Gaurav Sharma, an honest IPS officer, is newly posted to the remote village of Ratanpur, where he inherits a murder case that tests his values and slowly changes him. The story is loosely inspired by true events. To keep the setting authentic, the film was shot on location in the real Ratanpur village in Gujarat.
Ratanpur is one of a small set of Gujarati films that bet on a straight murder mystery rather than the usual urban romance or family comedy. Directed by Vipul Sharma and written by Shailesh Dodia, it follows Gaurav Sharma, an upright IPS officer freshly posted to the remote village of Ratanpur, who inherits a killing that slowly corrodes the certainties he arrived with. The film is loosely drawn from real events and was shot on location in the actual Ratanpur village, a choice that gives its dust, silence and suspicion a lived-in weight most studio-bound Dhollywood thrillers lack.
Tushar Sadhu anchors the film as the officer, surrounded by a large ensemble that includes Uday Dangar, Jigar Bundela, Haresh Dagiya and Jimmy Nanda. The music is by the duo Jatin-Pratik, and the production pulled in playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan for the track "Udu Aaje", a level of ambition that signalled it wanted to be taken seriously beyond regional shelves. At two hours and eleven minutes, and like many first-wave regional mysteries, it takes its time laying the pieces before the case tightens.
With a modest vote base on IMDb, Ratanpur sits around 7.5 and has been received warmly by the small audience that found it on Prime Video and MX Player, where it was praised for attempting a genuine whodunit in a language where the form is rare. It is not flawless. The pacing sags, the supporting turns are uneven and the budget shows in places. Still, for viewers who want to see Gujarati cinema stretch past its comfort genres, it earns its place as an honest, location-rooted thriller.
Verdict
A rare location-shot Gujarati whodunit that trades polish for atmosphere and mostly earns its runtime.
What works
- A rare genuine murder mystery in Gujarati
- Shot on real location for authentic texture
- Tushar Sadhu grounds the lead role
- Sunidhi Chauhan song and real production ambition
What holds it back
- Pacing sags across the 131-minute runtime
- Uneven supporting performances
- Budget shows in places
- Small audience and thin critical footprint
Cast & crew
Writers: Shailesh Dodia
Music: Jatin-Pratik
Cast: Tushar Sadhu (Gaurav Sharma), Uday Dangar, Jigar Bundela, Haresh Dagiya, Jimmy Nanda
Producers: Prolife Entertainment
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Vipul Sharma
More Mystery Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Ratanpur worth watching?
A rare location-shot Gujarati whodunit that trades polish for atmosphere and mostly earns its runtime. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Ratanpur about?
Gaurav Sharma, an honest IPS officer, is newly posted to the remote village of Ratanpur, where he inherits a murder case that tests his values and slowly changes him. The story is loosely inspired by true events. To keep the setting authentic, the film was shot on location in the real Ratanpur village in Gujarat.
What is the IMDb rating of Ratanpur?
Ratanpur (2018) holds an IMDb rating of 7.5 out of 10.