“Kadaknath” Gujarati Movie Review
Newz Daddy Ratings: 3.5*/ 5
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Lead Star Cast: Abhinay Banker, Nisarg Trivedi, Denisha Ghumra, Chetan Daiya, Parmeshwar Sirsikar, Nirav Bhabhor, Het Panchal, Suryanshi Shah, Amit Damor, Chetan Kumar Solanki, Abdul Qureshi, Pankaj Chauhan, Mahesh Damor, Rahul Amaliyar, Surendra Rathod
Written & Directed by: Kaushik Garasiya
Produced By: Vihang Rathod & Nirav Bhabhor
Music & Background Score: Kedar & Bhargav
Sound Design: Jikku M Joshi
Language: Gujarati
Run Time: 2 hours 12 minutes
Recommended: Yes, absolutely
Also Read:
“Badhu Alright Chhe” Gujarati Movie Review
“Sargam” Gujarati Movie Review
Critical Review: “Kadaknath ”
An exclusive screening was held at Inox Himalaya Mall, Ahmedabad, for the Gujarati Movie “Kadaknath”
Kadaknath is a breed of chicken that is found only in some areas, and this film is based on it.
Kadaknath is an A-rated film, so plan accordingly.
I have said this multiple times and will reiterate that Gujarati movies are coming up with unique content each time. We have so much variety in the content, but a lack of audience.
The film Kadaknath is set in tribal villages near Dahod and focuses on tribal culture. Murders take place in the village, and young boys start disappearing. Why is this happening? Is there a divine power behind it, or is there a person responsible? You know what I will say!!!
The story is completely new and unique. Though the makers are new, they have shown courage to create a film on such a topic. A film like this has not been made in Gujarati cinema before. The screenplay is excellent and keeps you engaged from the beginning to the climax. As the film moves forward, you become more involved in the story.
The dialogues are not like high drama dialogues; these are normal spoken sentences, but in a regional tone and language.
The story itself is simple, but the presentation is so strong that watching the film becomes a great experience.
The technical side of the film is very strong. Particularly the sound design. The sound of this movie has been designed by Jikku M Joshi, who has designed the sound for the Pushpa 1 and Pushpa 2 movies.
The cinematography is good. The background music works brilliantly. If the film did not have this background music, its overall level would have been much lower.
The songs fit the tribal culture shown in the film, and the story also moves forward through these songs.
Most of the backend team is completely new to the film industry, and this is their debut film.
So technically, the film is strong.
A few of the actors, such as Nirav Bhabhor, Suryanshi Shah, Amit Damor, etc., are also making their debut through “Kadaknath”.
Once there was a time when in every Gujarati film you would find one actor, that is “Ramesh Mehta”, a comedian. Now I see that in every film you will find a character actor doing every kind of character is “Chetan Dhaiya”. I see that without Chetan Dhaiya, a Gujarati film is incomplete. He is a versatile actor.
Abhinay Banker is excellent. He is a theatre artist, and a theatre artist always does well when they come to films. He completely owns his character and delivers a brilliant performance. He deserves a lot of praise for this film. From beginning to end, he maintains the same level of character performance.
Denisha Ghumra looks real adivasi, and her expressions are also perfect like a typical Adivasi woman, too good. She has a small role but performs very well. She gets a chance to shine in one or two scenes and does a great job.
Newcomers Nirav Bhabhor and Suryanshi Shah have both done well as newcomers. Their onscreen chemistry looks good as typical Gen-Z from rural.
Every character in the film feels raw and real. The film itself also feels raw and real because it never feels overly cinematic or artificial.
I especially want to say that this film is not for everyone. If you are expecting an entertaining and fun film, then this is not that kind of film.
If you are a fan of Malayalam cinema, this film will keep you engaged, and you are likely to enjoy it. You will especially enjoy the climax.
If you are looking for entertainment, comedy and light moments, then stay away from this film because you may not connect with it at all.
Overall, I found this film to be a cult classic and something very different. Gujarati cinema does not usually make films like this, but the makers have taken a bold step.
What Could Be Better (The Not-So-Good Stuff)
- If you are looking for pure entertainment, “Kadaknath” is not for you. There is no comedy, no romance and don’t expect any action from “Kadaknath”
- I felt that the second half was a bit stretched.
- The typical Adivasi language used in the movie will give ambiguity to some urban audience.
What I Loved
- The content, the genre, and the subject are some of the strong points of the movie.
- “The performances of the lead star cast, Abhinay Banker, Denisha Ghumra, Nisarg Trivedi, and Chetan Dhaiya.
- “The background score and the music are the soul of this movie.
- One of the best parts of the movie for me is the rawness and simplicity.
- Technically, the movie deserves applause as most of the technicians are debutants.
- The suspense and thrill will keep you in your seats from the beginning till the end.”
Newz Daddy Verdict
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5 out of 5 stars)
If you are a fan of Malayalam films, you will love “Kadaknath”.The film has excellent thrills and suspense that will keep you engaged throughout. The film will be loved by everyone who is in touch with the film industry. If you are looking for just entertainment, Kadaknath is not for you.