Greater Kalesh Review: The Most Relatable Diwali Watch You’ll See This Year

      

You know how every Diwali starts, family all together, sweets lined up, everyone acting perfect? Then, somewhere between the diyas and dinner, those tiny cracks start to show. Netflix’s Greater Kalesh captures exactly that, better than most films these days.

Directed by Aditya Chandiok and written by Ritu Mago, this 52-minute family dramedy skips the big fireworks and focuses on what really happens when love, ego, and old wounds collide at the dinner table. With Ahsaas Channa leading the cast as Twinkle Handa, the film takes you inside a Delhi household where everything looks picture-perfect on the outside but feels emotionally explosive on the inside.

Even better, it dropped in the middle of the Diwali break, that perfect time when we’re home, stuffed with laddoos, and slowly noticing all the little family tensions around us. Watching Greater Kalesh right now almost feels therapeutic. It’s not escapism, it’s reflection, disguised as comfort cinema.

The Diwali Reunion That’s Anything But Perfect

Twinkle Handa (Ahsaas Channa) returns home from Bengaluru to Delhi for Diwali, expecting the usual: laughter, nostalgia, maybe a gentle guilt trip from her mother. But as soon as she steps into the Handa household, she senses something’s off. The warmth feels slightly forced, conversations are polite but loaded, and smiles barely reach the eyes. Behind every “Beta, how are you?” hides a question nobody really wants to answer. Even the smallest gestures, pouring tea, offering sweets, carry layers of expectation and unspoken tension.

Her mother (Supriya Shukla) embodies the quintessential Indian mom, trying to hold the household together emotionally, socially, and even spiritually. Her brothers (Happy Ranajit and Poojan Chhabra) oscillate between sarcasm, subtle resentment, and genuine care, capturing that unique, sometimes exhausting, sibling dynamic we all know. The supporting relatives, friends, and neighbors add small ripples of humor and chaos, reminding you of the colorful, slightly overwhelming nature of big family gatherings.

The story unfolds over a single Diwali evening, a dinner that starts cheerfully but slowly spirals into a quiet emotional storm. Don’t expect loud arguments or over-the-top melodrama. What Greater Kalesh does beautifully is linger in the awkward silences, showing the unspoken weight of familial expectations. It captures those moments when you force a smile, laugh at things that aren’t funny anymore, or feel a pang of guilt and love at the same time. The cinematography, with its warm lighting and cozy interiors, amplifies this intimacy, making you feel like a guest in the Handa home rather than just a viewer.

It’s not just Twinkle’s story; it’s every millennial’s Diwali homecoming, a cocktail of nostalgia, frustration, love, and reflection. You can almost smell the incense, hear the chatter, and feel that emotional lump in your chest somewhere between gratitude, mild exhaustion, and the bittersweet chaos of family life. By the end, you’re left reflecting on your own homecomings, realizing that sometimes family can be your safest place and, simultaneously, your biggest trigger.

Meet the Family: Performances That Feel Real

Ahsaas Channa truly shines as Twinkle Handa, charming, expressive, and completely relatable. She doesn’t just act the part; she lives it. Her portrayal of a daughter who loves her family but sometimes struggles to understand them feels so authentic that you instantly connect with her. There’s a quiet moment where she sits at the dining table, half-smiling, half-lost in thought, and it says more than a long monologue ever could.

Supriya Shukla is the heart of the household as the matriarch. She’s strong, loving, and fiercely protective, but also shows the subtle exhaustion behind the familiar phrase “sab theek hai.” Happy Ranajit and Poojan Chhabra bring the sibling dynamic to life, teasing, bickering, and yet quietly supportive, capturing the way real families operate. The rest of the ensemble, Akshaya Naik, Aditya Pandey, Keshav Mehta, and Sangeeta Balachandran, layer in just the right amount of chaos and warmth. 

Every character feels like someone you’ve actually met at a family gathering. Together, they make the Handa household feel lived-in, intimate, and slightly claustrophobic, just like the families we all know and love. Their interactions, small gestures, and even the unspoken tensions make the home feel alive, proving that great casting can make even a short film feel cinematic. By the end, you’re not just watching a story, you feel like you’ve spent a real evening with them.

The Hits and Misses

Greater Kalesh works because it’s honest. It doesn’t try to make you cry or laugh, it just lets you feel what’s already there. The screenplay feels effortless, and the direction keeps the tone perfectly balanced, warm but heavy, funny but real. The short 52-minute runtime is a blessing; the story knows exactly when to stop. The writing captures the little details, the emotional guilt trips, the awkward silences, the overfamiliar teasing. The production design deserves credit too; the Handa house feels like an actual Delhi home during Diwali, right down to the fairy lights and mismatched dining chairs. And of course, the casting is spot-on. Every tiny gesture, glance, or background interaction adds layers, making the film feel lived-in and completely authentic.

If you’re expecting a big, dramatic family saga with all loose ends tied up, you might find it a little underwhelming. The movie doesn’t dig deep into everyone’s backstory, and some conversations feel too safe, as if they stop right before things could get truly uncomfortable. The “chaos” feels slightly toned down in parts, and a few scenes could’ve hit harder emotionally. Still, those are small misses in what’s otherwise an emotionally intelligent, relatable story. Greater Kalesh doesn’t wrap up every detail neatly; instead, it leaves you with lingering feelings, which is exactly what makes it memorable. It’s a quiet film that lingers in your mind, leaving you reflecting on family, love, and those subtle moments that stick with you long after the credits roll.

Final Thoughts: Should You Watch It?

Greater Kalesh may be a short film, but it delivers a story that feels larger than its runtime. It perfectly captures the chaos, warmth, and tension of a family reunion during Diwali. Ahsaas Channa gives a performance that is relatable, grounded, and full of subtle emotion. The supporting cast adds depth, making the household feel real and lived-in. The writing is tight, the pacing brisk, and every scene feels purposeful without overstaying its welcome. Even without diving into every character’s story, the emotions hit home perfectly. Overall, it’s a heartfelt, relatable, and enjoyable short film that resonates long after the credits roll.

By the way, if you’re into grounded film thoughts, underrated thriller picks, or just plain honest recommendations, I’m over on Instagram:@bingewatch_perspective.  That’s where I post quick recaps, hot takes, and those offbeat gems you might’ve missed.

This Diwali, if you’re in the mood for bold, thought-provoking stories, don’t miss my review of Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali.

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