut
- Raam Mori's earthy, relatable dialogue
- Warm feminist story set across an underfilmed Kutch
What holds it back
- Predictable, familiar narrative arc
- Message occasionally turns didactic
- A few conflicts resolve too neatly
- Commercial beats soften the drama
Cast & crew
Writers: Rahul Mallick (story & screenplay), Karan Bhanushali & Viraf Patel (screenplay), Raam Mori (dialogues)
Music: Sachin-Jigar
Cast: Ratna Pathak Shah (Baiji), Manasi Parekh (Monghi), Dharmendra Gohil (Dharmesh), Viraf Patel (Madan), Darsheel Safary (Avinash)
Producers: Parthiv Gohil, Manasi Parekh
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Viral Shah
More Drama Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Kutch Express worth watching?
A tender, well-acted family drama lifted by two superb women at its centre and a historic National Award for Manasi Parekh. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Kutch Express about?
Monghi, a talented artist trapped in a dutiful twenty-two-year marriage in Bhuj, discovers that her museum-curator husband Dharmesh is having an affair with a younger colleague. Backed by her sharp-tongued mother-in-law Baiji and the village women's secret 'sisoty', she first fights to win him back before slowly realising the marriage was holding her own dreams hostage. What begins as a plea to save a household becomes a woman's decision to finally choose herself.
What is the IMDb rating of Kutch Express?
Kutch Express (2023) holds an IMDb rating of 7.0 out of 10.