Let’s see now. Chalte Chalte. Walking walking. You’d think that with that kind of a name, this is the kind of film that would be making plenty of progress. But after a three- hour drawl, think again. Not only does it fall short of the expectations that packed in full houses, but even makes an out and out mockery of marriage. But what was the story that drew in such hefty crowds?
Verrrry simple. Till your first half, it’s about how how Raj Mathur( Shahrukh Khan)a truck business owner, and Priya (Rani Mukherjee), a fashion designer bump into each other, their fates get twined, that too in far-off Greece, and finally get married. Right at the end of the one half itself, the letters INTERMISSION spread out against a picture of the two’s backs facing each other. You guessed right. When you return to your seat from the cinema cafeteria, Mr. and Mrs.Raj and Priya Mathur are bickering for every little thing. Priya mopes of how Raj never helps about the house, Raj hates how Priya tells him to clean up the room ( specially throwing about shoes). Despite continued attempts at keeping the romance alive, nothing really works. And Voila- all hell breaks loosen when Priya borrows from her ex-fiancee Sameer when there’s a debt on their shoulders. For a while, Shahrukh is a hangover of his Devdas role, and finally after much tear, turmoil (and torture for the audience) they get back together and live happily ever after. Wah Wah! I’m so touched!
So is the plot worth a dekho? If you ask me, never in my life! Fine, Chalte Chalte went the Saathiya way, by highlighting the hungama on either side of the saat pheras. So director Aziz Mirza must have been trying to bring realism into a mainstream of candyfloss romances. He must have considered this realism on marriage to be the piece de resistance of the film, that would be the hallmark of this project. Then why all the boots on the beach Priya, romance in Greece, ex-fiancee loans and rich-girl- poor boy status. Is this lifelike? Can every man or woman in a marriage relate to this? Or was this to add mirch masala to something not masaledaar enough? Mirza probably needs a rethink.
How were the performances then? On the whole, great. Rani Mukherjee is brilliant as the stylish Priya who Pighalte Pighalte melts into the common housewife sari. The best part of her performance is that she doesn’t seem to be acting, merely as if some clever duck had secretly taken all this on tape without her knowledge. She’s not an actress in the film. She’s a wife, a woman.
Many may object to this, but Shahrukh was horrible. Yes, he was extremely fun and entertaining, but what is the mark of a great actor? Unlike Rani, you know he’s acting, struggling to be good and humorous. He’s basically played himself in a different skin. Let’s just say he did what he does every time.
Johnny Lever as the drunk, crying for the moon, long-lost lover is outrageous in his stupidity, and leaves you grasping your stomach that’s in splits.
Lilette Dubey and many others were Ok, since there really wasn’t much of a role for them to portray their acting skills in anyway.
Then what’s new about this film? Nothing really. The format of the friend’s group narrating the love story is entertaining and novel, considering it’s a fairytale marriage anyway. The gang of the postman, paanwala, his Romeo and Juliet customers and the bai are something to look out for.Some groovy songs, Rani’s chic clothing and Shahrukh’s cool kurtas, outdoor location in Greece instead of the humdrum Switzerland and New Zealand, all these are modest and unsuccessful attempts to lift the film out of Saathiya’s shadow. Saathiya was better any day, and throughout Chalte Chalte, there’s a sense of deja’vu trying to be masked with fashion, songs, locations and jootas. Within this struggle, the film goes astray from its very gist- marriage’s ups and downs. I suggest you see this film with no expectations. maybe then you’ll enjoy it.
Come on yaar- cut to the chase. Should I see it or not?
It’s up to you. If you don’t like too much hardcore realism and love it seasoned with spice, this is your film. If you came looking for a change, you can still cancel your cinema reservation. Chalte Chalte is an ordinary film, ordinarily portraying an extraordinary subject. I was pretty dismayed at the end of it all though. It all seemed like a rollercoaster you had been tricked into riding through grabbing promos, and then couldn’t get off because it was at its highest point already. The film’ catchline is opposites attract, but surely opposites like larger-than-lifeism and sensitive topics don’t. Let’s see if once you get attracted to the Cinema. The question is after you want to the cinema, not by bus, but Chalte Chalte how w attractive will you find it?
For that there’s only one answer- Dekhne me hain haseen, Rehti hai yahin kahin, Kho Gayi!
And you can tell me, the review writer, Tauba tumhaare yeh ishaare!Hum to deewane hai tumhaare! Kaise plot khol rahe ho, Mouthshut.com se bol rahe ho!