July 08, 2011
Cast: Naman Jain, Irrfan Khan, Sanath Menon, Rohan Grover
Director: Vikas Bahl and Nitesh Tiwari
Good ideas don’t always translate into good films. Chillar Party is one such well-intentioned movie with a message for children and adults alike. It starts off promisingly enough, but loses all track of its audience and script, turning into a confused mess by the time it drags to the end. And yet, it is to the credit of the enthusiastic, pint-sized cast and Chillar Party’s two writer-directors, Vikas Bahl and Nitesh Tiwari, that you feel that at least in portions, this film is both sweet and fun.
The film’s title refers to a kiddie gang of young boys belonging to Chandan Nagar colony – a rambunctious group of imps with nicknames like Second-Hand, Encyclopaedia, Silencer, Jhangiya and the rather politically incorrect-sounding one, Panauti. To this motley crew joins the less privileged Fatka, an orphan who earns his keep by washing the cars in Chandan Nagar’s compound and who bunks in an abandoned car with his faithful dog Bhidu. After a shaky start, the Chillar Party gang becomes firm friends with Fatka and Bhidu, and this part is endearing; the lengths that each of them will go to for the sake of friendship.
Yet all of this is threatened by a grim and glowering politician who, for reasons I still haven’t quite understood, becomes determined on getting Bhidu captured by the dog pound. The neta’s agenda comes across as confused, and suddenly Chillar Party takes a turn for the absurd.
To save their beloved four-legged friend Bhidu, the Chillar Party gang takes up a signature campaign to get a No Objection Certificate from the colony’s residents. When all else fails, this group of boys takes out – wait for it – an underwear campaign that has crowds of Mumbai’s kids join in. The sight of all these children marching the streets in their underwear isn’t cute; in fact it feels exploitative, and to a large extent unsavoury.
The problem with Chillar Party is that it goes about a completely convoluted way to deliver a sweet message. Apart from the fact that the kids here fight for what is right, it also subtly talks about erasing the class divide. Yet where the film could have been warm and cute, the minister angle in the plot botches it up. It also drags on endlessly, so while the children are endearing — especially the terrific Naman Jain who plays Jhangiya — you’ve run out of patience long before the film is over.
I’m going with two-and-a-half out of five for Chillar Party. It isn’t half bad, but the party pooper here is a script that has no direction home.
(This review first aired on CNN-IBN)
nice movie
Comment by satpal dhanda — July 9, 2011 @ 11:29 am
GUYS DO WATCH THIS ONE ITS WORTH YOUR 100 rupees but not more than that qustion is how’ll u be able to get tickets this cheap as delhi and mumbai have started competing with new jersey and boston as far as the ticket rates are concerned but don’t even think of cathching murder2 its a goulash of hollywood gore relying heavily on silence of the lambs and hostel series to name a few its funny emraan hashmi’s hairdo resembles jodie foster’s hairstyle for 1991 oscar winning film’silence of the lambs’.they have even copied the deep well scene its pathetic though as rip offs can go awefully wrong like this one,looking for fun check out part one on blu ray or dvd or vcd according to ur aukaat.
Comment by shobhit — July 9, 2011 @ 7:04 pm
“Chillar party” – 3 stars – plzz watch it – dnt miss the beginning- its funny and sensitive movie based in a colony(wonder where such colonies exits anymore in mumbai-wow balconies!!) where the kids are trying t protect a stray dog – its a good 2.5 hrs movie and u shld go with full family and all ur known kids around – also u won’t be scrambling for I’d cards as its U rated and its “young at heart” too – elders just beware tht u won’t be able t catch ur kids eye(smiling stare) post movie…salu bhai is the producer…
Comment by Rajiv — July 11, 2011 @ 10:43 am
surprised that u found parts of this movie exploitative and unsavoury – man u r losing ur taste or rather becoming too elite after ur karan johar shows and stuff.. just give it a thght boss that u of all had loved delhi belly – i am sure tht served ur taste ….all teh best to u man
Comment by Rajiv — July 11, 2011 @ 10:55 am
whenever i any new movie used to release i always first checked what rajeev has to say and then i used to decide wether i have to see that movie or not. but thank got this time i went ahead and saw chillar party without carrying what rajeev has to say. after watching this movie the first thing that came on to my mind how on earth can rajeev give mere two and a half stars for such a wonderful movie? i am not a rajeev masand fan anymore.
Comment by urvesh — July 13, 2011 @ 11:54 am
Who cares about your reviews? Its a wonderful movie guys.
Comment by Priya — July 15, 2011 @ 4:51 am
I think the neta started out correctly with his motive of increasing his own publicity and creating an issue and a very valid one at that – of removing stray dogs from the city… but got caught in an endless lust of power and fame without his lack of sympathy for the kids and the orphan….
All in all, the kids present a wonderful show and teach all of us a lesson… Specially Janghia…!!
Also I liked how the parents’ supportive nature is portrayed as is more common these days for kids than before…
Comment by Mayank Gupta — July 22, 2011 @ 3:15 am
And an honest review I would say… the end is stretched a bit… the chaddhi campaign did go a bit extra mile to the television show….
Comment by Mayank Gupta — July 22, 2011 @ 3:17 am
i had no idea when this movie was releasd….
but when i saw it …i saw it twice the same day………n i bet u surely will luv dis JHANGIYA..boy…
its awesome light hearted n worth watchin
Comment by debi prasad — July 27, 2011 @ 12:21 am
IF a movie makes you smile is good, if a movie make you cry is good but if a movie can make you both at a time its best. Chillar party is one of such rare movie. I do not understand why these all critics have given 2-3 stars to such a wonderful movie. If a name of SRK or Aamir is attached to this movie then all illiterate critics have given it 4-5 stars like they always do.
Only one question to all critics yaar tum movie me technicality kyon search karte ho???? Exam deni hai kya???
Seems they are not paid for this movie to give it 4-5 stars. If you give 4-5 stars to Kaminey and DEV D then Why only 2.5 for such a sweet film?????
Just move out of the chair and just even think even of such a good plot. And ask other to review it.
Guys Do not believe in any critics and their stars they are fake or bought.
Just go an watch this movie and write your be a critic’s critic.
P.S
To all critics
If you have your own kids take them to watch this movie, ask them and earn a big smile on their faces this will be your true stars.
Comment by hardik — September 6, 2011 @ 10:02 pm