Montu has quietly loved his childhood friend Bittu since they were kids, but to her and to their families in the old pol he is only ever a friend. When talk of Bittu's marriage begins and people suddenly float Montu as a possible groom, the easy comfort between them turns complicated. What follows is an emotional journey through friendship, unspoken feeling and the fear of losing what you already have.
Montu Ni Bittu is the kind of small, warm Gujarati film that lives on chemistry rather than spectacle. Vijaygiri Bava sets his story of two childhood friends inside the lanes of an old Ahmedabad pol, and the setting does a lot of quiet work, giving the growing tension between Montu and Bittu a lived-in, believable home. It is a rom-com built for family audiences, gentle in its humour and unhurried in the way it lets feelings surface.
The film belongs to its two leads. Maulik Nayak, stepping into a full-fledged central role, plays Montu with an easy, boy-next-door likability, and Aarohi Patel is the reason the film sticks, giving Bittu a spark that reviewers singled out for special praise. Critic Bhavin Raval of Gujarati Mid-day rated it three and a half out of five, applauding the direction, Mehul Surti's music, the performances, the production and the cinematography, while noting a slow opening and an uneven supporting turn. That verdict matches the general mood around the film, affection for its heart, mild frustration with its pacing.
Where it wobbles is the middle stretch, where the runtime stretches thin and the story leans on familiar rom-com beats before finding its emotional footing again. Still, the craft is clean, the songs are hummable and the central relationship earns its payoff. Vijaygiri Bava's work here was recognised with the Best Director prize at the Transmedia Gujarati Screen and Stage Awards, a fair reward for a film that understands that a good love story is really about the fear of losing a friend. Watch it for the pol, the music and Aarohi Patel.
Verdict
A warm, family-friendly Gujarati rom-com carried by Aarohi Patel's spark and a lived-in pol setting, even if the pacing tests your patience.
What works
- Aarohi Patel's standout, praised performance
- Maulik Nayak likable in his first lead
- Authentic old-pol Ahmedabad setting
- Mehul Surti's warm, hummable songs
What holds it back
- Slow opening stretch
- Middle sags and leans on rom-com cliche
- Uneven supporting performance from Solanki
- Emotional payoff arrives late
Cast & crew
Writers: Raam Mori, Prarthi Dholakia, Vijaygiri Bava
Music: Mehul Surti
Cast: Maulik Nayak (Montu), Aarohi Patel (Bittu), Mehul Solanki (Abhinav), Hemang Shah (Dadi), Happy Bhavasar (Mohini), Kaushambi Bhatt (Saubhagyalakshmi)
Producers: Twinkle Vijaygiri
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Vijaygiri Bava
More Comedy Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Montu Ni Bittu worth watching?
A warm, family-friendly Gujarati rom-com carried by Aarohi Patel's spark and a lived-in pol setting, even if the pacing tests your patience. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Montu Ni Bittu about?
Montu has quietly loved his childhood friend Bittu since they were kids, but to her and to their families in the old pol he is only ever a friend. When talk of Bittu's marriage begins and people suddenly float Montu as a possible groom, the easy comfort between them turns complicated. What follows is an emotional journey through friendship, unspoken feeling and the fear of losing what you already have.
What is the IMDb rating of Montu Ni Bittu?
Montu Ni Bittu (2019) holds an IMDb rating of 7.1 out of 10.