Based on a true story, the film follows Ajay Barot, known as Popaat, a young man with Down syndrome adored by his town in Himmatnagar. Famous for his joyful dancing at wedding processions, he nurses one quiet dream of being the groom on the horse himself. The film traces his longing for the full baraat experience that every groom is given at least once.
Popaat is one of the more tender premises Gujarati cinema attempted in 2023, and it comes with the weight of a real life behind it. Directed by Bhavin Trivedi and written by Prinal Oberoi, the film is based on Ajay Barot from Himmatnagar, a young man with Down syndrome who is cherished by his town rather than pushed to its edges. Ajay, called Popaat, is the beating heart of every wedding procession, known for a joyful, unmistakable dancing style at the baraat. The story turns on a simple, aching wish that arrives mid-dance, when he wonders when he will be the one sitting on the horse.
The film's best decision is casting the real Ajay Barot alongside the ensemble, which grounds the sentiment in something that cannot be faked. It is less interested in a conventional idea of marriage than in the experience Popaat longs for, the band, the decorated horse, the celebration, the feeling every groom is granted at least once. That focus keeps the film warm without turning its subject into a lesson.
Where it wobbles is craft. The production is modest, the pacing uneven, and the writing sometimes reaches for tears when observation would have been stronger. Its IMDb average of 6.0 reflects that unevenness, though the number rests on a small handful of votes. Even so, Popaat matters as an act of representation that Gujarati cinema rarely attempts, telling a disability story with affection rather than pity. Watch it for the real Ajay and the plain decency of a film that wants him to have his moment on the horse.
Verdict
A tender true story that hands its real-life subject the spotlight, moving in spirit even when the craft is rough.
What works
- Casts the real Ajay Barot
- Warm, dignified take on disability
- A genuinely moving central wish
- Rooted in a true story
What holds it back
- Modest, uneven production
- Pacing drifts
- Occasionally reaches for tears
- Thin IMDb sample
Cast & crew
Writers: Prinal Oberoi
Cast: Ajay Barot (Popaat), Jayessh Ramteke, Vivek Ghamande, Ragi Jani, Faraz Rauma
Producers: Prinal Oberoi
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Bhavin Trivedi
More Drama Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Popaat worth watching?
A tender true story that hands its real-life subject the spotlight, moving in spirit even when the craft is rough. Kevu Che rates it 3 out of 5.
What is Popaat about?
Based on a true story, the film follows Ajay Barot, known as Popaat, a young man with Down syndrome adored by his town in Himmatnagar. Famous for his joyful dancing at wedding processions, he nurses one quiet dream of being the groom on the horse himself. The film traces his longing for the full baraat experience that every groom is given at least once.
What is the IMDb rating of Popaat?
Popaat (2023) holds an IMDb rating of 6.0 out of 10 from 16 votes.