April 29, 2011
Cast: Lara Dutta, Vinay Pathak, Brijendra Kala
Director: Shashant Shah
She’s an uppity investment banker who doesn’t suffer fools. He’s a boorish but well-meaning klutz who has a problem shutting up. Missed flights and car breakdowns leave Lara Dutta and Vinay Pathak’s characters with no option but to hit the road together from Jaipur to Delhi, hitching rides in trucks, camel-carts, and trains, and at one point in an overcrowded jeep owned by local goons.
Blatantly ripped off from John Hughes’ cult hit Planes, Trains and Automobiles, in which a pair of unlikely companions are forced to make a long road trip together, Chalo Dilli starts off smoothly but becomes a repetitive and predictable mess when its writers fail to fully exploit the comic possibilities of such a ripe scenario. For laughs the script relies on farting and belching jokes, and the standard discomfort that arises when you throw a snotty diva and a pan-chewing hick together.
There’s also an unnecessary subplot about an inter-gang rivalry that our protagonists get inadvertently involved in, and a lecture on corruption that is squeezed into the film, but makes no sense here.
Both Lara and Vinay’s characters are complete stereotypes: He’s the coarse bumpkin with a good heart, she’s the ‘independent’ woman too focused on her career to start a family. Mercifully, we’re spared a romantic track between the two, but Chalo Dilli does end with a twist that is both shamelessly manipulative and entirely predictable.
Save for a few moments of inspired lunacy provided by Vinay Pathak, this is one bumpy ride you don’t need to take. I’m going with two out of five for director Shashant Shah’s Chalo Dilli. After some 36 hours on Rajasthan’s dusty roads, Lara Dutta doesn’t have one hair out of place or even a slight lipstick smudge. This is that kind of movie!
(This review first aired on CNN-IBN)
mast movie hai sir..not at all boring….4/5
Comment by murtuza — April 30, 2011 @ 10:17 am
I really feel bad about the review you make. Your one bad statement about an average good movie also makes an impact on the movie collection budget. Since people do read your reviews and share with others and and make up the opinion about it.
After watching the same movie on TV or DVD they realize that they missed a good movie watching in theatre.
Please change your review making approach taking into account all the section of society.
Your reviews are only confined to the elite section population of this country. But Dear Sir, 70% of our population does not think the way you think. We need movies with entertainment, enlightment rooted to our culture.
So please categorize your reviews stating that so and so movie is for common man or multiplex junta. Because aajkal even aamjunta can access your reviews on their phone and by reading your reviews they cancel a plan to watch a move and it directly affects the movie industry and in some way it also affect your industry.
The only reason iam writing this comment is my frustration on seeing you for a long period just reviewing only negative about movies which are worth watching.
Please if you feel your not made to watch an hindi movie you please only review HOLLYWOOD movies.
Please try to change whole country will appreciate you.
Comment by ANKIT — April 30, 2011 @ 4:59 pm
i agree with each n every word of ankit…u really need to change you attitude …and stop giving poor rating to a good movie..
Comment by pooja — May 1, 2011 @ 11:36 am
i think d television version of review is better.but i dnt like some of ur reviews.but not bad either.in “open” magazine u mentioned salman khan’s upcoming movie bodyguard, a telugu remake.actually it’s a remake of a malayalam film of the same name.
Comment by shambhunath — May 1, 2011 @ 8:48 pm
I thought the movie had a lovely subtle message to the end about how one should not worry about unnecessary things in life and see the bigger picture. Acting of course was wonderful – both Lara and Pathak. But in reality, it is hard to practise what the movie preaches. Life is that way – as long as we live we have to fight fire with fire and one man’s issue may be another man’s smile. So it’s easy to say ‘take it éasy’.
Also, the movie shows the Bengali couple on the train as continuously cribbing about the system whereas Pathak manages things around him – by hook or by crook. In the end, the movie signs off as ‘the bengali couple continued to blame the system”. In reality though, definitely what is gained by crook or hook is not a fair system. Movies of today should preach changes to the system- not acceptance of how it is, especially if it is not a fair system. We need change for the better, especially in India, so that basic day to day living becomes easier for every man – rich or poor, without him having to do anything hook or by crook.
Comment by Janz — May 2, 2011 @ 12:08 pm
Mr Rajeev
after reading your review about Chalo Dilli, I only want to say one thing to you, just quit your job as a movie reviewer. You got no sense or taste about a good movie. Might be you are a big fan of fancy cinema..
Comment by Gaurav Kumar — May 2, 2011 @ 4:01 pm
very very apt review. Every word i agree with. its just about 2 stars. I started enjoying first 30 mins and then its all pain. what a waste:(
Comment by mallik — May 4, 2011 @ 3:08 am
Hi Rajeev, your comments are greatly appreciated by people including and most of them follow your rating and plan accordingly to go for it or leave. Slightly disappointed about the review of Challo Dilli. It is Good Movie, Surely deserve 31/2 *. This is not a bored trip actually tag line should be Don’t miss the Summer Trip.
Comment by Sachin — May 4, 2011 @ 8:05 pm
movie deserves only two stars so very rightly reviewed by rajeev sir………..
Comment by Ajhay — May 6, 2011 @ 9:33 pm
Grow up rajeev……….By grow up I really mean it………….Come on man you certainely aren’t expecting french cinema out here …………….The movie is much better than any other averege flix…….nice proceedings with a superb end altogether a full paisa vassol movie……Kudos to Vinay Pathak…………….Rajeev take a cue from the movie only to be positive and also I would request you to know the taste and sensibility of Indian viewers and then do your job.
Comment by parul kumar — May 14, 2011 @ 7:27 pm
I am a fan of your reviews; but this time i m bit disappointed. Chalo Dilli is such a simple movie about a superb person. This movie gives us a message too.
Don’t know why I can’t think like you and i did a crime of superliking this movie. A simple, full entertainer this was. 5 out oof 5.
Comment by Umesh — May 16, 2011 @ 10:00 pm
Hi Bhai logo,
‘Kaunsi Badi baat hogi’, Galti to Insaan se hi hoti hai….. Hope Rajeev will change his attitude towards these super class off-beat movies…
Comment by Umesh — May 16, 2011 @ 10:03 pm
I watched the movie and i totally agree with Rajeev, this was just a ‘ainwai’ movie, not worth more than 2 stars, Rajeev- we love you, you are the only person who deserve to be a movie critic. Taran Adarsh and team can give any movie a cool 4 stars, please keep the good job.
God bless you and Thank you.
– Ashish
Comment by Ashish Kumar — June 3, 2011 @ 8:37 pm
Absolutely right sir……..
Go on with your job as i think you are the best critic ……..
Don’t worry about people who keep on just bicker
Comment by Nimesh Patel — June 25, 2011 @ 1:00 am
rajeev sir…i really appreciate ur reviews nd thnk u r d bst critic…bt challo dilli is a wndrful,heart tuchng movie wd d msg of optimstic perspctv…it defntly desrves a 3 or 3 nd 1/2….
Comment by Medha Ghosh — July 12, 2011 @ 5:40 pm