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''Chidiya'' is a 2016
Hindi-language Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of the Government of India, alongside English, and is the ''lin ...
drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
directed by Mehran Amrohi and produced by Faqhrul Husaini under the banner of Smiley Films in association with Key Media Works. The film stars
Vinay Pathak Vinay Pathak (born 27 July 1968) is an Indian theater and film actor. He has starred in many films including '' Khosla Ka Ghosla,'' '' Bheja Fry,'' ''Island City'' and '' Johnny Gaddaar'' and had a supporting role in movies like ''Jism'', '' ...
, Amruta Subhash, Svar Kamble, Ayush Pathak,
Inaamulhaq Inaamulhaq (born 14 November 1979) is an Indian actor and screenwriter who has been part of several Bollywood films, including '' Filmistaan'', '' Jolly LLB 2'' and ''Airlift''. In 2019 Inaamulhaq has bagged the Best Actor Award at the DCSAFF ( ...
,
Brijendra Kala Brijendra Kala is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema. He is known for his subtle portrayals of characters rooted in reality. He gained attention for his small roles in mainstream cinema. Early life Kala spent his childhood in Mathura, ...
, and Muzaffar Khan. Set against the backdrop of a Mumbai chawl, Chidiya follows the story of two young brothers who aspire to play badminton, overcoming the limitations of their modest environment. The film explores themes of childhood resilience, hope, community spirit, and the beauty of small dreams.


Plot

Shanu and Bua, two young brothers living in a cramped chawl in Mumbai, discover an old badminton racket while seeking work at a film studio. This discovery sparks a dream that seems far beyond their reach. With their mother’s unwavering support and the quirky neighbors rallying behind them, the boys transform a junkyard into their own badminton court. Their journey, marked by trials and imagination, becomes a tribute to youthful determination and the power of dreams.


Cast

*
Vinay Pathak Vinay Pathak (born 27 July 1968) is an Indian theater and film actor. He has starred in many films including '' Khosla Ka Ghosla,'' '' Bheja Fry,'' ''Island City'' and '' Johnny Gaddaar'' and had a supporting role in movies like ''Jism'', '' ...
as Bali *
Amruta Subhash Amruta Subhash is an Indian actress who works in Marathi and Hindi films, television, and theatre. She is a graduate of the National School of Drama, National School of Drama, New Delhi. She has received several awards, including a National Fil ...
as Vaishnavi *
Inaamulhaq Inaamulhaq (born 14 November 1979) is an Indian actor and screenwriter who has been part of several Bollywood films, including '' Filmistaan'', '' Jolly LLB 2'' and ''Airlift''. In 2019 Inaamulhaq has bagged the Best Actor Award at the DCSAFF ( ...
as Taj (Cameo) *
Brijendra Kala Brijendra Kala is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema. He is known for his subtle portrayals of characters rooted in reality. He gained attention for his small roles in mainstream cinema. Early life Kala spent his childhood in Mathura, ...
as Suraj * Svar Kamble as Shanu * Ayush Pathak as Bua *
Hetal Gada Hetal Gada is an Indian film and television child actress. She is known for portraying the lead role of Pari in the hit film '' Dhanak'' and Arya Mathur in the serial '' Aap Ke Aa Jane Se'', that airs on Zee TV. Career In 2014, Gada guest-sta ...
as Ishani *
Sandeep Pathak Sandeep Kumar Pathak (born 4 October 1979) is an Indian academic turned politician from Aam Aadmi Party and Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab since April 2022. He is a former assistant professor of IIT Delhi, former research associate at University ...
as Tapan


Production

Principal photography for ''Chidiya'' was completed in 2015. The chawl sequences were filmed in Pune, while additional scenes were shot at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). Exterior shots were filmed in Mumbai, including locations at Kamal Amrohi Studio. Director Mehran Amrohi sought to employ a poetic realism style, utilizing natural lighting and locations to authentically depict the world of the characters.


Delayed Release

Although completed in 2015, ''Chidiya'' faced distribution challenges due to shifting trends in independent cinema. Despite nearly a decade-long delay, the film’s core themes remained resonant, leading to a confirmed theatrical release in 2025.


Release

''Chidiya'' is set to release theatrically across India on 30 May 2025. The film was previously scheduled for release on 23 May 2025. The official trailer will be released on 19 May 2025.


Music

The music for ''Chidiya'' is composed by Shailendra Barve and released by Zee Music Company. The soundtrack consists of the following songs.


Reception

Deepa Gahlot Deepa Gahlot is a theater and film critic, book author, and scriptwriter. She has written several books on cinema, translated several plays (by Manav Kaul and Paresh Mokashi) into English and adapted Paulo Coelho's novel ''The Alchemist'' for the s ...
of ''
Rediff.com Rediff.com, stylized as rediff.com, is an Indian news, information, entertainment, and shopping website. Founded by Ajit Balakrishnan in 1996, it was the first Indian website to become a mainstream news media organization. It is headquartered i ...
'' gave 3 stars out of 5 and said that "The tone of the film may be gloomy but it is never tragic or hopeless. Like millions of underprivileged people who find joy in small things, Shanu, Bua and their mother keep their heads above water". Rahul Desai of ''
The Hollywood Reporter India ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly large- ...
'' praised the film. He writes, "What I like the most is the film’s ability to be practical about a hopeful anti-fairytale. It doesn’t package false promises and happily ever afters for the sake of fiction. For better or worse, being spot-boys on a set full of colourful people is the kids’ destiny — it isn’t supposed to change. There is no Aamir Khan-coded saviour or social-commentary climax. Any joys of adolescence that they manage to locate from hereon is within the confines of this future — like an empty badminton court at a school on an outdoor shoot, or a short holiday between schedules." Sana Farzeen of ''
India Today ''India Today'' is a weekly Indian English-language news magazine published by Living Media, Living Media India Limited. It is the most widely circulated magazine in India, with a readership of close to 8 million. In 2014, ''India Today'' laun ...
'' gave 4 stars out of 5 and said that "in an age where content is abundant, but emotion often feels diluted, Chidiya is a rare gem. Honest, heartwarming, funny, and beautifully detailed — it reminds us of why we fell in love with cinema in the first place." Devesh Sharma of ''
Filmfare ''Filmfare'' is an Indian English-language fortnightly magazine published by Worldwide Media. Acknowledged as one of India's most popular entertainment magazines, it publishes pieces involving news, interviews, photos, videos, reviews, events, ...
'' also gave 4 stars out of 5 and observed that "Chidiya is a children’s film which has a poignant message about child labour even as it showcases small dreams and desires of its child protagonists." Dhaval Roy of ''
The Times of India ''The Times of India'' (''TOI'') is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and digital news media owned and managed by the Times Group. It is the List of newspapers in India by circulation, third-largest newspaper in India by circulation an ...
'' rated 3.5/5 stars and said "Chidiya is a must-watch family fare, offering simple yet profound storytelling that warms the heart and leaves you smiling." Subhash K Jha writing for '' News 24'' rated 5/5 stars and praise the film and said "Chidiya is a gem of a film, an instant classic, if you will. It conveys what the director so succinctly describes as “the joy in scarcity” with such an austere stare at neo-realism, I immediately want to put him up there with the masters of neo-realism Vittorio de Sica and Satyajit Ray." Amit Bhatia of ''
ABP News ABP News is an Indian Hindi-language free-to-air television news channel owned by ABP Group. Initially launched as Star News in 1998, it was later acquired by the ABP Group (ABP). It won the Best Hindi News Channel award in the 21st editi ...
'' gave 4 stars out of 5 and said that "The film is a reminder of the art that has the power to save cinema from its financial and creative struggles." Sanyukta Thakare of ''
Mashable India Mashable is a news website, digital media platform and entertainment company founded by Pete Cashmore in 2005. History Mashable was founded by Pete Cashmore while living in Aberdeen, Scotland, in July 2004. Early iterations of the site were a ...
'' commented that "Chidiya is about letting go of the expectation and being yourself, what little you can for everyday not matter what the world throws at you." Rishabh Suri of ''
Hindustan Times ''Hindustan Times'' is an Indian English language, English-language daily newspaper based in Delhi. It is the flagship publication of HT Media Limited, an entity controlled by the Birla family, and is owned by Shobhana Bhartia, the daughter o ...
'' gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and writes that "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."


References


External links

* * {{IMDb title, tt4826742 2010s Hindi-language films 2010s Indian films Films shot in India Indian children's films Indian sports films