Can you ever imagine that Karan Johar will give voice to a car named Basanti in a Hindi film? Director Sonal Dabral managed to achieve this feat in her first feature film Go Noni Go. The film, starring Dimple Kapadia in the lead role, is based on a short story (Salaam Noni Appa) by her daughter Twinkle Khanna. It premiered recently at the MAMI Film Festival to thunderous applause and applause.

At a few minutes less than 2 hours, Go Noni Go is a perfect feel-good film. It begins with the introduction of a beautiful and elegant widow named Noni Appa (Kapadia), who is ogled by the men of her town. We also get a chance to meet her sister Binny (Ayesha Raza), who is completely different from Noni. Having been divorced twice, she believes in living life to the fullest and takes Noni to hobby classes to make her more social. Enter our hero Anand (Manav Kaul), a yoga instructor who befriends Noni during a game of rummy.

As the two warm up to each other, they realize how incomplete both of them are. While Noni is living a secluded life after the death of her husband, Anand is in a dead marriage, probably still to his son. As they engage in easy conversations around love, life, unfulfilled dreams, and even grief, you can’t help but join them on their journey. However, like every ride, this relationship also faces speed bumps. And it is for the audience to find out if they manage to pass by while driving in their red basanti.

Basanti, talking about the car, KJO adds his humor and wit as the narrator of the story. They also get to share some important life lessons that are not only relevant but also worth following. Talking about the performance, there are not enough words to describe the magic of Dimple Kapadia on screen. The actor’s performance makes you realize how much you have missed seeing him.

As far as humans are concerned, it has been said earlier that how superstar Shahrukh Khan can romance even with a tree. We think it needs a facelift, because even Manav Kaul can romance a dead tree. From Ajeeb Daastaans to The Fame Game, the actor has truly emerged as a romantic lead. His chemistry with Dimple is quiet but infectious and makes even the simplest moments like the playful argument over the mobile phone so intimate that you blush.

Talking about the supporting cast, Ayesha Raza is fantastic as the spunky younger sister who is ready to fight the world for Noni. Athiya Shetty also does her job well as Dimple’s daughter. However, he doesn’t have much to work with. Her love angle with Rohan Mehra also seems like a bit of a misfit, just filling in some missing gaps. Vidya Balan’s father, PR Balan, makes his debut in a cameo and impresses with his memorable ‘MCP’ dialogue.

Director Sonal Dabral knows how to connect with her audience and communicate with them. There is no overt drama and the subtle narrative makes the film entertaining. He also chooses colors and lighting to portray his story: before Noni meets Anand, her house is shown only in dull, dark colors. As she finds light in her new friendship, her nest also begins to seem brighter and more inviting. It is only in the climax, that the filmmaker gives in to the temptation of a monologue and didactic preaching.

Another thing we missed a lot in the movie was Twinkle Khanna aka Mrs. Funny Bones’ witty lines. This was even more felt when the mother-daughter took a few digs at each other in the media session after the film screening. We wish this had been explained on screen, which could have elevated the entire film.

At its core, Go Noni Go reminds us that age is irrelevant when it comes to love and companionship, and it also beautifully portrays the bond between sisters. It will soon be available to stream on OTT platforms.