Gandhi Talks Movie Review: A Bold Silent Film Experiment Led by Vijay Sethupathi!

Release Date: January 30, 2026

Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swami, Aditi Rao Hydari, Siddharth Jadhav, Mahesh Manjrekar

Director: Kishor Pandurang ‘Belekar’

Producers: Rajesh Kejriwal, Gurpal Sachar

Music Director: A. R. Rahman

Cinematographer: Karan B. Rawat

Editor: Ashish Mhatre

Story:

Gandhi Talks revolves around the lives of two contrasting individuals. Mahadev (Vijay Sethupathi) is an unemployed graduate living in a Mumbai slum with his ailing mother. Despite being educated, he fails to secure a government job due to corruption and lack of money. He is in love with his neighbour (Aditi Rao Hydari).

On the other hand, Boseman (Arvind Swami) is a once-powerful builder whose empire collapses after legal troubles. Fate brings these two men together, and how their lives influence and transform each other forms the emotional core of the film. Notably, the entire story unfolds without a single spoken dialogue.

Plus Points:

Attempting a full-length feature film without dialogues is a bold and challenging experiment, and director Kishor Belekar deserves appreciation for taking such a risk. The presence of well-known actors gives the film a mainstream feel rather than turning it into an art-house documentary.

The narrative manages to keep the audience reasonably engaged despite the silent format. Surprisingly, the film leans more toward light-hearted entertainment than heavy drama. Vijay Sethupathi once again proves his versatility, delivering a heartwarming performance filled with innocence and warmth. His character’s struggle evokes empathy and keeps viewers emotionally invested.

Arvind Swami delivers a restrained and mature performance as a man who loses everything in life. Siddharth Jadhav provides effective comic relief, while Aditi Rao Hydari supports the narrative well. The second half is more engaging and packed with humorous and emotionally uplifting moments.

Minus Points:

Story-wise, Gandhi Talks explores familiar themes such as corruption, unemployment, and survival, offering nothing particularly new. Certain portions remind viewers of films like Vedham.

Since the movie depends heavily on text messages, WhatsApp chats, and visual cues, missing small details can affect understanding. In some scenes, the pacing is too fast, with text disappearing quickly. The first half has dull moments and uneven narration.

The film may not appeal to audiences expecting commercial popcorn entertainment. The lengthy climax could have been executed with greater emotional impact, and Mahesh Manjrekar’s character lacked proper closure.

Technical Department:

For a silent film, background music plays a crucial role—and A. R. Rahman delivers brilliantly. His score effectively separates emotional and fun moments, elevating the viewing experience. Karan B. Rawat’s cinematography is neat and visually pleasing, while the editing is decent though slightly inconsistent in pacing.

Production values are adequate. Director Kishor Belekar may not present a groundbreaking story, but his storytelling approach and control over performances deserve praise.

Verdict:

Overall, Gandhi Talks is a niche experimental silent film that stands out due to its unique narration style. While the storyline is familiar, presenting it without dialogues and with a humorous tone makes it different. Vijay Sethupathi delivers an outstanding performance, supported well by Arvind Swami, Siddharth Jadhav, and Aditi Rao Hydari. The slow first half and predictable plot are drawbacks, but urban audiences and experimental cinema lovers may find it engaging.

Rating: 2.75 / 5