Mauje Dariya is a vibrant Gujarati comedy-drama directed by Parry Majmudar that balances youthful ambition with lighthearted social commentary. The film serves as a poignant highlight of India’s young generation that is ambitious, hardworking, and willing to do what it takes to rise while learning valuable lessons along the way.
The film follows a delivery boy who takes a risky job running alcohol (that is prohibited in the state) to fund his father’s surgery. The story takes a chaotic turn during a wealthy client’s party when a gunshot leads to mass unconsciousness and collective amnesia, leaving the characters to untangle a murder scheme amidst identity confusion.
A standout element is its handling of alcohol prohibition in Gujarat. The script offers a sharp social critique by capturing the simmering frustration of a generation caught between Western lifestyle aspirations and the rigid constraints of a prohibited state, utilizing this cultural friction as a powerful catalyst for both satire and drama.
The film Mauje Dariya excels in simplicity and boasts above-average production values. It effectively utilizes decent settings and outdoor locales to ground the story in a believable environment. Whether capturing the kinetic energy of the city or quiet rural backdrops, cinematographer Tapan Vyas captures rural and urban Gujarati life with visual honesty.
Taksh Shah is remarkably natural and relatable. His portrayal of the father-son relationship adds significant emotional weight to the film. It is Manav Gohil who lends seasoned maturity to the cast, He is quite impressive in his role as a rich industrialist, bringing depth and weight to every scene. Hitul Pujara as the industrialist’s son delivers a solid performance as a foreign-educated young Gujarati boy, adding a unique energetic dynamic to the ensemble.
Kamlesh Oza as Sub Inspector Vaghela is funnily convincing as a cop desiring promotion. He is innovative and works hard in different disguises to catch bootleggers.
While the film offers genuine laugh-out-loud moments, the humor occasionally veers into over-the-top territory, which may alienate fans of subtle comedy. The narrative drags significantly in the second half, losing the brisk momentum established early on. Specifically, the clichéd drunken episode feels overstretched, while the amateurish depiction of the police arrests lacks the realism needed to maintain tension. Ultimately, the 2-hour 13-minute runtime feels bloated; a tighter edit would have made for a much sharper viewing experience.
Despite its technical and narrative stumbles in the latter half, Mauje Dariya comes out as a wholesome family entertainer that captures the spirit of the modern Gujarati youth.
Cast of Mauje Dariya:
Taksh Shah as Aditya
Siddharth Dolli as Rahul
Nishma Soni as Shruti
Manav Gohil as the tycoon Mr Patel
Hitul Pujara as Rohan (Mr Patel’s son)
Prashant Barot as Senior Police Officer
Kamlesh Oza as Sub Inspector Vaghela
Prakul Pandita as Aakash
Hitesh Thakar as Maama
Hemin Trivedi as Bachu Balentine
Credits of Mauje Dariya:
Producer – Yashvi Shah
Director – Parry Majmudar
Writer – Taksh Shah
Cinematographer – Tapan Vyas
Executive Producer- Manav Kanabar
Editor – Nirav Panchal
