Chalo Dilli Review

Cast:

Vinay Pathak    Manu Gupta

Lara Dutta        Mihika Mukherjee

Story -

Mihika Mukherjee aka Behenji is an upmarket investment banker who can differentiate between 'marine blue' and 'sea green' with ease. She misses her flight to Delhi and lands in Jaipur. Manu Gupta aka Bhai-sahab is an obnoxious country bumpkin who sells sarees in Karol Bagh and can easily identify American Georgette from chiffon and crepe fabrics. The story begins when these two characters who are as different as chalk and cheese, forced to travel together to a common destination, Delhi.

Review -

The concept of the film is not new and is most often predictable. However the fresh pairing of the lead actors is something to look forward to. In parts, the film does reminds the audience of Imtiaz Ali's Jab We Met. Especially when incorporating desi elements like dhabas, camel carts, a shady hotel and an almost deserted railway station. The film is filled with quirky and witty one-liners which makes it genuinely funny and not a mindless or a slapstick comedy. Element of romance is eliminated between the two characters and the bond building happens through restrained conversations that begin with Bhai-sahab andBehenji. The item song Laila featuring Yana Gupta does not provide enough excitement. The film falls flat when the climax is unnecessary stretched to give space to emotional gooeyness.

The crisp editing makes the film enjoyable. The cinematography could have been way better when capturing rural settings in the course of the journey.

Talking of performances, Vinay Pathak is confident with his portrayal of a simpleton Manu Gupta, which he had already done before with films like Bheja Fry. Lara Dutta is the surprise package in the film as she displays good comic timing and outshines Vinay Pathak with her portrayal of snobbish and uppity almost diva like character.

On the whole, 'Chalo Dilli' is hearty entertainment and is worth a watch.

Ratings -

3 out of 5 stars

Dum Maaro Dum Review

Dumdaar Style, but lacks Substance.

Cast:
Abhishek Bachchan    ACP Vishnu Kamat
Prateik Babbar           Laurie
Rana Daggubati         DJ Joki
Bipasha Basu             Zoe
Aditya Pancholi          Lorsa Biscuita  


Story –
ACP Vishnu Kamat was a corrupt cop who turns crusader after the untimely death of his wife and child. He is then handed the mammoth task to clean up Goa of all its illegal activities. In the course of his crusade he apprehends Laurie, a teenager who is used by the drug mafia as a carrier. Joki, a musician who has lost his love, Zoe, to the drug mafia, wants to help Laurie and partners with the ACP. A drug king pin Lorsa Biscuita is responsible for the security of a drug consignment worth crores. Lastly, there is a mysterious Michael Barbosa who has never been seen. Let the chase begin.


Review –
The narrative in the first half of the movie hooks you to each character and their backstory. But somewhere in the beginning of the second half, the narrative fades to the point of being dull. The only reprise, for some, is the title track featuring Deepika Padukone.
The cinematography by Amit Roy and the editing by Aarif Shaikh are the highlights of the film. Dialogues penned by Purva Naresh are fun and entertaining. They fit in perfectly with situations, at least in most parts of the film. The background score by Midival Punditz is worth mentioning.
In terms of performances, Abhishek Bachchan portrays ACP Vishnu Kamat with a punch, but still has a long way to go in terms of the original ‘Angry Young Man’. Prateik Babbar is one actor who surprises with each passing film. Rana Daggubati makes an admirable debut. Bipasha is good as the glam factor. Aditya Pancholi does a decent job. Govind Namdeo and Anaitha Nair leave a mark.
The movie has all the style and glamour to pimp it up, but lacks the same efficiency on the screenplay front. Dum Maaro Dum makes for a decent one time watch. 

Ratings -

3 out of 5