Chennai Express - Reviews & BO Updates Thread!! - Page 15

Finally the red letter day has arrived as Shah Rukh Khan's most overwhelming release of the year is all set to hit the theaters today. As reported earlier, the multiplexes have seen a phenomenal advance booking response with more than 80% of shows having been booked in the 1st three days of the film's advance booking initiation.

As of now, the estimates suggest that most multiplexes and single screens can smoothly assure a80%-85% occupancy for its preview shows in multiplexes. However, in single screens the frenzy is even more insurmountable as the film's advance booking have neared 90%occupancy already.

Being one of the year's most blockbuster release, the film's weekend shows are mostly booked off already. Box office predictions are also estimating newer income trends at the domestic circuit, with the film gearing up to smash quite a few prevalent records and build newer ones

This Eid the audiences are graced with the much anticipated release of Rohit Shetty's Chennai Expressfeaturing Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. Shetty and Khan's alliance has created a stir at the box office with Chennai Express rocking the ticket counter with its paid preview advance bookings already creating records.

The record for the highest paid preview collections is held by 3 Idiots, pegged at Rs 2.72 crore. The duration of this film was long and the previews started with the late-night shows. In second place is Kites, whose paid preview collections amounted to Rs 1.74. Here, again, the previews were screened during the late-night show. Both films were allotted only one show in each singleplexs and four to five shows at multiplexes, for their paid previews. The other two films that scored high on their paid previews are – Ghajini at Rs 1.62 crore and recently, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag at Rs 1.05 crore.

UTV Motion Pictures, who is co-producing and distributing Chennai Express, has played its cards very well. The preview shows started at 6 pm, which helped the film get two shows at singleplexes and at least seven to eight shows at multiplexes, considering its runtime of under two and half hours.

Thanks to the strategy, paid previews today are expected to earn a staggering, as of now, Rs 6 crore plus all-India NBOC, the highest-ever so far. It won't be surprising if the film fetches Rs 7 crore or more depending on how the night shows fares. And now it's a foregone conclusion that Chennai Express will take a bumper opening tomorrow. Here's what tradewallahs have to say:

Rajesh Thadani of Multimedia Combines, Mumbai

Chennai Express has witnessed extraordinary advance booking, not only at multiplexes but at single-screens as well. The paid preview shows today will create a new record. In Mumbai, it will cross the magical Rs 2 crore plus collection. The film is expected to break and make many records. The weekend will be phenomenal.

Brijesh Tandon of HK Tandon and Co, Delhi-UP

Chennai Express has all the ingredients of a blockbuster. The collaboration of Shah Rukh Khan teaming up with Rohit Shetty for the first time will be beneficial for everyone associated with the film. The paid preview collections will cross Rs 5 crore all-India and Rs 1 crore in Delhi UP.

Surendra Saluja of Lakshya Movies, East Punjab

The paid preview shows commenced at 6 pm today and, without a doubt, the film will ring in extraordinary numbers. With advance booking skyrocketing, today's paid preview shows should wrap at Rs 35 lakh here. Expect nothing but greatness at the weekend.

Gaurav Gaur of O'Real Imaginations, Rajasthan

With a film as grand as Chennai Express, it is natural to have high expectations. The audience has been waiting for its release for the longest time and this Eid belongs to Shah Rukh Khan. Today, the film will garner Rs 25 lakh in our territory and we expect marvelous numbers for its opening day and weekend. I'm sure the paid previews will bring in over Rs 5 crore today.

Debashish Dey of Aum Moviez, West Bengal

The movie's paid previews will earn Rs 35 lakh in West Bengal today. The weekend is expected to be astonishing as well. The film has set out to break many records, including today's collections.

Ashok Choudhary of Neha Movies, CI

It's a holiday weekend and the audience is enjoying the festivities by starting with Chennai Express. The film is expected to collect Rs 25 lakh today and enjoy a superlative weekend. With advance booking so impressive, we expect the film to ring in great numbers. The numbers are rising rapidly today.

BH Basha of Bahar Enterprises, Mysore

The advance booking for Chennai Express has been overwhelming. Even the weekend shows are already house full so fabulous numbers are ensured. We expect today's collections to be around Rs 40 lakh in this circuit.

Jeetu Khandelwal of Movie Pioneers, Orissa

We have one Inox Multiplex in the Orissa circuit, which has four preview shows today. In addition, there are many shows at single-screens. With a response so phenomenal and massive advance bookings, the film will garner Rs 3 lakh today. Its numbers will be mind-blowing.

Bollywood review: Deepika Padukone outshines SRK in 'Chennai Express'

Rohit Shetty's s(h)tyle of romance relies heavily on buffoonery and will be applauded mainly by Shah Rukh Khan loyalists

A scene from the film 'Chennai Express'.

Boarding 'Chennai Express' comes with its own set of challenges.

Firstly, it's tough to overlook a filmmaker's real intentions, despite a disclaimer about not intending to mock a community, when his jokes are entirely focused on just one region.

Secondly, he unapologetically relies on Bollywood stereotypes, where South Indians speak in a twang that's over-the-top and completely incomprehensible even to South Indians.

Thirdly, director Rohit Shetty is unable to differentiate between neighbouring South Indian states Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In one song, he plugs the dance forms of one state even when it isn't pitched there.

Fourthly, there's a famous track on the 'lungi' dance, even when none of the characters ever dress in one. Instead, they wear the traditional 'mundu' (a white sarong that's respectable men's attire).

But, logic isn't something that we'd associate with this breed of comedies, but, despite these obvious slip-ups, Rohit Shetty's 'Chennai Express' manages to chug along.

K Subash's story starts when forty-something Rahul, who finally sets out to live his life, abruptly bumps into pretty Meenamma.

She's from the South, born into a highly influential criminal family, while he's from the North, born into a rich family that feeds off a sweets business.

Their unplanned train journey forcefully ends at her notorious hometown.

What begins then is a madcap adventure as he tries to escape from the clutches of the gangsters, and she from a marriage she doesn't approve.

Rohit plays to the gallery and lifts many iconic Bollywood situations and invests immensely in buffoonery. He's even got writers Farhad and Sajid pen numerous inane one-liners that mock his and Shah Rukh Khan's earlier movies.

The method isn't novel, but is definitely chuckle-worthy. At least, some of it is.

But Rohit's uneasiness is evident when he's forced to restrict his trademark action thrills to a few scenes, and focus on the funnier escapades instead.

He even changes tracks mid-way, hoping to ride on SRK's famed romantic image, and prompts him to crinkle his nose, flaunt his dimples and directs much attention to his legendary gaze, but with so much madness going around it's tough to take anything serious.

That said, it's Deepika Padukone, who manages to overshadow SRK with her incredible beauty, cute dimples and a consistently over-the-top accent.

Despite being given a character that could easily turn into a caricature, she manages glamour and comedy well. That's an incredible feat considering she's just a few films old.

That said, Rohit obviously gives Shah Rukh immense attention, allowing him to display his vintage antics, and spread his arms in his trademark style at many occasions. Evidently these are crowd-pullers, so SRK loyalists won't be disappointed.

It's notable how Rohit even allots space for Tamil dialogues that are spoken with just as much earnestness as Hindi. That's surely a first in a Bollywood frame.

In fact, Rahul would be Rohit's first hero who doesn't possess superhero powers, and instead cowers when instigated to fight.

It's endearing at times, but the jokes are repeated so often that they lose shine.

Rohit's carnival-like comedy coaxes some laughs, but can leave you exhausted. Make no mistake, 'Chennai Express' is fun, but the kind that Rohit endorses.

The Chennai Express train has finally arrived! So pack your bags and 'Ready, Steady, Po' to take a trip to the colourful, exciting and fun-filled world of Rahul and Meenamma! Being the solo-festive-release this Eid, Chennai Express is expected to take the nation by storm. The film stands strong and tall on the shoulders of the super powerful 'Brand Shahrukh Khan'. The movie promises lot of entertainment and if things go fine in the movie's favour, Shahrukh is sure to cast a magic spell on the audience again.

Our Reviewer is currently watching the movie Chennai Express at the theatre, and we are here to update you with a few interesting tit-bits from the flick.

What is the story all about?
The story of Chennai Express revolves around a 40-year-old bachelor Rahul (Shahrukh Khan), who lands up in a totally unexpected journey, while he travels from Mumbai to Rameshwaram. But, for Rahul what follows is a series of adventures where he finds himself in new surroundings, challenged with an unfamiliar language!

Verdict on performances so far
Shahrukh Khan does a splendid job and is the life of the film. He strikes the right chord amongst the viewers as the romantic hero, but this time, in Rohit Shetty Ishtyle!

Often dubbed as the glam doll, Deepika Padukone for the first time will be seen sporting a stereotypical South Indian avatar. But unfortunately, she offends the South crowd with her over the top accent in the film that mocks a culture in rather poor taste. Though Dippy looks lovely, she still needs to work on getting the emotional parts right.

Verdict so far
The first half of Chennai Express is colourful, fascinating, fun-filled and attention-grabbing. Hopefully, the movie doesn't disappoint us in the second half and the 'entertainment' factor remains till the climax.

We'll be back with the final review at 11 pm tonight, so, till then, stay tuned.

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