Riyaz Ismat

Gumasthan (2024) throws you straight into the buzzing chaos of Indian bureaucracy, where nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Riyaz Ismat plays the title character, a middle-aged government clerk who’s just trying to keep his head above water in a system that’s basically allergic to logic. Every day, he’s battling paperwork that seems to multiply like rabbits, dodging politicians who love to talk but never actually do anything, and getting caught between desperate citizens and rigid rules. It’s a comedy, but not the slapstick kind—think more biting satire, with sharp dialogue and plenty of eye rolls. Honestly, you can feel the frustration oozing out of every scene. Gumasthan’s stuck in this endless loop—help people, get stuck, get scolded, repeat. There’s a cast of side characters: the boss who’s always grumpy, the office peon who knows everyone’s secrets, and the local activist who keeps stirring up trouble. Even the love interest has her own agenda, and she’s not afraid to call out the hero on his nonsense. What really gets you is the relatability. Anyone who’s ever stood in line at a government office will probably laugh, cringe, and maybe even tear up a little. The movie doesn’t sugarcoat anything—there’s corruption, apathy, and the sense that nothing ever changes. But there’s also a stubborn hope, a sense that maybe, just maybe, one honest person can make a tiny difference. Gumasthan isn’t just a name—it’s every poor soul stuck in the system, fighting for a bit of justice and dignity, one signature at a time.