'Chennai Express' doesn't impress
Aiyo! Dai, Move over ….King Khan is here. It has been a long wait between SRK’s last outing the tepid Jab tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ). Teaming up with Rohit Shetty for the first time SRK steps into the realm of out and out comedy for the first time. Whether it is an action-comedy or a romantic-comedy is for the audience to decide.
The standout feature about Chennai Express is that at although it is supposedly a “Hindi” film at least half its dialogues are delivered in Tamil. Yet comprehension is never a problem. The need to translate every line is eliminated thanks to a good screenplay that tides over that need. Of course the Heroine serves as as an ‘interpreter’ wherever the need arises, giving rise to the title of “Miss Subtitle” a la “Miss India…hilarious!
Chennai express is a vastly mounted film with heaps of colour and natural beauty .The verdant beauty of Dudh sagar waterfalls is so breath taking that it is enough to give 100% New Zealand an inferiority complex! Cameraman Prabhu has done a brilliant job of capturing costal south India’s natural beauty with such finesse.The best shot being the one arial shot of the train crossing the Dudh sagar waterfalls on a curved bridge.
The story line is just that….”a” line. That’s how long the story really is. But then Rohit Shetty, like David Dhavan never makes a pretence of being an intense storyteller.
The story begins in Mumbai where SRK plans a road trip to Goa with his mates but ends up in “Chennai Express” at Dadar in Mumbai. Then a‘la DDLJ appears the “Madrasi bombshell”…Meenamma (Deepika Padukone) with outstretched hands.Thus begins the comic ride on Chennai Express which begins well but gets derailed mid way.
SRK hams his way through his role. Deepika has done a good job as a southern siren who speaks “indi” with a thick accent although her city diction does show on occasion.
The cast includes Satyaraj (as Deepika’s father) a local don. He does his usual stuff and is quite restrained when compared to his tamil flicks.
Music by Vishal-Shekar is passe. The title track which plays through the first half is bearable. The “Thalaiva”(lungi dance) number during the title credits at the end of the film is hummable and is climbing the charts.
Chennai Express as expected has opened to packed houses in India. Here in Auckland Event Cinema was also full to capacity, demonstrating the pulling power of SRK. The film cinematically is run of the mill but will join the 100 crore mark.
Verdict: 3 stars from me. Chennai express leaves the platform with the right notes and high expectations but gets derailed after the Interval. Never the less it is worth a watch if only to enjoy three hours of mindless comedy. So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
Rajesh Krishnamurthy is a writer, columnist and film reviewer. His reviews are also available on his blog www.matineefilms.blogspot.co.nz
Aiyo! Dai, Move over ….King Khan is here. It has been a long wait between SRK’s last outing the tepid Jab tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ). Teaming up with Rohit Shetty for the first time SRK steps into the realm of out and out comedy for the first time. Whether it is an action-comedy or a romantic-comedy is...
Aiyo! Dai, Move over ….King Khan is here. It has been a long wait between SRK’s last outing the tepid Jab tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ). Teaming up with Rohit Shetty for the first time SRK steps into the realm of out and out comedy for the first time. Whether it is an action-comedy or a romantic-comedy is for the audience to decide.
The standout feature about Chennai Express is that at although it is supposedly a “Hindi” film at least half its dialogues are delivered in Tamil. Yet comprehension is never a problem. The need to translate every line is eliminated thanks to a good screenplay that tides over that need. Of course the Heroine serves as as an ‘interpreter’ wherever the need arises, giving rise to the title of “Miss Subtitle” a la “Miss India…hilarious!
Chennai express is a vastly mounted film with heaps of colour and natural beauty .The verdant beauty of Dudh sagar waterfalls is so breath taking that it is enough to give 100% New Zealand an inferiority complex! Cameraman Prabhu has done a brilliant job of capturing costal south India’s natural beauty with such finesse.The best shot being the one arial shot of the train crossing the Dudh sagar waterfalls on a curved bridge.
The story line is just that….”a” line. That’s how long the story really is. But then Rohit Shetty, like David Dhavan never makes a pretence of being an intense storyteller.
The story begins in Mumbai where SRK plans a road trip to Goa with his mates but ends up in “Chennai Express” at Dadar in Mumbai. Then a‘la DDLJ appears the “Madrasi bombshell”…Meenamma (Deepika Padukone) with outstretched hands.Thus begins the comic ride on Chennai Express which begins well but gets derailed mid way.
SRK hams his way through his role. Deepika has done a good job as a southern siren who speaks “indi” with a thick accent although her city diction does show on occasion.
The cast includes Satyaraj (as Deepika’s father) a local don. He does his usual stuff and is quite restrained when compared to his tamil flicks.
Music by Vishal-Shekar is passe. The title track which plays through the first half is bearable. The “Thalaiva”(lungi dance) number during the title credits at the end of the film is hummable and is climbing the charts.
Chennai Express as expected has opened to packed houses in India. Here in Auckland Event Cinema was also full to capacity, demonstrating the pulling power of SRK. The film cinematically is run of the mill but will join the 100 crore mark.
Verdict: 3 stars from me. Chennai express leaves the platform with the right notes and high expectations but gets derailed after the Interval. Never the less it is worth a watch if only to enjoy three hours of mindless comedy. So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
Rajesh Krishnamurthy is a writer, columnist and film reviewer. His reviews are also available on his blog www.matineefilms.blogspot.co.nz
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