
Khayal Gatha(1989)
Hindi103 mins
Khayal Gatha (1989) is a 103-minute Hindi film directed by Kumar Shahani. Starring Rajat Kapoor, Mita Vasisht and Mangal Dhillon. With an audience rating of 4.1/10, Khayal Gatha stands as one of the notable Hindi releases of 1989.
Director:Kumar Shahani
Mood:
emotionalpoeticinspiring
Where to watch:
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Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1989
- Director
- Kumar Shahani
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- GudVibe Rating
- 4.1/10
Storyline
A music student learns about the history of a classical singing style called Khayal. The student hears various legends and stories about its origins. These tales are then acted out, showing important figures from the musical tradition.
“Journey through the soul of Indian classical music.”
Film Details
4.1Rating
103Minutes
HindiLanguage
Release Date1 January 1989
Original Titleख्याल गाथा
Also Known AsKhayal Gatha
Parental Guide
Violence
Low
Language
Low
Sex / Nudity
Mild
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
Low
Vibe & Tags
Mood
emotionalpoeticinspiring
Themes
identityarttraditionhistory
Tonepoetic
Pacingslow-burn
Complexityrequires-attention
Audiencearthouse
Best Withalone
Violence1
Emotion4
Humor1
Rewatchability3
Reviews & Ratings
Your Rating
4.1/10Rating
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Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The film was shot on a very low budget, using mostly natural light and real locations.
- It was funded partly by India's National Film Development Corporation, which supports artistic cinema.
- Kumar Shahani spent years researching classical music history before writing the script.
- The movie blends documentary-style interviews with dramatic reenactments of historical moments.
- It features real classical musicians like vocalist Shruti Sadolikar performing in the film.
- The film had a limited release and was screened mainly at film festivals and art-house theaters.
- Shahani used long, slow takes to mirror the meditative quality of khayal music itself.

