Ventilator -Breath Gujarati

The Story of a large family that appears United yet stands Divided (No reference to Congress)

3 Stars

Jignesh Vasavada

I am cursed to have watched the original Ventilator in Marathi, and now when I watched the Guajrati re-make, I just couldn’t help making comparisons. Just couldn’t help being happy and unhappy.

Few Observations (Please bear with me the comparisons, because they are bound to happen):

1. Why are we Gujaratis portrayed so loud? Apple to Apple, Marathi villagers seem a quieter lot and the humorous scenes hit well there.
2. What would it feel to debut at 90 years? The grandfather in the film, at 90 made his debut in films. Watch out for him, he gives magnificent performances.
3. No one wears helmet in Gujarat, it has to be noted film after film.
4. What is the  Dr Juhi Chawla doing there? Amusing herself and having a ball in a situation which should evoke anger. So misplaced completely avoidable.
5. I was bribed black coffee to say this. The background score was magnificent, flawless and very lucid. It must be noted, Parth Bharat Thakkar has been choosing seats next to me only to influence my decisions for two movies in a row. I must be really important. Its just that the background score here is actually fantastic. Blends very well. Parth you need not have taken so much trouble of stalking me.
6. Manan Desai has never called me so many times to know my view of the film (suddenly I feel so good). Manan too does a fantastic single expression role.
7. Did I actually read Ordertory and idoltory in relation to Mataji and navratri offering?
8. Jai Shri Krishna is not Good Morning. Interesting subtitle issues galore.
9. You can perform in a hospital, the guard stops you yet you continue. Wow.
10. Do notice, Jackie Shroff’s lips are saying something and his dialogues something else.

Well, I admit, I was emotional towards the end. Ventilator, a name that would send shivers down your spine, here is light, rib-tickling, painful, stretched and tear-jerking in various parts. 

Lyricist Niren Bhatt. Pic Coutesy Buddybits

To be honest, there is no clear male/female actor hero of the movie, instead the real heroes are Niren Bhatt (Lyricist), Parth Bharat Thakkar for music (no, not because of the coffee) and the writer (Rajesh Mapuskar).

Gijukaka a father figure is on ventilator and the entire family from Mumbai to Chorwad to Mehsana to Ahmedabad rally around to visit him at the hospital and pay their respects (with a feeling that they may be for the last time). 

Parth Bharat Thakkar with Umang Vyas and Aditya Gadhvi

The film is a magnificent display of emotions excellently captured enough for each viewer to relate/identify with some character or the other in the film with some relative/friend in his/her life. It captures small nuances like the need to repeat the same story over and over again to every new visitor (this too sounded far better in Marathi). Captured also is the excitement of an impending death in the family, the selfishness of self above all else, the Mumbai and small town divide, the relations between father-son, the vast difference between the nature of relatives in villages and city-bred. It is all there. And sorry if I may say a large chunk is captured naturally in Marathi. Sadly in Gujarati it just does not flow well.

Ashutosh Gowarikar giving the Muhurat Clap. Pic Courtesy TOI

Jackie Shroff, personally I think, was a perfect misfit when it comes to dialogue delivery. The entire involvement, natural accent  was missing, killing the purpose. Characters don’t blend as well as they need to. Ojas Rawal a powerhouse of all things funny is completely wasted as is Jayesh More. Pratik Gandhi stands out like a perfect hero. He delivers where it matters. Mitra Gadhvi too does a consistent good job. Sanjay Goradia, a natural comic, after a point becomes cacophonous and unbearable. Why do they have to be so loud.

While the first half is loud and stretched, the second half has all the emotions. Some scenes really stand out as Jackie begins to take control. The scene with Archan Trivedi melts your heart. All the ventilator scenes be it the Grandfather touching the screen or the siblings and even Pratik Gandhi talking to his father are teary ones. You will be left with a lump in the throat and you will have none but Niren Bhatt and Parth Bharat Thakkar to blame.

Do not miss the cameo by Emotions Salesman Malhar Thakar, am saying it after long, he was good. Juhi Chawla is just a pure misfit.

Manan Desai with Director Umang Vyas

Songs are just well blended and would do well. Bhada na Makan ma, Amba Re Amba all stand out.

Well, if you ask me, do not miss this movie. And if you have Netflix or any other service please watch the Marathi one too. I promise you that you will want to re-read my review and agree with my angst.

Watch it, watch it.

Shu Thayu - Bus Kai Nai

Shu Thayu…Saheb…Tamne Shu Thayu

Jignesh Vasavada

2.5 Stars 

Ahmedabad: August 25, 2018

Expectations are sure a huge burden to carry. The shoulders of Krishnadev Yagnik and team sure seem strong to have been sculpted to carry the same.

So, when Shu Thayu was announced, it was a weighed with the huge burden of the comeback team of Chello Divas (yes, the same film which has more than 25 different versions disguised as Urban Gujarati cinema). Did it really carry the burden well, or are the team themselves saying, Shu Thayu?

Read on, but not before my mandatory 10 observations.

1. Has Malhar lost age and Kinjal gained glamour? My God, what good and nice looking pair!!!

2. The premiere was like a rich wedding party with a proper colour theme. You could actually see bystanders asking, Shu Thayu?

3. Looks like the sequel of Chello Divas is such a huge burden that they even gave Michael the same quantum of role as in the original film.

4. So, there is progress. Helmets are visible with bikes. Only that the heroine’s head is cheaper and less important than the hero’s because only he is wearing the helmet.

5. Every scene is a magnificent product placement. You can actually count the brands, the locations and the products that make their appearance and disappearance.


6. Malhar desperately needs a dialogue (delivery & content) makeover. The stereotyping is also stereotyped.

7. What is By Swear of your mom? I assume, Maa Naa Sum? Dal is lentil soup (for the puritan English speaker) not curry.

8. Over-ambition or pure confidence, the film has sub-titles with the hope of targeting non-Gujarati audience.

9. The producer seems to have used the Karsandas location for a hospital, looks more like a swasthya kendra with MRI facility.

10. So, what is finally the heroine’s name, Deepika, Dipali, or Dipli? You keep wondering all the time.



The madness begins from the word go. The loud gets louder and the overacting gets exaggerated and the film commences. But then you have been promised an unFORGETable laugh riot, so you begin adjusting and taking in, as Manan expresses his love and intention to marry 3D (Deepika/Dipali/Dipli) to her father. A street smart, smart alec fast forwards us through his funny journey of love and acceptance and manages to get a yes and the film begins.

Few situations later our man hits his head on the stone and the audience too feels the pain, all the way to the end. The injury is multi-pronged, the dialogue writer’s head too seems to have been hit, the screenplay writer’s head too, the location guy’s head as well as the gag writer’s head. All of them suffer amnesia/loss of memory, speed, innovation, flow and the product goes for a toss.

In the state of forgetfulness and foolhardiness, Manan’s reception and marriage take place (yes, in the same order) and his friends help him through the entire journey.

What was being built up for a laughter riot, emotion of friends, ingenuity and love turns laborious, unbearable and sometimes funny. There are occasions of laughter and some real good slapstick but most times you are engulfed by the lack of innovation in the scenes and dialogues. The film gives you fun in installments like the Reception sequence, the initial falling in love scene, most of the interactions with Mitra Gadhvi and the friends.


Malhar sometimes even seems to be mumbling dialogues. While he does put on good acts, it just does not add up, after all there is only this much you can do with 4-5 dialogues that have been written for you. Mitra Gadhvi (Chikna) excels in a great performance. His character, his performance, his timings are just spot on. Aarjav Trivedi, drooling in his delivery is pretty artificial, Yash does a good job while the beautiful, glamorous Kinjal Rajpriya is under-utilized. Rest of the characters have a forgettable outing.

The screenplay, the story, the dialogues fall very short of expectations not giving us enough meat to chew on for the 2hrs plus something time. Music is present but nothing stands out. Songs, have good lyrics but not very hummable, at least not in the first go. 

Krishnadev Sir, Chello Divas rocked, Karsandas super rocked, even Vandha Vilas, I personally found it hilarious, but Shu Thayu forces me ask, Saheb, Tamne Shyu Thayu?