First, the good news – Cheeni Kum is a nice little film, with a fresh concept and a certain amount of chutzpah.
The not-so-good news is that this film moves at such a languorous pace and is so indulgent in parts that it seems best suited for a DVD viewing on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Having said that, the idea, of a 64 year-old London based chef falling for a 34 year-old woman, is a very, very interesting one. Also, its clever casting ensures that the film never suffers the ‘legitimacy issue’ of a Nishabd.
Here, Buddhadev Das Gupta (Amitabh), as the pony-tailed, acerbic, quick-witted chef is so fetching that the idea of a much younger woman falling for him never appears odd.
And Tabu, as the feisty, compassionate Neena is the perfect foil for this sharp-tongued, sensitive and intelligent man.
Both of them are instantly attracted to each other, go on a series of dates and before you know, Amitabh’s looking out for condoms! (Quite candidly, he admits that his health suffers without sex).
Everything seems set here, except that Tabu’s father (Paresh Rawal), a 58-year-old, pseudo Gandhian won’t hear anything of the ‘weird’ match and does everything to prevent the marriage.
While the film has been realistically treated for most part, there are portions where the director has gone completely overboard. The pre climax is one of the corniest you will find. Also, I was very disappointed that that the director has done away with Shreya Ghoshal’s title song altogether—that was the best song of the film!
The first half, though enjoyable in parts, is quite slow and demands patience. Also, some of portions here can get tedious and repetitive to watch. But once the action shifts to India and Paresh Rawal, the story gets a fillip again, until it takes a very filmy, over-the-top turn in the end.
What makes this film work to a certain extent is the storyline, which is not only different but extremely plausible. The screenplay is jerky and the editing inconsistent but the film still keeps going fairly strong, thanks to its superbly etched characters.
This is one film where Amitabh Bachchan has probably played himself––the same wry wit and sarcasm. No wonder, he’s so brilliant in this film. In all fairness, this film wouldn’t have been able to sustain without Amitabh.
Tabu is her usual, competent self and lends her character the quiet dignity it needs.
But the other show stealer here is Paresh Rawal, who excels in his part as Tabu’s pompous father.
R Balki makes a spirited debut here and should get credit for choosing an unconventional concept and coming up with such a wonderful cast.
On the whole, Cheeni Kum may not be a wholesome, scrumptious meal but it’s a nice, low fat snack. Try it once.
Stars: ***
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Neelu- If you ask me Arshad's best acting (for me) is in Seher. 
*Pls delete my previous comment
Som, To be frank, to me it doesn’t matter if a movie matches my sensibility. I ...
Indore Barometer First Day Kambakkht Ishq 
aaarghhh me and my Bollywood knowledge :) I just Googled it and the director of "A Wednesday" was Neeraj Pandey. ...
I saw Aamir and liked it, but not as much as most here. 
Comment by jayshah on 25 May 2007:
Thanks for the review Sandy. Sounds like a harmless, nice little film !
Comment by goodfella on 25 May 2007:
Amitabh’s name is Buddhdev Dasgupta? Interesting…
Comment by satyam on 25 May 2007:
Nice review here Sandy.
Comment by rajen on 25 May 2007:
Sandy,
Brilliant review.
Jay,
“A nice harmless film”.Dude that is the ultimate putdown!
Comment by jayshah on 25 May 2007:
Now its not lol ! Its meant to be a compliment !
Comment by sandy on 25 May 2007:
Guys, I expected Cheeni Kum to draw a full house today but was very dissapointed that not even one third of the theatre (and a very small one that) was full.
The audience response varied from average to fair to good.
But guaging from the Friday response, I expect a 20- 30 per cent opening week.
I think the film should be able to recover its money in the long run but I doubt if too many people would be excited to see this at the theatre. As I mentoioned, it’s a film you could easily see on the DVD. By comparision, Shootout At Lokhandwala is a drawing a far better response. A few friends of mine who saw loved it.
Comment by sandy on 25 May 2007:
One more thing. Stock yourself with enough snacks when you see this film. There’s so much of great looking food in this film that one tends to feel very hungry watching it.
Comment by sandy on 25 May 2007:
Satyam: I dunno know, but I was reminded of you when I was watching Big B’s character in this film!
Comment by Rocky on 25 May 2007:
Re.-Satyam: I dunno know, but I was reminded of you when I was watching Big B’s character in this film!
Satyam, what she is trying to say is that you too do not take crticism very well!!!! LOL
Comment by Qalandar on 25 May 2007:
Great review Sandy!
Comment by Qalandar on 25 May 2007:
I intend to watch this film, but will watch SOAL first I suspect…
Comment by satyam on 25 May 2007:
Rocky: While I will take any Bachchan analogy as a compliment I do believe Sandy is referring to the abrasive nature of the character here! At the same time hopefully she finds something redeeming about me despite the abrasiveness much as the character in the film presumably redeems himself. But Sandy’s job is easier. She just has to put up with me online. Easier than Tabu who has to marry that character!
Comment by satyam on 25 May 2007:
I wanted to watch SOAL tonight and Cheeni Kum tomorrow night. I am definitely doing the latter but I am unsure about the first one. Would like to see more reviews. The Taran review seems mixed, the Rediff one is terrible and seems to confirm my worst feelings about Apoorva Lakhiya. But then Sandy is saying her friends love it.
Comment by sandy on 25 May 2007:
Yes Satyam, I did mean your abrasive, sharp-wittedness when I thought of you in connection to Big B. And yes, that’s a compliment because I see a certain attractiveness here.
Comment by kmkm13 on 25 May 2007:
Sandy wanted to ask you this about your Avatar:Why Kajol with Aamir For Aamir i can understand your favorite hero but you hate kajol/i like her by the way despite being often “Insupportable” and damn arrogant.
Comment by satyam on 25 May 2007:
Sandy: Now that IS quite a compliment! I knew I was doing something right with all those ‘essays’! Jokes aside your comment is much appreciated. All I can say is that you’re lucky to know me only across this cyberspace divide!
Comment by Jesse on 25 May 2007:
Thanks for the review Sandy.
Comment by Rocky on 25 May 2007:
Do Bloggers mil rahe hain, Magar Khullam Khulla!
Mutual Admiration Ho rahi hai, suno sab Bhaiyya !!
LOL LOL !!!!
Comment by Aditya on 25 May 2007:
insightful, wonderful review, sandy. i’ll definitely see this one and skip SOAL entirely then!.
Comment by rajen on 25 May 2007:
Rocky- lol
You snatched the words from my mouth!
Now thats a germ of an idea for a movie by KJo.
Comment by rajen on 25 May 2007:
BOI -Weekly report:Meanwhile AB-Taboo starrer Cheeni Kum which was expected to do well at multiplexes opened to a poor response of 20-30%(some places even 10%) and will find it hard to recover costs unless there is a turn around.
Comment by satyam on 25 May 2007:
Most of the reviewers seem to agree that cheeni kum is a nice enough though not great film but of course elevated by Bachchan. In any case I was definitely going to watch this anyway. I rarely commit the sin of missing Bachchan in the theater!
On SOAL I am more inclined to not go at this point. Because most of the reviews seem to be calling it a poor film. And Apoorva Lakhiya seems to have confirmed my worst feelings about this. Still dutt seems to have a good role here, Bachchan Sr shows up for half an hour. There might be still some reason to go! But the odds are increasing!
Comment by satyam on 25 May 2007:
Rajen: IBOS have mentioned 60% advance booking for SOAL and 40% for Cheeni Kum. Of course both reports could be true. It all depends on what data one picks. Obviously neither could be a universal figure!
Comment by Sameer on 25 May 2007:
Good review Sandy. As expected this is worth a watch but on DVD. AB looks so cool and Tabu is ever dependable in such roles and Paresh should be lot better than his previous movies.
Still haven’t seen TRPP, behind in Hindi movies, gotta watch Pirates this weekend, trying to catch up.
Comment by jayshah on 25 May 2007:
Sameer let me know how you think Pirates is, I plan to watch that or Spiderman 3 next week. Tough choice !
Comment by rohitkarnbatra on 25 May 2007:
Put this up in our new review section!
Comment by Mr.Bond on 25 May 2007:
Thanks, Sandy. This once again proves that even at 64 and after 35 years- us mein itna dam haiy - to carry the film by himself.
Shows he is the greatest Indian star/actor of all times.
Comment by akshay shah on 25 May 2007:
Superb review Sandy!!!! Noted about taking snacks-lol!:)
Will see this for Big B, Paresh and Taboo!!
Comment by sandy on 25 May 2007:
Re: “Sandy wanted to ask you this about your Avatar:Why Kajol with Aamir”
kmkm13: Yes, I do detest Kajol and wouldn;t have included her in my avatar if it weren’t for my fondness for the Khooni Darwaza scene in Fanaa. Also, i was quite keen to have an Aamir khan still, Kajol is just incidental for me.
Comment by Qalandar on 25 May 2007:
That is the best scene in the film. I am also glad to see I am not the only one who finds Kajol’s acting overbearing and unbearable…
Comment by jayshah on 29 May 2007:
‘The first half, though enjoyable in parts, is quite slow and demands patience. Also, some of portions here can get tedious and repetitive to watch. But once the action shifts to India and Paresh Rawal, the story gets a fillip again, until it takes a very filmy, over-the-top turn in the end.’
Well summed up though I really liked the first half. Slow, some of the jokes were repeated (in fact the routine was there daily, I counted Bachchan leaving the restaurant on about 5 occasions going home to see his mama, also teeth jokes on a number of occasions lol - but it was still funny !)