Movie Review

Movie Name : Gandhi Talks

Release Date : Jan 30, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : 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

Related Links : Trailer

Experimental film Gandhi Talks starring Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swamy, and Aditi Rao Hydari is now out in theatres. Kishor Pandurang Belekar is the director. What’s interesting about this film is that it doesn’t have a single dialogue. Let’s see how this experiment turns out.

Story:

The film presents the lives of two people: Mahadev (Vijay Sethupathi), an unemployed graduate who lives in a slum in Mumbai with his ailing mother. Despite being educated, Mahadev struggles to secure a government job as he cannot afford to bribe officials. He is in love with his neighbour (Aditi Rao Hydari). On the other hand, there is Boseman (Arvind Swamy), once a reputed builder whose empire collapses due to legal issues. How they make a difference in each other’s lives forms the crux of the film.

Plus Points:

First things first, making a feature film without any dialogues is nothing short of a herculean task, and director Kishor Pandurang Belekar deserves appreciation for attempting something truly out of the box. What makes this experiment even more interesting is that Kishor mounts it with a notable star cast, giving the film a mainstream appeal rather than a documentary-like feel.

In an era where grabbing and retaining audience attention has become a major challenge, Kishor succeeds in keeping us hooked decently. The comedy portions work really well, and Gandhi Talks turns out to be more of a fun entertainer than a heavy art film. The movie is largely carried on the shoulders of Vijay Sethupathi, who once again proves why he is considered one of the finest actors of this generation.

As Mahadev, Vijay Sethupathi brings a lot of innocence and warmth to the character, making us smile throughout. His struggle to survive against all odds makes us root for him. Arvind Swamy delivers an earnest performance as a businessman who loses everything in life and quietly waits for death. Siddharth Jadhav is highly entertaining as the thief, while Aditi Rao Hydari lends good support. The second half is comparatively more engaging and offers plenty of laughs.

Minus Points:

On the story front, Gandhi Talks doesn’t offer anything pathbreaking, as it revolves around familiar themes of corruption and people’s struggle to earn a living. At a surface level, the film feels similar to the iconic Telugu movie Vedham, with a few moments reminding us of the Allu Arjun-starrer.

Since Gandhi Talks is a silent film, several key details are conveyed through WhatsApp chats, text messages, and written notes. If a viewer is not attentive, he/she can easily miss important information. There are instances where the makers should have slowed down the pacing, as some text flashes disappear too quickly.

Gandhi Talks is certainly not meant for audiences looking for typical popcorn entertainment. Additionally, the final moments following a lengthy climax could have been executed in a more impactful manner. The first half contains some boring moments and pacing issues. Mahesh Manjrekar’s character needed closure.

Technical Aspects:

After the actors, the music director’s job is the toughest in a silent film, but there is no reason to worry since it is the legendary A.R. Rahman who is in charge. He effectively differentiates between fun and emotional moments with his superb background score, enhancing the overall impact. The cinematography by Karan B. Rawat is good, while the editing is decent.

The production values are fine. Coming to the director, Kishor Belekar has done a satisfactory job. The story he picked may not be groundbreaking, but his attempt to narrate a story is commendable. The way he handled certain portions is praiseworthy. He also extracted solid performances from his actors.

Verdict:

On the whole, Gandhi Talks is a silent film that appeals to niche audience. The film has a familiar storyline, talking about the importance of money and the level of corruption, but the decision to tell it without dialogues and focus more on the fun side makes it different from other films. Vijay Sethupathi is superb, while Arvind Swamy, Siddharth Jadhav, and Aditi Rao Hydari lend good support. The dips and boring moments in the first half, along with the known plot, are the downsides. The film will largely appeal to urban audience, while others may find it less engaging.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team