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Movie Name: Chidiya
Directed by: Mehran Amrohi
Starring: Vinay Pathak, Amruta Subhash, Svar Kamble, Ayush Pathak, Hetal Gada, Inaamulhaq (Cameo)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Running Time: 110 Minutes
Release Date: 23 May, 2025
Rating:
Production Companies: Smiley Films, Key Media Works LLP
Budget: ₹- crore
The film is the story of two kids aged 9 and 10, their dreams and the flight of their imaginations. Vinay Pathak plays the role of their uncle who helps them to achieve what they want. Amruta Subhash is playing the role of their mother.
Chidiya: Movie Overview
Chidiya is a Indian Hindi-language Drama film written and directed by Mehran Amrohi. The film features Svar Kamble, Ayush Pathak and Vinay Pathak. It is produced by Faqhrul Husaini. Vinay Pathak aka Bali plays a Marathi character in the film. Shailendra Barve created the music. It will release theatrically on 23 May 2025.
Shooting of the film took place in Kamal Amrohi Studio, Mumbai and post production was completed in spring 2022.
Chidiya was recommended by the NFDC ‘Film Bazar’. Chidiya was the official entry in international competition section of prestigious 56th Zlín Film Festival, Czech Republic and was widely appreciated.
Movie Trailer:
Movie Review:
This simple tale about badminton soars on hope and a lot of heart
Chidiya, directed by Mehran Amrohi, tells the story of two brothers navigating life’s challenges in Mumbai.
One gets thrown off a bit, seeing Pahlaj Nihalani’s (former CBFC chairperson) signature on the censor certificate as Chidiya begins. It’s taken the film 10 years to see the light of day in theatres. The struggle for smaller films to find good exhibition and distribution continues—but it’s finally available now. And thank God for that.
The story revolves around two brothers, Shanu and Bua (played by Svar Kamble and Ayush Pathak), who cannot attend school due to financial constraints. Yet, they live a content life with their mother (Amruta Subhash) in a Mumbai chawl, alongside their kind-hearted neighbour Balai (Vinay Pathak), a spot boy in the Hindi film industry. Their mother, burdened by reality, pushes them to start working, and they find themselves employed at a tea stall on a film set. One fine day, Shreyas Talpade—playing himself—gifts Shanu a shuttlecock, or chidiya in Hindi. Thus begins a heartfelt mission: to play the ‘chidiya wala game’- badminton.
That, in essence, is the plot. Written and directed by Mehran Amrohi, the film’s tone is optimistic. How one simple game becomes a boy’s dream, shielding him from the harshness his mother endures, is both moving and tender. Vinay Pathak’s Balai is a standout character — paternal toward Shanu and Bua, treating them no differently than his own daughter. The film chooses to believe that the world is inherently kind. From the neighbourhood tailor to the tea stall owner, everyone extends warmth. The only antagonist here is the circumstance, not any individual.
It’s important to remember that Chidiya was made in a pre-OTT era, when theatres and television were the two primary mediums of entertainment. The screenplay remains simple, almost old-school, but it’s to the film’s credit that it keeps you engaged despite the slow-burn pace. No small feat in an age of shrinking attention spans.
Amruta Subhash delivers a compelling performance as the guilt-ridden mother. Svar and Ayush, the two child actors, hold their ground remarkably well against seasoned actors. Brijendra Kala, as the kind tea stall owner, lends dignity to his small yet memorable role.
In closing, Chidiya is a gentle reminder of the power of small dreams and everyday kindness. It may not roar with dramatic highs, but it speaks in a sincere voice that stays with you.
