Chennai Express Review: Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone

After months of anticipation and release date hassles and an extended promotion campaign which can only be termed as a promotion blitzkrieg, Chennai Express finally chugs into theatres today. The expectations from the film are evidently huge because Chennai Express marks the coming together of one of the country’s biggest Superstars with one of the biggest directors in the form of Rohit Shetty. Other factors are also with it.
The Eid release, Deepika Padukone as the lead actress and the masala commercial genre. For obvious purposes, this film is not aiming to be critically acclaimed. And, the critic reviews aren’t even going to matter when it comes to its Box office returns.

Chennai ExpressChennai Expres Movie Review: Starring Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone

Story: Chennai Express is about a 40 year old guy named Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) who has been under the care of his grandparents. He has to go from Mumbai to Rameshwaram to immerse his dead grandfather’s ashes. And the train journey brings a great twist in his life. He witnesses a murder on the aptly titled, Chennai Express and has to travel with the goons to their village. Also accompanying them is the daughter of the local don, Meenamma (Deepika Padukone). Then the story finally moves forward in the train, then in the village. All of this was evident from the trailer itself, and I am not going to spoil the movie for you by giving away the storyline.

Screenplay and Direction: Chennai Express is not unlike any of Rohit Shetty’s previous films. But it is not a Golmaal 3 (full comedy) or Singham (full action masala) either. Chennai Express has elements of all the genres that make up a masala entertainer in Hindi cinema – it has shades of romance, action, drama, but the overlying emotion is comedy. The jokes don’t always come together and the gags border on lameness, but don’t tell me you went to watch a Rohit Shetty film expecting it to make sense! Unlike Ramaiya Vastavaiya which was a total wreck even in the masala romance genre, Chennai Express does manage to save face with Rohit Shetty’s past experience of superhit films coming to rescue the film. The film is mostly always enjoyable and illicits quite a few laughs when it is self-aware about the type of film they are attempting. And no, I don’t think anyone in South India should be offended by anything in the film because the jokes come across as harmless, even though a bit forced.

Miscellaneous: The other aspects of the film are appropriate for the masala genre. The cinematography does justice to the planning of the shots, but the production design is patchy. It lacks the component of class unlike Shah Rukh Khan’s past few films. The editing is there. The editor seemed to bring the film down to a respectable 140 minutes, so that’s a job well done, I am assuming. The costume designs are a bit stereotypical and loud as expected from masala films like Chennai Express.

Music: Although the music has been termed as average ever since the album was released in the public domain, the late inclusion of Lungi Dance has made things better for the album. Kashmir Main Tu Kanyakumari is colourful and joyous and is a treat to watch on the big screen. 1234, Titli, Tera Rastaa Na Chhodoon Na might not stay with you after the film but they are enjoyable in their own right. All in all, the soundtrack is not a disappointment but it is also not a classic commercial movie soundtrack.

Acting: Chennai Express requires Shah Rukh Khan just to play himself or even ham it up when required. And that is exactly what he has done. He has hammed it a bit, but that’s what this film needed. His comic timing is also very good. He seems to have had a lot of fun playing Rahul. But the person who will be talked about the most after Chennai Express is Deepika Padukone. Her accent is a total laugh riot and so is she! She thankfully doesn’t overdo the accent as was being feared by many. Her dialogues and accent could become iconic if the film becomes a big hit. Nikitin Dheer is menacing as Tangaballi and is fine in this film although his acting skills are questionable. Sathyaraj , the famous Tamil actor, plays Deepika’s father in the film and is good enough for his first outing in Hindi cinema. Mukesh Tiwari is funny as the cop.

Conclusion: The film works because the dull moments are few and far between. The South Indian flavour might put off a few but nobody would be offended. The first half of the film is genuinely funny and the second half lags behind a bit. But the climax is great. That increases the box office chances of the film by a great deal. Forget the film reviews by us snobby critics and go watch Chennai Express and usher in the Eid festivities. This train is anything but a train-wreck.

Box Office: The opening of the film is going to be record-breaking and will help the film create news. I expect the film to be liked by the family and mass audiences. Not that the ‘classes’ will hate it. 150cr is a target that shouldn’t be beyond the reach of Chennai Express.

Positives:

  • The brisk pace of the film
  • The entertainment quotient and funny set-pieces
  • The action scenes are typical Rohit Shetty ishtyle
  • Lungi Dance and Kashmir Kanyakumari song
  • SRK and Deepika Padukone

Negatives:

  • Production Design
  • Over the top and forced jokes

Rating: ★★★½☆ 3 and a half stars.

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88 Comments

  • Is this a review from a critic or a review of srk fanatic. Why dont you judge the movie normally. For every negative aspect u have come up with a line supporting as this is a masala genre. Very bad review

  • just seen reviews on twitter by other film critics who agree with u and are saying the the south accent of deepika is soo awesome and that chennai express is lots of fun especially the second part. they also added that the chemistry between shahrukh khan and deepika is even better than om shanti om rohit shetty style.

  • Just returned from the show. And all I can say is, in ready to get on the train again. Srk was awesome in his comedy timing. Loved the film!! U don’t feel like its a rohit shetty film. U feel like its a shahrukh khan film!

  • @indicine

    here is genuine review:

    1st half average with cheap jokes.
    forced comedy.
    atleast 50% dialogues are in Malayalam.lang
    some funny scenes.
    means first half very avg.

    and 2nd half is horrible really horrible
    very irritating

    no story at all
    screenplay doesn’t hold interest of viewers

    and yes there are three songs in just 25 mins of beginning… sooo boring….

    over all total WASTE OF MONEY.

    really people have rejected ChennaiExpress

  • the tamil nadu critics seem to be loving deepika’s accent as seen on their websites sections. i guess with a south cast, they did do justise to the south part and made it fun . the train part and the titli part seem to be one of the movie highlights

  • I m over excited now……can’t wait that much for chennai express……by review, it seems ce will get a bumper opening and it has a chance to create new records too…..

    @indicine…..how would u compare ce with “oso” and “mhn”…..does ce has something like “oso” and “mhn”…??? or it has a fully south flavor????

    • @xzone, I didn’t like OSO at all! Main Hoon Na is one of my favourite Shahrukh Khan films. I would say this is somewhere in between, a little over the top, but entertaining.

      Yes, full-on South Indian :)

  • well if now also srk cnt break ready record of 123 cr. than he should stop aplauding him as king.
    #bestofluck srk

  • First half is superb. Almost no songs and the pace of movie is great till 1st half. Problem comes in second half, song after song and then again song makes the film drag. Film could have been great if it was 1.45 hours long. It’s typical bollywood problem. But overall movie is enjoyable. SRK looks great and hats off to deepika.

  • BLOCKBUSTER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But a sincere request to SRK – Masala films like these are good once in a while. But please give us ore films like Swades and Chak De! India.

  • Fun ride…but the climax was not upto the mark..!! overall an entertaining movie with the right mix of comedy romance n action!! one time watch …surely!!!

  • 3.5 is good but not so great. But i am very happy public resposes are excellent, its the only key of any films success or make the film blockbuster despite fake reviews. After reading the review i am 100% sure ce perhaps won’t won filmfare next year but it will win the boxoffice battle and our hearts.

  • excellent reviewe here and everywhere else which is not the case with other rohit shetty films now it has good chances of crossing 150cr mark which would make it first blockbuster of srk after long time

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