Chennai Express - Review

Chennai Express is the very first preview show movie for which I ventured on Thursday. Reaching the Multiplex on time, I discovered that the show was almost Houseful! There were fans like me who have waited too long for the movie to release, wanting to watch it and form their own reactions before the rest of the world does!

Chennai Express is the story of a 40 year old Punjabi man named Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan), who needs to fulfill the last wish of his grandfather and  immerse the former’s ashes in Rameshwaram as per a request of his grandmother (Kamini Kaushal). He sets out from Mumbai on the Chennai Express to befool her, but later realizes that the joke is on him. His Goa-trip plan with his friends goes awry as he literally helps Meena Lochni Azhagasundaram (Deepika Padukone) to hop on the train a la DDLJ style. But, he also helps four hefty men (her cousins) who are following her! Meena is the “bada twist” who changes his life. 

 

Meena is the daughter of a local Don (Sathyaraj) of Kumban village with wide Southern influence. Turns out that Meena is on the run as she doesn’t wish to marry her 'Appa-ke-Friend-ka-Beta', Thangabali (Niketan Dheer), a groom her father has fixed to better his power quotient. 

Meena claims- “Bhaagne mein mera bahut experience hai!” She concocts a tale with 3 untruths that she’s in love with Rahul. Needless to say, what began as lies, becomes the truth later! 

But, Rahul is even ready to change his nationality to avoid the Kumban village!

 

What happens next? 

How is Rahul’s journey? 

Is he successful in completing the task at Rameshwaram? 

Does Meena get what she wants? 

Does her father oblige? 

What are the twists and turns of this story?

 

All is well that ends well with the ultimate aim- ‘Kalyanam!’ (Marriage) as the Don acknowledges that Rahul is the “REAL Man”. 

“You Win- Meena Tera”, he says. 

That’s when I felt that Meena is an ‘item’ that can be won!  In an earlier scene, to save his life, Rahul is ready to hand over the ‘item’ to Thangabali. But, now he cutely asks her consent for Kalyanam!

 

This Rohit Shetty directed-film had to have fight-sequences involving bangles, plastic items, steel goods, glass, cold-drinks, Tea, Burning Shop, Car-Explosions & overturning, Steel Bucket, Sickle, Spade…

It also has great acting by all the characters especially the lead actors- Deepika and SRK. I felt this was Deepika Padukone's one of the finest roles. She is emerging from strength to strength with touching performances. The songs with Vishal-Sekhar’s music are already making waves! 

I noticed that after Rahul's Nokia Lumia 920- phone loss, Chennai Express has no touch with any digital technology. No computer or cellphone anywhere in the picture; just traditions and village-life.

Likes

• Chennai Express is a simple, honest, neat and clean movie in which the power of the common man wins! 
• We can watch it with the whole family. 
• I loved the choice of the locations where the Chennai Express movie has been shot- lush greenery, nice scenery, superb aerial views, authentic look and feel village-setting.
• Loved the dialogues, witty-one-liners, humour, performances & cinematography, picturisation. 
• Rahul says- My name is Rahul & I’m not a Terrorist!
  
  
• Style is conversational & witty– “Shuruat se shuru karte hain!” 
  
  
• Super-energetic, peppy songs with unique comic facial expressions & jhakaas dances with a riot of colours! Special mention to PriyaMani, who has danced so well in the song- '1-2-3-4-Get On The Dance Floor!'! Really urges us to do just that! I loved the bright 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari' song picturisation with Indian Cultural display - Kathakali Dancers, Tiger-Stripes-body-painted dancers... (Did anyone wonder- how come Meena’s accent  & pronunciation in all the songs is so good?! Don’t underestimate the power of Hindi films!)

• Rahul upholds values and does not run away with Meena!  Proves himself to be worthy of her and earns her hand!
• Chennai Express echoes current sentiments. Climax Scene has reference about the ‘66^th Year of Independence’ and taking daughters’ ‘Marzi & Khushi’ (consent & happiness) into consideration.
  
  Chennai Express is a typical Masala Film with Action-Comedy-Romance-Emotions-Drama in good proportions! It's a fun roller-coaster ride! 

Notable scenes-

1. Song Messages!
   
2. ‘Meet me at the Store-Room’
   
3. Rahul's head-nodding based on Meena's explanation
   
4. Meena’s night sleep ‘problem’
5. Temple Steps Scene 
   
6. Meena heading inside the home to get Rahul's grandfather's ashes.
   
7. Climax Scenes -Rahuls’ conversation with Meena’s father; Rahuls’ offer for fight for Meena; Rahul’s sweet but comic 4-Question Kalyanam proposal to Meena

Concerns

-          Lots of Tamil without Sub-titles- Though Meenamma & Inspector Samsher do the translating in some scenes, there are many scenes in which I wished there were sub-titles on screen.

-          Lots of power-packed action in the Climax-  Rahul is shown to be mercilessly  beaten up & crashed into so many stalls and vehicles by Thangabali.

-          TTE getting shockingly thrown out of the train- Why throw the TTE out at all? Later, I thanked God that he was safe.

-          Overdose of DDLJ-  Deja-Vu…Wanting to live as per own wish & see the world (Rahul says this to his grandma), Helping-board-the-Train sequence, DDLJ tune/music, taking consent of girl’s father/family, getting beaten up by the girl’s fiancé...

 

-    I was disappointed with Rahul’s initial attitude towards his grandparents. Imagine planning to immerse the Ashes in a river in Goa that would ultimately carry it to Rameshwaram! Luckily, Meena’s responsible nature and sensible talks brings about the change in him to do the right thing, just as per his grandparents wish. I loved it when Meena responsibly collected the Ashes-container.

 Some Gyaan-

1. ‘The best way to escape your problems is to face them.'
   
2. 'It is good to be important, but more important to be good.'
   
3. 'Never underestimate the power of a common man!'
   

Note for you- 

Travel light on Chennai Express without carrying any load or baggage & just sit back, relax and enjoy the journey! You are guaranteed to cover miles with action & smiles! 

Have you boarded the Chennai Express yet? Come on, Ready, Steady, Po!

This has my views of Chennai Express. If you liked this post and my Blog, request you to please post comments below and do follow my Blog! 

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