Seven women from rural Gujarat set off on their first trip abroad, a group holiday to London, having never before stepped outside their small-town lives. Away from home, they collide with cultural gaps, a language they barely speak, and the quiet weight of everything expected of them back in the village. What starts as a sightseeing trip becomes a shared crossing of the threshold, each woman finding a bit more room to breathe.
Umbarro marks Abhishek Shah's return after the National Award winning Hellaro, and the title, meaning threshold, tells you exactly what he is after. Seven women from rural Gujarat leave the doorstep of their small-town lives for a first trip abroad, a group holiday in London. The film is an official Gujarati remake of the 2021 Marathi hit Jhimma, and Shah keeps the spine of that story while dressing it in Kathiawadi texture and humour.
The pull here is the ensemble. Vandana Pathak, Kaajal Oza Vaidya, Suchita Trivedi and Deeksha Joshi carry the emotional load, but it is Tarjanee Bhadla who many viewers walked out talking about, with Tejal Panchasara close behind. Shot largely on location over a short London schedule, the film looks brighter and more expensive than most Dhollywood outings, and Mehul Surti's songs, with lyrics by Bhargav Purohit, give it a warm folk lift.
Critics were kind. Kanksha Vasavada in the Times of India gave it four stars, praising the cinematography, the music, the honest portrait of rural life and the director's eye for detail. Mumbai Samachar also went four out of five for the direction and storytelling. It is not flawless. Because it follows a proven template, a few beats feel familiar, and some viewers felt the execution stayed safe when it could have cut deeper. Even so, Umbarro works as a big-hearted, women-first crowd-pleaser that treats its middle-aged heroines as people worth a whole film. For families and anyone who missed Jhimma, it is an easy, satisfying watch.
Verdict
A warm, women-first crowd-pleaser that gives its veteran actresses a stage worth crossing the threshold for.
What works
- A rich ensemble of veteran actresses
- Tarjanee Bhadla and Tejal Panchasara stand out
- Warm folk-flavoured music by Mehul Surti
- Handsome London-shot production values
What holds it back
- Follows the Jhimma template closely
- A few emotional beats feel familiar
- Some viewers found the execution too safe
- Runs a touch long at over two hours
Cast & crew
Writers: Hemant Dhome, Keyu Shah, Falguni Patel
Music: Mehul Surti
Cast: Vandana Pathak, Kaajal Oza Vaidya, Suchita Trivedi, Deeksha Joshi, Tarjanee Bhadla, Tejal Panchasara, Vineeta Joshee, Aarjav Trivedi
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Abhishek Shah
More Comedy Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Umbarro worth watching?
A warm, women-first crowd-pleaser that gives its veteran actresses a stage worth crossing the threshold for. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Umbarro about?
Seven women from rural Gujarat set off on their first trip abroad, a group holiday to London, having never before stepped outside their small-town lives. Away from home, they collide with cultural gaps, a language they barely speak, and the quiet weight of everything expected of them back in the village. What starts as a sightseeing trip becomes a shared crossing of the threshold, each woman finding a bit more room to breathe.
What is the IMDb rating of Umbarro?
Umbarro (2025) holds an IMDb rating of 7.2 out of 10.