By DeshGujarat Correspondent | Gujarati comedy movie Chaniya Toli (length 2 hours 12 minutes), produced by Anand Pandit and Vaishal Shah under the banners of Anand Pandit Motion Pictures and Jannock Films, presents a story set in rural Gujarat. The film is directed and written by Jay Bodas and Parth Trivedi, with Pratiksinh Chavda as co-writer. The film is going to release on Tuesday, 21st October.

The story unfolds in a village grappling with water scarcity, where farmers are buried under debts owed to Jan Seva Sahkari Bank. Amid this crisis, a cunning schoolteacher, played by Yash Soni, comes up with a plan to rob the bank — not out of compassion, but for his own motives. When the men of the village escape to avoid involvement, the women (total seven) step forward and decide to execute the plan themselves.

The film’s second half takes unexpected turns as a politician, a TV reporter, and locals enter the picture following the robbery, setting off a chain of dramatic and darkly humorous events.

The ensemble cast includes Yash Soni, Ragi Jani, Netri Trivedi, Nikita Sharma, Heena Jaikishan, Sohni Bhatt, Kalpana Gagdekar, Shilpa Thaker, Jassi Gadhvi, Jay Bhatt, and Chetan Daiya.

Chaniya Toli was shot in Sunav village near Anand in Central Gujarat, capturing the rustic essence of village life under the summer sun. While Yash Soni sports a simple, unassuming look with plain spectacles — a departure from his usual on-screen image — Netri Trivedi who plays a girl with squint eyes took on one of her most challenging roles yet.

In an interview, Trivedi revealed the effort it took to maintain her character’s squint-eyed appearance throughout filming. “It was difficult to keep my eyes in that position while staying in character and delivering dialogues. It tested my concentration as an actor,” she said.

Some of the film’s funniest moments include the scene where Netri Trivedi, with her squint-eyed expressions, goes shopping for clothes — a perfect “Looking London, Talking Tokyo” situation. Another hilarious bit unfolds during a training session, where Netri, despite her squint, manages to hit every target with flawless precision. A few more laugh-worthy moments come later in the film, especially during the witty exchanges among the policemen in the second half.

Chaniya Toli is enjoyed without overthinking or looking for logic — it’s meant purely for entertainment. The film delivers about half a dozen  laugh-out-loud moments. The song ‘Panjrama Popat Bole’ plays after the film ends and it is unrelated to the plot.

At times, the pacing feels a bit slow, yet the narrative manages to hold your attention, keeping you curious about what’s to come. The intermittent bursts of humor keep the mood light and engaging. Overall, Chaniya Toli is a fun, one-time watch that doesn’t take itself too seriously — and neither should you. DeshGujarat