Dilwali Diwali Review: A Sweet Family Entertainer Hindered by a Short Runtime

Dilwali Diwali is a sweet, amusing, and relatable family entertainer directed by Ritesh Menon. The star cast includes Mihir Ahuja, Manoj Pahwa, Neelu Kohli, and Aurra Bhatnagar Badoni.

The story follows Sudhir Sikka, aka Goggi (Manoj Pahwa), his wife Sukhmani, aka Sukhi (Neelu Kohli), and their daughter Mahi (Aurra Bhatnagar Badoni). They live in a modest refugee camp home originally allotted to Sudhir's father after Partition. Their son Ansh (Mihir Ahuja), settled in Norway, was unhappy with their modest living conditions and purchased a lavish apartment on the 27th floor of a skyscraper for them. Although they move in, the family feels miserable due to unfriendly neighbours and returns to their old home within a week. Not wanting to tell Ansh the truth, they pretend to still live in the skyscraper. When Ansh announces a Diwali visit to Mumbai, the family returns to the apartment and goes to great lengths to maintain the illusion.

Ritu Mago wrote the quirky yet relatable story and screenplay, with additional screenplay by Ritesh Menon and dialogues by Ritu Mago. Director Ritesh Menon delivers a simple and effective film reflecting the modern theme of families moving from close-knit neighbourhoods to high-rise buildings.

The film's primary drawback is its unusually short runtime of just 61 minutes. Because of this, several portions feel rushed, and certain developments, such as Sukhi's sudden change of heart and the family's weekend shifts to maintain the illusion, feel unconvincing or underexplored.

Mihir Ahuja delivers a decent performance, while Manoj Pahwa gives an impactful portrayal of Goggi, bringing warmth, finesse, and humour. Neelu Kohli is dependable, and Aurra Bhatnagar Badoni delivers a fine performance. Supporting cast members include Nimisha Sirohi, Manmeet Singh, Ashish Kaul, Vivek Tandon, Ashok Manjhi, and Shrirao Swapnil Avinash.

Among the music, only 'Ghar Lagda' registers, while songs like 'Yeh Duniya' fail to impress. Advait Nemlekar provides the background score. Aniruddha Patankar handles cinematography, Naveen Lohara serves as production designer, Identical Brains Studio Ltd manages VFX, Gopika Gulwadi designs costumes, and Ritesh Menon handles editing.