Saurya Mehta is a young man determined to make it as a dancer against long odds. The film tracks the struggles, sacrifices and risks he shoulders on the road toward his dream. Success, it argues, starts at zero kilometres and is measured by how far you are willing to go.
Safalta 0KM opened in mid-February 2020, weeks before Gujarat's theatres closed, and its biggest draw was its lead. Dharmesh Yelande, the choreographer and dancer known nationally from Remo D'Souza's dance films, steps into a starring role as Saurya Mehta, a young man chasing a dancer's dream against the odds. Director Akshay Yagnik frames it as an underdog journey, tracking the struggles, sacrifices and risks Saurya takes on the long road toward recognition.
The film plays to Yelande's strength, movement, and builds its emotional beats around performance and perseverance rather than plot mechanics. Around him, Kurush Deboo, Dharmesh Vyas, Shivani Joshi and Nikunj Modi fill in the supporting world, mixing mentors, rivals and a romantic thread into the climb. The soundtrack by Lavan Gone and Veeral Mistry, with playback from Bhoomi Trivedi and Dev Negi among others, does heavy lifting in a story this rooted in dance, and Jahir Naquvi's widescreen photography gives the numbers room to breathe. The title itself sets the tone, framing success as a distance to be covered from a standing start.
At two and a half hours the film is generous with its runtime, and the rags-to-recognition arc is a well-worn one that Safalta 0KM follows more than it subverts. But it carries a genuine motivational charge, and having an actual professional dancer at its centre lends the performance sequences a credibility many similar films lack. Its 8.3 rating on IMDb, from the audience that found it, suggests the inspirational pitch connected. Watch it for Yelande in a rare leading turn and for a Gujarati take on the dream-big underdog story, and go in expecting heart and hustle rather than narrative surprise.
Verdict
An underdog dance drama lifted by a real professional dancer at its centre. Heart and hustle over surprise.
What works
- Dharmesh Yelande in a rare leading role
- Credible, well-shot dance sequences
- An energetic, motivational spirit
- Strong soundtrack with big playback names
What holds it back
- Familiar rags-to-recognition arc
- Runs long at two and a half hours
- Story is thin outside the dance
- Few narrative surprises
Cast & crew
Writers: Akshay Yagnik, Dev Keshwala, Pankaj Kansara
Music: Lavan Gone, Veeral Mistry
Cast: Dharmesh Yelande (Saurya Mehta), Dharmesh Vyas (Asfaq Khan), Kurush Deboo (Mr Lalvani), Shivani Joshi (Roma), Nikunj Modi (Amit)
Producers: Pinal Patel
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore Drama Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Safalta 0KM worth watching?
An underdog dance drama lifted by a real professional dancer at its centre. Heart and hustle over surprise. Kevu Che rates it 3 out of 5.
What is Safalta 0KM about?
Saurya Mehta is a young man determined to make it as a dancer against long odds. The film tracks the struggles, sacrifices and risks he shoulders on the road toward his dream. Success, it argues, starts at zero kilometres and is measured by how far you are willing to go.
What is the IMDb rating of Safalta 0KM?
Safalta 0KM (2020) holds an IMDb rating of 8.3 out of 10.