Chennai Express - Movie Review

Chennai Express : Exclusive Movie Review

Direction by Rohit Shetty
Produced by Gauri Khan/Ronnie Screwvala/Siddharth Roy Kapur
Music by Vishal–Shekhar
Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sathyaraj, Nikitin Dheer & Priyamani (Cameo - song)

 

Movie Review by Sree Prasad Nair
Theater – Grand Cinemas, Sharjah, UAE
08/08/2013 –1.45pm
Occupancy – 90% 

                                         





Rohit Shetty is known for directing action-comedy masala entertainers. Except Zameen & Sunday, rest of his all films were superhits at the box office. The director's last 3 films were 100crore hits too (Golmaal 3, Singham & Bol Bachchan) Chennai Express is director's 9th film, and first film without Ajay Devgn as the main lead. Chennai Express stars Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in lead roles. Both stars had a blockbuster 'Om Shanti Om' in the past.  Chennai Express also stars Sathyaraj, Nikitin Dheer & Priyamani( cameo in a song) '

Story
Rahul embarks on a journey to a small town in Tamil Nadu to fulfill the last wish of his grandfather, to have his ashes immersed in the Holy water of Rameshwaram. En route, he meets a woman hailing from a unique family down South. As they find love through this journey in the exuberant lands of South India, an unanticipated drive awaits them.

Positives
Chennai Express is a crazy ride till first half. It's loaded with many laughter-inducing moments. The slapstick quotient is on the higher side. Rohit Shetty plays it smart by choosing Shah Rukh Khan as main lead. Shah Rukh Khan dominates the proceedings, as always. The requirement of the role was, SRK has to be loud and hammy and it works quite well in the film.

Deepika Padukone is striclty average. She looks gorgeous. One of the most hilarious scene brilliantly acted by Deepika Padukome. Infact the best comedy scene in the film (after interval). Lekh Tandon and Kamini Kaushal, as SRK's grand-parents are good. Nikitin Dheer is strictly OK. Priya Mani's item song 1 2 3 4 is already a chartbuster, so is Titli song.
I would Iike to make a special mention of the film's dialogue writers Sajid-Farhad. Dialogues-One liners are first rate. Notable scenes are :
Sathyaraj to SRK : Tamil Teriyumaaaa ? SRK to Deepika : Yeh tumhari papa kya bolti hai meri Maa k bare mein? :D
A Malayalee guy to SRK : Entha Joli ? SRK : No No I'm not Angelina Jolie ! :D
The first half was so fast paced and I was expecting the same in second half. But... :(

Negatives
Second half is a huge let down. The second half is boring and also had many over acting scenes by the main leads. Another minus point is makers added three songs within 20 minutes in the second half. Titli, Kashmir Se & Tera Rasta are back to back and the placement of the Kashmir Se & Tera Rasta are really bad. Even Vishal-Sekhar's music is a mixed bag barring Titli & 1234! The makers so called tribute 'Lungi Dance' to Rajnikanth is actually an insult not only for him, but entire South Indian film fraternity.
Chennai Express is promoted as an action masala entertainer! Unfortunately there is ONLY ONE action sequence (climax) which is over the top! Most of the jokes are used through old hit songs. At some scenes Shahrukh is overacting to the core. His repetitive ‘don't underestimate the power of a common man’ is really irritating. How to do a convincing 'Bewada act' SRK should learn from Legendary actor Mohanlal. Deepika Padukone's hindi accent is horrible in some scenes.

Veteran South Indian actor Sathyaraj is wasted! His eyes have more 'screen-frames' than his entire role. Rohit Shetty's direction is poor in the second half. Script in the second half is super shoddy.

Overall Chennai Express is a mixed bag! A good first half & and a pathectic second half. However the film is all set to take an earth shattering response at the box office thanks to UTV's promotions and Shah Rukh Khan's starpower + 40-50% hike in the ticket price! The film's paid preview happened today and likely to cross the 3 Idiots record of 2.5cr. The film is chasing Salman Khan's Ek Tha Tiger opening day records of 32crore, which is unlikely to cross for me. An opening day between 26-28cr with 70cr+ weekend will help the film. But a long run is ruled out due to upcoming films like Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara, Madras Cafe & Satyagraha. Film will be good in overseas.
P:S: Another 100crore film for Shah Rukh Khan, and another punching bag for him after Ra.One & Jab Tak Hai Jaan

Verdict - 'First Class' First Half & 'General' Second Half!!!

Rating - 3/5! 

This Reviewer can be contacted on Twitter : @i_spn : https://twitter.com/i_spn