Karan is a spoiled 25-year-old NRI whose late grandfather wills his entire fortune to an ashram on the banks of the Narmada, leaving Karan one route to the money, a signed no-objection certificate from the ashram. His reluctant journey to the remote riverside turns into an inner one as the river, its wanderers and its philosophy slowly unmake the man he arrived as. Adapted from Dhruv Bhatt's Gujarati novel Tatvamasi, the film trades plot for pilgrimage and lets the Narmada do the transforming.
Reva is the rare Gujarati film that reaches for something bigger than a story, a mood. Directors Rahul Bhole and Vinit Kanojia adapt Dhruv Bhatt's celebrated novel Tatvamasi into a slow river of a film, following a cynical NRI named Karan who comes to the Narmada chasing an inheritance and leaves having lost the person he was. Critics welcomed the ambition. Shruti Jambhekar of the Times of India handed it four and a half stars, praising the adaptation, the performances and the camera work, and DeshGujarat's reviewer, while more measured at three and a half, called it one of the most mature Gujarati films in recent memory.
The film's real star is the river itself. Shot across fifteen locations in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, the ghats, ruins and jungle around the Narmada are photographed with a wanderlust that lingers long after the credits, even if the drone shots get overused. Chetan Dhanani, in his lead debut, carries almost the entire weight on confidence alone, and Amar Khanda's soundtrack, anchored by the swelling Maa Reva, does a lot of the emotional lifting. Monal Gajjar looks serene but is given little to actually do.
Where Reva stumbles is restraint. At roughly 140 minutes it is verbose to a fault, the characters explaining the philosophy the visuals already carry, and the arc of a rich non-believer finding faith by a holy river invites easy comparisons to Swades. A late celebrity cameo feels like a nervous crowd-pleaser in a film that did not need one. Still, the flaws are the kind that come from earnestness rather than laziness. As a clean, contemplative family watch that earned a National Award, it is worth the trip downriver.
Verdict
A meditative, beautifully shot river journey that won a National Award and proved Gujarati cinema could think as well as entertain.
What works
- Breathtaking Narmada cinematography that stirs wanderlust
- Chetan Dhanani anchors it in a confident debut
- A faithful, thoughtful take on Dhruv Bhatt's Tatvamasi
- Amar Khanda's soulful score, led by Maa Reva
What holds it back
- Verbose, with characters over-explaining the theme
- A predictable, Swades-like transformation arc
- Runs long and takes its time to get going
- A needless celebrity cameo and some rough jump cuts
Cast & crew
Writers: Rahul Bhole, Vinit Kanojia (based on Dhruv Bhatt's novel Tatvamasi)
Music: Amar Khanda
Cast: Chetan Dhanani (Karan), Monal Gajjar (Supriya), Yatin Karyekar (Shashtriji), Daya Shankar Pandey (Gandu Fakir), Abhinay Banker (Banga)
Producers: Paresh Vora
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Rahul Bhole, Vinit Kanojia
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Frequently asked
Is Reva worth watching?
A meditative, beautifully shot river journey that won a National Award and proved Gujarati cinema could think as well as entertain. Kevu Che rates it 4 out of 5.
What is Reva about?
Karan is a spoiled 25-year-old NRI whose late grandfather wills his entire fortune to an ashram on the banks of the Narmada, leaving Karan one route to the money, a signed no-objection certificate from the ashram. His reluctant journey to the remote riverside turns into an inner one as the river, its wanderers and its philosophy slowly unmake the man he arrived as. Adapted from Dhruv Bhatt's Gujarati novel Tatvamasi, the film trades plot for pilgrimage and lets the Narmada do the transforming.
What is the IMDb rating of Reva?
Reva (2018) holds an IMDb rating of 8.2 out of 10.