Varun and Komal meet in college, fall in love and marry despite his parents disapproving of the match. A small misunderstanding then hardens into a rift that pulls a once close joint family apart. Set in the old lanes of Ahmedabad, the film argues that a house only becomes a home when the people inside it learn to let go.
Vanilla Ice Cream is a family drama built on a very ordinary fear, that the people who love you most can also be the ones who stop speaking to you first. Varun and Komal meet in college and marry against his parents wishes, and what begins as a small misunderstanding slowly widens into a full family rupture. Preetsinh Gohil, who writes and directs, keeps the pace measured and lets the tension gather in living rooms rather than in loud set pieces.
The performances carry it unevenly. Yukti Randeria is the clear standout as Komal, moving through love, resilience and quiet hurt with real control, and the veterans hold the frame around her, Archan Trivedi as the traditional father, Vandana Pathak in the household drama and Satish Bhatt warm as the grandfather. Malhar Thakar draws a more mixed response, with at least one critic noting the same clipped delivery and fixed expression he brings to most of his roles, though his chemistry with Randeria still lands.
Newz Daddy rated it three and a half out of five, praising the writing, the music and the central message while wishing for more comedy and sharper conflict between mother and son, spaces the script leaves half filled. That is a fair read. The songs and background score by Siddharth Amit Bhavsar, with lyrics by Niren Bhatt, do a lot of the emotional lifting, and the old-city locations give the film a lived-in texture that suits its middle-class joint-family world. This is not a reinvention of the form, and the emotional beats are familiar, but it is sincere, cleanly shot and easy to watch with the whole family. Come for the message about forgiveness and stay for Yukti Randeria.
Verdict
A sincere, family-friendly drama about forgiveness that leans on Yukti Randeria and its veterans. Familiar in shape but honest and watchable.
What works
- Yukti Randeria's controlled lead performance
- Warm turns from Archan Trivedi and Satish Bhatt
- Pleasing music and clean Ahmedabad visuals
- A sincere family message about letting go
What holds it back
- Malhar Thakar's familiar, static acting
- Thin on the comedy it sets up
- Conflict stays softer than the premise allows
- Emotional beats are predictable
Cast & crew
Writers: Preetsinh Gohil
Music: Siddharth Amit Bhavsar
Cast: Malhar Thakar (Varun), Yukti Randeria (Komal), Archan Trivedi (Varun's father), Vandana Pathak, Satish Bhatt (Dadaji)
Producers: Dhaval Patel, Pavan Sindhi
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Preetsinh Gohil
More Drama Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Vanilla Ice Cream worth watching?
A sincere, family-friendly drama about forgiveness that leans on Yukti Randeria and its veterans. Familiar in shape but honest and watchable. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Vanilla Ice Cream about?
Varun and Komal meet in college, fall in love and marry despite his parents disapproving of the match. A small misunderstanding then hardens into a rift that pulls a once close joint family apart. Set in the old lanes of Ahmedabad, the film argues that a house only becomes a home when the people inside it learn to let go.
What is the IMDb rating of Vanilla Ice Cream?
Vanilla Ice Cream (2024) holds an IMDb rating of 8.1 out of 10.