Raju is a resourceful Ahmedabad driver and part-time bootlegger who dreams of opening his own travel agency. When a late-night hit-and-run kills two constables, he is dragged into a case built on bribes, threats and a missing employer's son, forcing a survival scramble that becomes a courtroom fight.
Wrong Side Raju took a real Ahmedabad hit-and-run case and turned it into the film that told the country Gujarati cinema had grown up. Raju is a resourceful driver and part-time bootlegger dreaming of his own travel agency, until a late-night accident that kills two constables drags him into a case built on bribes, threats and a missing employer's son.
Backed by Anurag Kashyap's Phantom Films, it plays like a morality thriller rather than a masala drama. Pratik Gandhi carries it, years before Scam 1992 made him a national name, and the film is smart about who actually pays for a rich family's convenience. Its Arijit Singh track was the singer's first Gujarati song and became a talking point in itself, a small sign of the ambition on show.
Critics were split on the whole, the Times of India positive and Scroll admiring while The Hindu found it thin beyond the songs, but the 64th National Awards settled the argument by naming it Best Feature Film in Gujarati. Watch it for Pratik Gandhi and for a Gujarati film willing to sit in moral grey.
Verdict
A turning point for content-driven Gujarati cinema, carried by Pratik Gandhi. Rough in patches, but its ambition and its National Award are earned.
What works
- Pratik Gandhi's career-marking lead
- Content-driven, morally grey storytelling
- Phantom Films polish and ambition
- National Award pedigree
What holds it back
- Some critics found it thin beyond the songs
- Pacing dips in the middle
- Courtroom beats feel familiar
- Supporting arcs underused
Cast & crew
Writers: Mikhil Musale, Karan Vyas (story); Niren Bhatt (screenplay and dialogues)
Music: Sachin-Jigar
Cast: Pratik Gandhi (Raju Bambani), Kimberley Louisa McBeath (Shaily Asher), Asif Basra (Amitabh Shah), Kavi Shastri (Tanmay Shah), Jayesh More (Inspector Gohil), Siddharth Randeria (Mehta)
Producers: Abhishek Jain (CineMan Productions) and Phantom Films
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore Drama Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Wrong Side Raju worth watching?
A turning point for content-driven Gujarati cinema, carried by Pratik Gandhi. Rough in patches, but its ambition and its National Award are earned. Kevu Che rates it 4 out of 5.
What is Wrong Side Raju about?
Raju is a resourceful Ahmedabad driver and part-time bootlegger who dreams of opening his own travel agency. When a late-night hit-and-run kills two constables, he is dragged into a case built on bribes, threats and a missing employer's son, forcing a survival scramble that becomes a courtroom fight.
What is the IMDb rating of Wrong Side Raju?
Wrong Side Raju (2016) holds an IMDb rating of 7.7 out of 10.