After the super successful Singh Is King, Akshay Kumar is back with Chandni Chowk to China produced by Warner Bros, one of the largest production houses in Hollywood. The film directed by Nikhil Advani (Kal Ho Na Ho, Salaam-e-Ishq) also stars Deepika Padukone and Ranvir Shorey along with Mithun Chakraborty in a cameo. Chinese Martial Arts actors Gordon Liu (Kill Bill) and Roger Yuan are also a part of the movie.
The pre release hype has been huge, with talks of Akshay Kumar turning into a global sensation and extending his fan-following further. Trade pundits believe, with decent word of mouth, Chandni Chowk To China can in fact beat the Rs 200 crores (worldwide gross) record set by Aamir Khan’s Ghajini in less than 3 weeks. Does Nikhil Advani – Akshay Kumar deliver? Or do they need to? Welcome, Singh Is Kinng and many other Akshay Kumar comedies, being mediocre at best, have worked big time at the box-office.
Sidhu (Akshay Kumar) is an uneducated naïve yet a superstitious man hailing in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Despite the kicks and advises from his Dada (Mithun Chakroborty), down on his luck this vegetable cutter from the paranthe wali galli visits all possible saint’s, tarot reader’s and baba’s in search of any form of luck. Just when he had given up all hopes of getting something out of the luck charms to make his life, two men from China come in search of him claiming him to be the reincarnation of a war hero from the past and with an offer to take him to China. Sidhu blissfully sets forth to China with Guru Chopstick (Ranvir Shorey) who instigates dreams of a delicious future and forgets to reveal the menace which awaits him. He dreams of a wonderful life with his dream girl, who he calls Ms. TSM (Deepika Padukone), on his way to china. Will this clumpsy weak man live to the hopes of the villagers in fighting against evil and buy them their freedom?
Chandni Chowk To China Review
Akshay Kumar himself claimed recently that the movie lacks sense. Chandni Chowk To China not just lacks sense but rather has no story. Unfortunately, the movie is poorly directed and mostly filled with over the top performances. The first half is a complete drag; the pace is extremely slow and the film is completely dependent on Akshay Kumar and his by now trademark antics to carry it along. But watching his previous 10 odd back to back films with the very same mannerisms, it’s getting awfully hard to sit through.
The second half is better, the action is great but the climax is as flat as a cola without fizz. After all the build up, which consumes the entire second half, a thrilling climax is the least you can hope for. You expect it to be a serious combat between the good and the evil, but the director has instead opted to make it funny. Funny it is, but convincing; it isn’t.
The action is top class, going by the standards of Hindi films. Choreography is brilliant and the way Tere Naina is picturized is nice. The music is good, the Chandni Chowk To China Title song and the S.I.D.H.U track stands out.
Akshay Kumar is getting extremely repetitive with his characters. It’s the same as what you saw in many of his previous films. He’s hilarious at times but while you watch him perform, you get the seen-those-a-million-times-before kind of feeling. Why can’t a capable actor, commanding super popularity, with many talented directors eager to sign him on; attempt something different?
Deepika Padukone looks stunning and has put in a lot of effort into those action sequences. In a negative role, as a Chinese, Deepika is brilliant. Mithun Chakraborty is fine in a short role. The talented Ranvir Shorey disappoints. The Chinese actors are good!
Overall, for a movie that has been hyped as one of the biggest release of the year, it has about 2 – 3 funny scenes and a couple of good action sequences! That’s about it. If that’s good enough to spend your hard earned money on the film, go for it.
Finally, with a hope that Akshay starts experimenting with his roles and tries something different for a change, I go with 2 stars for Chandni Chowk to China. Disappointing!
Rating: 
Other Notes – The funniest thing about the film was the potato with the shape of the Hindu god Ganesha. Akshay somehow manages to hold on to it throughout the film. Bodies are broken, blood is shed, Akshay is thrown from the top of the Wall of China.. but through it all.. the potato manages to survive!
On a serious note, CCTC is strictly for Akshay Kumar fans, others stay far away. What really baffles me is, why doesn’t Akshay try something different? Why is he stuck with his same old successful formula? You might argue that the same movies are working big time at the box-office. I don’t deny that, but wouldn’t an actor love to have a movie like Taare Zameen Par, Chak De India or a Jodhaa Akbar in his filmography? Hope things change with Eight by Ten directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, which I believe could be Akshay’s best movie in a long long time!! Leave your comments below on the (whatever you call it) CCTC / CC2C / Chadni Chowk To China Review
this faathiya has absolutely no taste in movies ..cc2c drona and dostana have one thing in common..and she doesnt see this the oaf that she is ..mindless senseless script… acting ..actors..comedy /fantasy actually all three films are in fantasy land ..they dont exist..i donno why she likes dostana maybe she has gay tendencies..that she wants to see it the third time!!!
her rhetoric about movies is unbelievable!!!
This Yamini has no taste at all for movies.. he loves the worst of the movies.. with no manner, just teach yourself how to communicate with others! And Dostana is a great movie comparing to the cartoon one cc2c and is not a (fantasy) idiot, 2 guys pretend that they’re gay.. a comedy one, unlike Drona.. and Yamini.. let me ask u a question: Many ppl in India loved Dostana, and many, thousands in overseas.. so do u think that all the ppl who loved the movie must be gay ppl?! You’re saying this because you’re idiot.. Dostana had a great comedy scenes in it and lovely songs with lovely Priyanka. therefore I love to watch it again, and I will, after sometimes ( and why do u want everyone love the movies which u do?!! we’re different ppl.. what u love and find it good other ppl might find them bad!)
Indicine Team: Some ppl on this website just love to argue.. fight. when we end any fight and need to rest.. to talk about movies.. they start it allover again!
God!! this guy P. Sher never leaves me alone! Fine Punjabi Sher.. you’re right.. you’re absolutely right.. happy?!! I’m wrong.. but I can’t satisfy you if I see the board is black and say it’s white just because you want me or others to say that it’s white!! Growup boy.. and think right.
Don’t u ever read other people’s request?? Didn’t u read Kiran’s request.. that u all have to accept this fact.. that we’re all different in our tastes for movies.. don’t u agree that there’re are different beautiful colours in this world.. white, blue, black, green, pink, and to each is his own.. if u love red other people love blue or white. You love Akshay & cc2c or SIK or that stupid movie Khaki, whatever and many others don’t consider your Akshay or those movies as great ones.. I love Shahrukh and loved Rabne, Asoka, Dil Se, and many ppl hate Shahrukh and some of his movies.. now.. how many time do I have to repeat this to you?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If u were a little kid in the classroom and I was your teacher.. you’d have learnt now.. we say in Arabic: ????????? ?????? ????????
I’m not going to translate what I wrote in Arabic.. get a translator to tell u the meaning of the above sentence.
Just get off and never try to communicate with me again
i think dostana was a hit because it was patronised by dim witted people like fatthiya all over the world..what comedy is she taLKING ABOUT?? priyanka looks good!!! any babe in half clothes would look good ..!!!..even she would .probably or !!! really??
she is got herself involved in antics here over a pathetic movie which has almost left our shores but would be doingwell in her country thanks to her patronage .. why doesnt this silly idiotic dim witted women start watching cartoons which can be great enjoyment for her her children her neice her aunt ..her uncle ..her friends ..which she can go over and over again ..where she can admire the curves of sexy mrs roger rabbit or the muscle man popeye…!!!
Still we like akki he is best
yamini seems to be the only person with a lot of common sense here. cctc wasn’t that bad. good time pass movie, good entertainment. only reason it failed is because of the euphoria created by all the bad reviews. people gave it a miss. otherwise it would have been a hit.
GO TO HELL…..OLD WOMEN…………..
AKKI IS A KING