Bhavni Bhavai (1981) (2024)

Popular reviews

• Review by Lencho of the Apes ★★★

  In a broad and general sense, they're doing the same kind of work as S-Ray's Goopy and Bagha trilogy -- fairy-tale/folk humor as political satire.(I knew there had to be others-- it's too rich a vein not to be exploited!) This time, dispossessed Untouchables gather around a campfire to hear a story about the bad old days when their caste were subject to even more severe conditions, in which a baby prince is Mosesed away from the castle to save his life and grows up among the outcastes. In the final minutes, a different storyteller suggests an alternative ending that rejects the ameliorist greatest-good-that-can-be-acheived-easily in favor of decisive, open rebellion.

  PS: Lots of Golden Bough in here -- ailing old king, young king, drought-stricken land...

• Review by bong cinephile's memoirs ★★★★

  Indian Cinema Month

  10th Destination:-

  Gujarat

  Ketan Mehta's Bhavni Bhavai is a glaring testament of how well Gujarati film industry and theater arts can tackle hard hitting subjects with ease and in that process adding a comedic flavor to the whole cynical atmosphere of the film. This the same reaction I had while watching the political satire "Hun Hunshi Hunshilal" which was radical and lyrical in its own right.

  Even though Bhavni Bhavai feels a little bit sluggish during the midsection but the film quickly picks up pace and we see the some clever narrative passages that helps the film to become this memorable watch. The screen presence of Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Smita Patil & Mohan Gokhale, all of them…

• Review by Satyam Kashyap ★★★★★ 2

  its very rare that a movie leaves me absolutely dumbstruck and this is one of those movies

  the movie which is based on the play bhavni bhavai is entirely in gujurati and yet every word uttered comes through the language barrier and hits you like a pair of bricks

  one of the most commendable parts about this entire movie has to be the sociopolitical commentary being done through satire. theres an undertone of black comedy through its entire runtime and drawing caricatures of brahmin's atrocities is a very unique, refreshing yet gripping way to go about a movie

  few of my favorite 'comedic' moments have to be:

  every second that shah is on the screen

  the james bond spy character…

• Review by vritika18 ★★★

  I realised, the importance of telling the stories of today.

  We all have read about “the untouchables” this film shows their life with a zoom lens. Such a important and sensitive topic portrayed in a light way.

  I am glad that we have come quite far as a society, and there will always remain a long way to go as change is the only constant.

• Review by Mujtahid Hussain ★★★★

  This level of craft in filmmaking to unite theatre and cinema into one and make something so astounding and socially pathbreaking like this from Ketan Mehta is amazing to see, being made in 1980.

• Review by Nishant Vyas ★★★★

  A lively film looking at casteism and social injustice through the satire and humor wrapped around a folkloric tale, bursting into a song of rebellion in climax but at the same time raising questions about the real possibility of change.

• Review by Jyotin 1

  Is there any possibility to watch this Film with a better print?

• Review by Sanjana Subramanian ★★★★

  silly bumbling king aesthetic

• Review by kp

  દંતકથાના વ્યસન વીના જો પડે ન તમને ચેન,

  સુખી અંત આ ભૂલી ઘડી ભર, ઓસરવા દો કેર.

  અંત કહું હું મારા મનનો, સાર અમારા જીવનનો.

  અંત જૂઓ ને ચેન ખુઓ... લો અંત જૂઓ... લો અંત જૂઓ...

  Political sattires has to be one of my favourite genres.

• Review by sleepyogre ★★★★

  What I admire the most about this film is the mode of sending a message about the ugly reality of the caste system; sure it has its comedic moments like the clumsy moments of the King and a few moments of breaking the fourth wall, but it never forgets the harsh reality about caste system and stays loyal to its core message to the very end. Truly a film ahead of its time. I feel very few films have managed to achieve what Bhavni Bhavai has with its messaging. Truly a gem from the era of Parallel cinema.

• Review by Ammaar ★★★★

  A strong narrative structure and sense of satire help this movie transcend some of the more broad elements of the comedy. The ending is a real gut-punch to the fable-like story.