A tangle of characters, several of them sharing variations of the name Chandu, collide in a comedy of mistaken identity and small time scheming. Don wannabes, a boss and one ordinary man are thrown together as their plans knot and unravel around them. What begins as farce builds toward a scramble where everyone is chasing the same loose end.
Lapet is a family comedy that piles a big ensemble into a knot of mistaken identity, small time ambition and characters who keep bumping into variations of the same name. Director Nishith Brahmbhatt aims for broad, crowd pleasing farce, the kind built on confusion, wannabe dons and a plot that tightens like the twist the title refers to. Nayan Shukla, Ketan Kumar Sagar, Vikee Shah and Bhakti Kubavat headline a cast that is clearly having fun with the chaos.
The film's best asset is its music. Jigardan Gadhavi scores it and Arvind Vegda sings a title track that landed well ahead of release, and the launch event itself drew attention for its energy. On screen the comedy is game and fast, and there are pockets where the timing clicks and the ensemble bounces off each other nicely. For an audience in the mood for undemanding masala, there is a night out here.
The critics were less kind. The Times of India gave Lapet two stars, and the modest IMDb figure of 6.7 sits in the same neighbourhood, reflecting a film that mistakes noise for pace and volume for jokes. The plot leans hard on coincidence, the humour is broad enough to flatten its own characters, and the sprawl of names and subplots grows tiring before the knot finally comes loose. It is not without charm, and it never pretends to be anything more than a light comic outing, but it lacks the sharpness that would have made the confusion sing. Watch it for the songs and the frantic energy, and keep your expectations tuned to easy, forgettable fun rather than a comedy that stays with you.
Verdict
A loud, broad family comedy of mistaken identity that coasts on catchy songs more than sharp jokes. Light, forgettable fun.
What works
- Jigardan Gadhavi's catchy music
- Energetic, game ensemble
- Arvind Vegda's popular title track
- Undemanding, light hearted fun
What holds it back
- Plot leans hard on coincidence
- Broad humour flattens characters
- Too many names and subplots
- Little that lingers after
Cast & crew
Writers: Nishith Brahmbhatt
Music: Jigardan Gadhavi
Cast: Nayan Shukla (Chandrakant), Ketan Kumar Sagar (Chandansinh), Vikee Shah (Chandu), Bhakti Kubavat (Mausam), Prashant Barot (Bhanu Pratap), Sharad Sharma (Rudra Pratap), Kalyani Thakar (Madhu), Jignesh Modi (Boss)
Producers: Apurva Joshi
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Nishith Brahmbhatt
More Comedy Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Lapet worth watching?
A loud, broad family comedy of mistaken identity that coasts on catchy songs more than sharp jokes. Light, forgettable fun. Kevu Che rates it 2.5 out of 5.
What is Lapet about?
A tangle of characters, several of them sharing variations of the name Chandu, collide in a comedy of mistaken identity and small time scheming. Don wannabes, a boss and one ordinary man are thrown together as their plans knot and unravel around them. What begins as farce builds toward a scramble where everyone is chasing the same loose end.
What is the IMDb rating of Lapet?
Lapet (2019) holds an IMDb rating of 6.7 out of 10.