Chennai Express - Reviews & BO Updates Thread!! - Page 28

Chennai Express movie review

Star- Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sathyaraj, Nikitin Dheer;

Director- Rohit Shetty; Music- Vishal & Shekha

The comedy along with the action is rarely served with equal entertainment in today's cinema. We discern Rohit Shetty for his mass leisure which includes cars fluttering from the unknown corners and comedy which isn't slapstick but works

What is amusing here is how Shetty keeps these two triumphing facets at the forth and submerges it with Southern touch along with SRK's trademark romance in 'Chennai Express'. Though for some it might sound a mix and mash of numerous odd ingredients which might produce a sour recipe in the end. But here is where Rohit excels in. He carries the intriguing premises with responsibility without exploiting or hurtling any regional sentiments.

He brings out the regional diction out of Deepika (who chews the words and deliver it with finesse) so brilliantly that one might mistake her as South actress, though we know that she will be star opposite Rajinikanth soon.


Rohit Shettyy has shot Kerela beautifully. He allows his cameraman to zoom into the attractive hilly locales like Meeshapulimala, Devikulam Lake, Kannimala and Wagavara. Letting the intoxicating beauty prevail, Rohit wastes no extra duration to bring forth his business of combat which shifts the focus from the blooming romance of Deepika-SRK to the initial avenge.

It begins when Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) a well educated man from North India is on a vacation. He boards in Chennai Express by mistake where he meets Meenamma ( Deepika Padukone) a south Indian girl whose father is a well known don. Some goons kill the ticket checker of the train whose sole witnesses are Rahul and Meena.

Meena takes Rahul to her city until the matter calms down. How Rahul gets rid of the dirty gangster game that is how the story revolves around.

With an army of heavy assailants and a big queue of sedans, the screen never looks light-weighted. With characters like Durgeshwara, a don in Tamil Nadu (played by Sathyaraj) and Tangaballi (Nikiteen Dheer) the battle looks one-sided but Shah Rukh's tricks (action resembling Karan-Arjun) balances it all.

If we consider SRK's performance he is back as a charming Rahul who is a romantic feat action hero. His screen presence is delightful which none could replace. He tickles your funny bone, makes you emotional at times and when it comes to action he doesn't exploits but takes the punch and delivers the same with full strength.

Deepika playing his lady love after 'Om Shanti Om' is surprisingly amusing. Her Southern dialect sounds cute and she looks innocent and beautiful.

The veteran star Sathyaraj leaves a desired effect with his villainous act and this would surely bring him more glory. The muscular Nikitin Dheer is good.

Music by Vishal-Shekhar is great. However, before its release the music wasn't the high point of the flick but there is some vitality which you can't ignore and would love to watch the songs on Youtube. Kashmir se Kanya Kumari and Tera Rasta tracks are my favourite

Movie Review: Grab a bucket of popcorn, sit back and enjoy the ride as Chennai Express is here to entertain

It has all the ingredients -- big star cast, drama, action, comedy, songs, the car chases and the big finish, all delivered in Rohit Shetty's unapologetic ishtyle.

Film: Chennai Express
Ratings: ***1/2
Directed by: Rohit Shetty
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Niketan Dheer, and Satyaraj

What it's about:
This isn't Inception.The story isn't very different from all the the boy-meets girl you've been watching for decades. You know from the beginning what will happen. You have seen it many times before but the beauty is that you know whats coming, and you still want it. Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) embarks on a journey to fulfill the last wish of his grandfather: to have his ashes immersed in the Holy water of Rameshwaram. He meets Meena (Deepika Padukone) on the train and while attempting to rescue her from kidnappers gets caught up in her mess. Thus begins his journey to her village, her people, and how her fight becomes his fight. It's a refreshing light-headed cocktail of love and laughs. The director stays true to his style and his audience. It is clean, colorful and comical.

What's good:
This is a treat for all Hindi film lovers. It has it all you'd expect from a big commercial masala film. It has all the ingredients -- big star cast, drama, action, comedy, songs, the car chases and the big finish, all delivered in Rohit Shetty's unapologetic ishtyle. For SRK fans, it is an even bigger treat. The actor returns to what he does best -- romance. But it isn't the sacrificing and soppy love of Jab Tak Hai Jaan. This one is a crowd-pleaser. The film begins with a flashback with Rahul growling like a wild animal, and then he tells just how he got there. Among the things that crop up in Rahul and Meena's misadventures: Her dad's stolen car, a dwarf in the middle of the forest, a walk up 300 steps of a temple and drama at high-seas! SRK is in his elements whether he is beating up a village full of people, romancing Meena, beating up the big baddie or faking bravado when faced with four hefty goons. Deepika delivers yet another fantastic performance. She stays in character throughout and matches her co-star's energy and enthusiasm whether it is singing dialogues or fighting goondas. It's impossible to watch this movie impassively. Chennai Express has the the kind of flourish that makes you smile. Watch out for the crazy references in songs and scenes to Shah Rukh's previous films. Overall, this is a bubblegum blockbuster.

What's not:
There is just too much Tamil in Chennai Express. There I said it. There are long dialogues between actors in Tamil, and while one doe understand what is being conveyed, it is still tedious. This is what it must feel to the rest of India, when they watch Hindi films with an overdose of Punjabi (songs/scenes) in Hindi films.The different being that Punjabi is similar to Hindi, and most people understand it. Not the case with Tamil. While Shah Rukh and Deepika are enough to light up the scene, you begin to miss other familiar faces in terms of character actors, who are always a part of Rohit's other films like the Golmaals, Bol Bachchan andSingham. Here, with all the south flavour, one often wonders if there are south actors in Hindi film or if it is a south film starring SRK and Deepika. It isn't convincing when Rahul suddenly speaks Tamil in the climax, and the very people who didn't understand Hindi earlier now comprehend everything. There is also boos boos like not a single scratch on the car, after it has been repeatedly banged from both sides, the injury on Rahul's lip getting wiped out afterMeena touches it but badi badi film on main aisi chhoti chhoti galtiyaan hoti rehti hain.

What to do:
The sole purpose of Chennai Express is to entertain. And that it does. So grab a bucket of popcorn, sit back and enjoy the ride.