Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
In a funny mix-up, I initially read the title ‘Greater Kalesh’ as Greater Kailash, the posh South Delhi neighborhood locals call GK. The story trails Twinkle Handa, a Bengaluru-based professional heading home to Delhi for Diwali and from the looks of their home interiors, they do seem a little ‘posh’. Even before Twinkle can step inside, the sound of her parents yelling tells her all she needs to know, the fireworks have already started, and they’re all happening indoors.
Directed by Aditya Chandiok and written by Ritu Mago, ‘Greater Kalesh’ follows Ahsaas Channa as Twinkle, who plans to surprise her family on Diwali but instead walks into a house full of awkward tension. Her mom, Sunita (Supriya Shukla), keeps deflecting questions with endless food offers, her dad, Ranjan (Happy Ranajit), can’t seem to meet her eyes, and her brother Ankush (Poojan Chhabra) hides the tension behind sarcasm, asking her to just have her share of chholey bhature and fly back to Bengaluru.
At just under an hour, ‘Greater Kalesh’ is all about family drama and festive chaos. Anyone with a parent who deals with problems by focusing on the next meal will find Supriya Shukla’s Sunita hilariously relatable. The moment Twinkle starts asking what’s wrong at home, her mother tries to deflect with a round of chai, and despite it being late in the evening, nobody refuses. Not even sulky Ankush, who initially says no, only to ask for half a cup seconds later.
Despite its brief runtime, ‘Greater Kalesh’ overcomplicates what could have been a straightforward Diwali family comedy. The first half is comedic and relatable enough, but then the writers pile on too many subplots and end the film with a contrived twist. Let’s just say Twinkle’s decision to address family tensions during a bustling home party feels totally ill-conceived: an awkward attempt at resolution amid chaos.
The film could’ve done without the overload of family secrets, financial stress, and romantic subplots. It would’ve worked better as a simple festive story about what it means to return home. When Twinkle arrives and finds her parents unwilling to share their troubles, she feels like a stranger in her own house. But once they finally open up, that brief awkwardness melts away, a moment that says enough about the warmth of coming home.
‘Greater Kalesh’ ends its messy Diwali night on a sweet note, complete with a last minute twist that could only exist in movie logic. For a quick, festive peek into a dysfunctional Indian family, this flick is a harmless weekend watch.
Rating: 6 on 10. Watch ‘Greater Kalesh’ on Netflix.
Read Next: The Ba***ds of Bollywood Series Review (Audio Version Below)