Sandy’s review of Chandni Chowk To China

sandy |

57 | January 20, 2009 at 1:15 am | 77 views | NaachGaana Bol| Share

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Came back from a show of Chandni Chowk To China. Given the kind of criticism the film has met, I expected it to be really tedious affair. I enter a hall that is not even 20 per cent full for a Monday morning show and even otherwise the multiplex looked deserted.

The film starts with a Sholay ‘Ramgad’ type setting, with suffering villagers and a Chinese Gabbar in the form of Hojo(Gordon Liu). Now, this is a situation we’ve seen so many times in so many films that there’s nothing remotely interesting about it. The only novelty is that the setting is China.

But cut to India and the colourful lanes of Delhi’s chandni chowk and the crisp, desi dialogues and camera work get your attention immediately. There’s a nice mix of both subtle and slapstick comedy throughout these initial sequences where a bored Siddhu(Akshay Kumar) is cursing his luck even as he mindlessly goes about cutting gajar-muli for his Dada’s (Mithun Chakraborty’s) paratha shop. These are nicely done scenes where Siddhu tries everything from lottery tickets to astrologers. He regularly messes up the shop, partly because he’s not interested in his life as a petty cook and mostly with his foolish money-making gimmicks.

The writers do well to establish Siddhu’s idiocy and sloth. So when two Chinese visitors wrongly presume him to be a reincarnation of a warrior – to battle against baddie Hojo – he readily accepts their offer to leave for China. In all this, he’s fooled by Chopstick ( a brilliant Ranvir Shorey) –a fraud who misguides him. This is probably the film’s most implausible plot point and Advani rushes though it, never explaining why the confusion occurs. Why is Siddhu mistaken to be someone else? This is a fatal flaw for the film, one hard to shrug off.

In the midst of this, there is a nice introduction to Deepika’s character as Sakhi, a model for a Chinese dancing shoe. She has a connection to China, as Hojo is the same man who killed both her father and her twin sister. Once in China, lot of things happen. Suffice it to say that there is enough humour and thrills to keep it going.
Again you wonder how everyone so readily accepts Siddhu as the reincarnation of a past war hero. There is really no logic to the film.
That doesn’t mean this film cannot be enjoyed. Advani introduces enough twists and turns to the plot and it all somehow neatly falls into place, like a 70s film. The central ‘Sholay’ premise is extremely underwhelming and Hojo’s character has nothing new to offer besides his bowler hat — which he uses to slice off necks.

Yet, there are strengths here, which are not to be ignored. The whole cosmic- kunfu training which Siddhu takes in the pre climax has been wonderfully executed. Here, one has to compliment the makers on how the songs (Naam Hai Siddhu and Chak Lein De) have been imaginatively weaved into the narrative. Also, not often does one see hard-core action of this kind interspersed with light moments at every turn. The action-comedy combo is a difficult one to pull off, but Advani manages it. This also prevents the film from ever slipping into a very serious mode, which works for a kunfu-masala flick. It rapturously carries on with the fun, operating on a certain fantasy, comic book realm all along. And this is what makes the film a flawed, but entertaining experience.

Akshay Kumar, as the bafoonish Siddhu and later as a determined kunfo student is a joy to watch. The actor always had an affable presence and here too, his comic timing is pitch perfect. Deepika Padukone doesn’t have much to do but she impresses in the looks department. Also, one hopes the possible commercial failure of the film doesn’t prevent Akki and Deepika from coming together again. They look good together and importantly, this was a much-needed break from Katrina Kaif for Akshay. This is also a break from the regular tasteless humour one sees in other Akshay comedies. This is more smart and subtle and could well be one of the reasons for audiences not taking to it (?)

Primarily, the film suffers because the premise is not new, and some key scenes defy logic. But this is certainly not a dismissible film.

**1/2

My take on CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA (Hindi, 2009)

Akshay, who has had a string of flops this year with Chandni Chowk To China, 8×10 Tasveer, Kambakkht Ishq and Blue, is now keeping his fingers crossed for De Dana Dan.

Sandy’s review of Love Aaj Kal

Sajid Khan’s Housefull starring Akshay & Deepika delayed

Arunachan: part of India or China?

There Are 57 Responses So Far. »

akshay shah 19 January 2009
01:36:28 am

A fair and insightful read, a pleasure to read as always Sandy!!!

jayshah 19 January 2009
01:41:19 am

Nice review…sounds a little like the Tashan, JBJ deal though not as good…a bit unfortunate for Akshay. Sounds like a mis-guided film in keyt parts rather than a total dud.

saket 19 January 2009
01:54:07 am

Nice review, Sandy. I’m now actually looking forward to watching it!

sandy 19 January 2009
02:08:56 am

Thanks Jay, Saket and Akshay! Unfortuantely, the other two friends who joined me didn’t take to the film at all. In fact, one of them was considering walking out before the interval!

This film is a decent flick – with some great sequences – is all I can say. And Akshay is a delight to watch here. Personally, I prefer it to most of his other comedies.

akshay shah 19 January 2009
02:27:08 am

People have come down hard on Akki i feel…I don’t doubt for a second he will bounce back from this!

RAJ 19 January 2009
02:29:48 am

A.S..

If akki bounces back from this he would only become stronger…

akshay shah 19 January 2009
02:33:28 am

Agree Raj, but the trick remains whether he can bounce back BIG! He needs a full fledged blockbuster. Comparisons to GHAJINI was stupid IMO, as CCTC was never going to be as mass appealing as GHAJINI or RNBDJ.

utkal 19 January 2009
02:43:21 am

With fans and well-wishers like what he ahs got he does not need enemies. Mow lok at his so aclled next big film, Kambakht Ishq’! Now ehy is it supposed to be a big deal? Just because it has got some fleeting appearance by Stallone? Just because it has gota lip lock with Denise who? Just because it is shot in Univesal Studio? Cant eveyone see that none of this is the basic ingredient for makinga god film? That all these are extraneous frils? That a untested, unknown director like Sabir Khan , who is likely to be anotherNikhil advani or worse in all probaility, is being put in charge of plotting Akki’s bg come back after the big tumble of CCTC? Is it a sound straegy? Who will tell him?

neelu 19 January 2009
02:53:25 am

Are his fans and well wishers praising KI? And how do you know already that it has no story? Doe shaving Sly Stallone and Denise Richards and Universal Stdio setting preclude a story? I am not saying it does – but marveling at the media and others’ quick jump in to feast on the carcase.

neelu 19 January 2009
02:55:59 am

LOL – I mean having – I think the film could be a success if he was shaving Sly!!

akshay shah 19 January 2009
02:56:56 am

Yeah my hype for KAMBHAKT ISHQ has decreased, hope this one has a coherent story!!!! My eyes are on EIGHT BY TEN, BLUE, HOUSE FULL and Deepa Mehtas next! and Priyan’s DE DANA DAN!

A.Shah

sandy 19 January 2009
03:02:06 am

Akshay: None of these films look particularly good to me.
Sajid is a moron who keeps devicing all kinds of formulas for a hit film “Keep giving the audiences a highlight every 15 minutes…that’s what I do” he says cockily.

I think Akshay and Aamir should get together in an Anees Bazmi film, that would be something!

akshay shah 19 January 2009
03:07:48 am

Agree Sandy, would love to see Aamir do a full fledged comedy..the day he does…it will set new records;)!

jayshah 19 January 2009
03:14:29 am

Aamir and Akshay in a comedy, now there is a thought!

lalsub 19 January 2009
03:14:51 am

Sandy, you’re spot on! I too feel that Aamir and Akshay could get together and do an Anees Bazmi film.Mind you, I did not like No Entry totally, but only in parts. Yet some parts worked for me.Like Anil Kapoor’s character[he had a funny line he kept repeating] was lovable and ditto with Lara and Bipasha. Did not care for Salman. Anyway, Aamir has said [in interview last year] that he liked Anees B’s No Entry and would be happy if Anees could write a script for him. Anees responded that he would love to do a film with Aamir–but he Anees never works with a bound script!

utkal 19 January 2009
03:18:24 am

Neelu, if Kambakht Ishq has some intersting story why are not hinting at it. Everyone knew about Ghajini, we all now about 3 Idiots, or Dilli 6. Or Ravana. Or Kites. I dontb think there is any such excitement about the storylione or the treatmentof Kmabakht Ishq. For me, what is most important is the director. We know even if Abhinav Deo is new he has done scores of smart ad films. We know anurag Basu for his mUrder, and Metro. We knew Murugadoss had done the sleek Tamil Ghaijini. What about Sabir Khan? Why should akki trust him with sucha big project?

Som 19 January 2009
04:03:52 am

Thanks Sandy for the review!

satyam 19 January 2009
06:13:13 am

Fine piece here Sandy..

sandy 19 January 2009
06:45:23 am

Thanks Satyam, Som

Online version: http://www.sakaaltimes.com/200.....Chowk.html

amitk79 19 January 2009
07:58:28 am

Sandy good review. Some of the people in my office saw the movie on weekend. They said it was some kinda punishment. We were arguing on which movie to watch this weekend and they now want to watch Raaz. And people who disagreed will be sent to CCTC as punishment. lol.

Pranav 19 January 2009
12:05:17 pm

Utkal: I agree with your view point but you are giving too much credit to Akki. Nothing in his past suggests that he would start doing a cogent analysis of his career that one has learnt to expect from a Aamir or a SRK (not even Big B seems to do that…). Have we heard Akki turning down any big budget films lately. Who is directing Blue? What suggests that even that could be a savior for him pitting him with the aging Sanjay Dutt.

Som 19 January 2009
12:12:49 pm

Pranav:Blue is directed by Anthony D’Souza,a débutant.

neelu 19 January 2009
12:13:58 pm

What exactly do we know about Dilli 6 or Ravana? Do tell us Utkal as I am mystified! About Kites – I should know as what we have is mostly leaked from disgruntled crew that left the film.

Pranav 19 January 2009
12:23:49 pm

I don’t anything about D’Souza, maybe he holds promise but am wondering if Akki should be more discerning in selecting his projects.

Pranav 19 January 2009
12:25:06 pm

Neelu: Dilli6 is directed by Mehra of RDB fame and Ravana by Mani Ratnam. That alone should give some respectability to these projects.

A C H I L L E S 19 January 2009
12:28:27 pm

KI and Blue are in very risky hands … and money has been pumped into these projects like anything!

neelu 19 January 2009
12:41:22 pm

Pranav – is every debutant director immediately suspect just because we know nothing of the story? Note that I am not saying KI is or will be a good story. I am talking of picking over a carcass with thinly disguised venom. Before the release of CCTC all of NG was quite bullish on Akshay – you cannot take it all way because ONE film is not doing well.

Pranav 19 January 2009
12:51:55 pm

Neelu: I agree we know nothing about the story of Blue or KI. But these movies have not been getting the attention that a Three Idiots (having Hirani at the helm and Aamir having given a green signal to it), Ravana or a Delhi 6 have been getting. Infact nothing of a qualitative nature has come out of these movies that could encourage the viewer.

rks 19 January 2009
12:58:59 pm

“Infact nothing of a qualitative nature has come out of these movies that could encourage the viewer.”

Denise Richards ? It’s complicated

Som 19 January 2009
01:05:31 pm

Of course not Pranav.Delhi 6 is Rakesh Om prakash Mehra’s outing after Rang De Basanti, Raavan is directed by Mani after Guru and 3Idiots by Hirani,the acclaimed director of the Munna Bhai films.No one even knows about the directors of KI and Blue, both are only riding on Akshay’s name.Unless a promo or something of that sort comes out, why would the viewers be interested in a KI ?Though the presence of Stallone and Hollywood B grade actress Denise Richards and her lip lock with Akshay have managed to create some ripples.

Pranav 19 January 2009
01:06:56 pm

rks; they have been getting all has beens together for this project such as Stallone and never beens like Denise Richards…

Pranav 19 January 2009
01:07:56 pm

I hear you Som. correctly said.

rks 19 January 2009
01:13:03 pm

“never beens like Denise Richards”

Looks like you haven’t seen “Wild Things”

Som 19 January 2009
01:17:07 pm

Wild Things?!

rks 19 January 2009
01:18:59 pm

Som would like to see a remake of WT with DP and KR/AP

neelu 19 January 2009
01:20:21 pm

Was somebody accepting a 3 Idiots, CDI or Swades/RDB from Akshay when he was hyped as the top star a month ago?

neelu 19 January 2009
01:22:00 pm

I meant expecting – but would Akki fans even be accepting of such films from him?

Som 19 January 2009
01:26:11 pm

Those days are gone Rks,fantasizing used to be a thing in the college days not anymore.

Som 19 January 2009
01:29:54 pm

Anyway chalo It is 3 A.M at my end.See you guys tomorrow.

rks 19 January 2009
01:34:53 pm

Som – Good night and stop dreaming.

sandy 19 January 2009
09:28:10 pm

Guys, keep the thread restricted to discussion on CCTC.

rks 19 January 2009
09:32:11 pm

“keep the thread restricted to discussion on CCTC.”
I like that.

utkal 19 January 2009
09:41:14 pm

Neelu: Delhi 6 is anostalgic look at the mohalla where Mehra grew up. It is a realistic kind of canvas. And Abhi is a NRI back from Us, explorong his roots. Ravan is a love story told from ravan’s point of view, psychlogically. Ravan is not a literal character. Only the psychlogical metaphor is Ravana’s. Kite is acros-cultuaral love and crime drama. Brbara Mori is a Spanish/Mexican. Hrtik is embroiled in a romance cum crime entanglement with her. Knagan is the third point in the triangle.

These are dramatic material aplenty to whet anyone’s appetite

neelu 19 January 2009
10:05:16 pm

None of these one liners are any different from ‘Akshay is a HW stuntman at Universal studios and constantly risks his life for money….’ Mani says there is no allusion to Ramayana in his story. Love triangles? The only difference being that one among the trio is Spanish? What about Marigold?

julie 20 January 2009
04:11:50 am

thanks for posting the review sandy. I liked it a lot less than you did, to be honest. Most disappointing performance by Akshay I have to say. Media may say whatever, but I do think that if there is any saving line whatsoever then it is Deepika, and the guys who play Hojo and Deepika’s dad. Prior to the release, I did think that CC2C would catapult Akshay into new heights but it seems that the trailors were very deceptive. This is the first time I have gone so drastically wrong with my prediction. I have little hope for KI. Blue might be more interesting though. But let us see. I do agree with the general observation that Akshay has to big time reinvent himself than doing the same ususal comic stuff which actually got quite OTT in this movie.

ăbzee 20 January 2009
10:05:34 pm

Sandy- Never before have I disagreed so completely wth any of your review. But your lenience towards this film begs me to ask the qustion- What were you smoking?

CCTC is by far the worst film I’ve seen from Bollywood in a long, long time. And this comes from me- someone who loved JBJ and Tashan…and found some plusses in Drona even! It’s a different matter that JBJ and Tashan are both misunderstood, albeit flawed, films I believe.

CCTC is pure and simple bad and poor on so many counts. It’s very convenient to call the film as a nod/wink to the masala films of the 70s and/or 80s. Baradwaj Rangan is guilty of this as well. But unlike a JBJ or Tashan, CCTC isn’t able to sieve together the elements of the masala structure in a seamless fashion. What Advani gives us instead is a hodge-podge of all masala trappings, tripping over each other to a crashing thud. So you have a first half which feels like, I don’t know, 7 to 8 acts! Exposition of the Chinese warrior, the establishment of the Kurosawa-meets-Sippy Ramgarh(Hojo and the poor villagers), the reincarnation of the warrior as Siddhu the bumbling cook, his relationship with Mithun(the emotional hook), his falling for the charms of Deepika, his being conned into heading to China by a scheming sidekick, his meeting Deepika’s eveil twin, the flashback of Deepika and her twin and their seperation at childhood, the Desai-esque moment of almost-reunion between the now-insane father and his daughters, the twins being exchanged and the good twin learning of her sister, sidekick revealing to Siddhu that he is no warrior-reincarnate, Siddhu seeing his dada killed before his eyes….PHEW! All this happens in the first half…there’s no development at all. Why must I be expected to feel sad when Mithun is killed in front of Akshay? Their relationship was never really established- Advani instead chooses to infuse a song showing their bond post-intermission, almost as an afterthought. Just because Akki has to be conned by Deepika at the airport, we are given a mandatory sequence earlier where he finds her alluring in a TV ad. Nothing more- we are just expected to assume that he likes her so! Everything is so effing convenient and hackeneyed and hasty and amateurish.

You found Ranvir Shorey ‘brilliant’. I thought this was one of his worst perfs. Much of the blame is of course due to the poor characterization. I mean, make up your mind for god’s sake fellas. Who is he? He starts off as a Rajendra Nath type phony, then has a parallel sub-track of his own with his good and evil inner souls counselling him, suddenly becomes a scheming villain sort, develops lust for Deepika and almost turns into a Ranjeet incarnate, then has a change of heart, suffers from guilt and eventually becomes the sacrificial lamb!

And don’t even get me started on the humour. It wasn’t just the sorry mix of slapstick…but if you had problems with ‘gotis’ in Bhool Bhulaiyyaa…this had the family jewels being referred to as ‘ande’ and ‘akrot’. Not to mention that line- “roti belte belte, meri goti munh mein aa gayi hai!” I don’t see the subtle humour at all.

Yes, the bit where Akshay dances to various styled popular numbers is a riot. A stupid scene, but Akki pulls it off with aplomb. I also loved the pre-climax bit where he trains. But other than that, the film just has nothing to offer, and is just plain shoddy.

Even the shots of Chandni Chowk are soo bad and unauthentic. The Delhi shots of Delhi 6 look great in the promos itself.

Oh…one more thing- how does Deepika’s father suddenly emerge as a clean-shaven cop, readily accepted back into the force? So many questions.

Its not that the film is silly(an umbrella that functions like a parachute, etc.)…but that its silliness is unfunny.

Som 20 January 2009
10:16:40 pm

Thanks Abzee for your thoughts!

neelu 20 January 2009
10:53:03 pm

From the Shout Box (with permission to quote):

20 Jan 09, 22:49
TheSkeptic: Taran: “The failure of CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA should serve as an eye-opener for all producers who sign a star first and hunt for a story later. In this case, Nikhil Advani made a poster first, showed it to Akshay [who loved it apparently] and then wrote the script. Bizarre, isn’t it?” Taran like a lot of people just does not get it. Cinema can start from an image, a sound, a face. Scripts can be slaved on for years and flop, while others written and shot in a month may succeed. The bourgeois sense of a linear relationship betweent time and results does not work in the sphere of art and entertainment. Varma made Satya without a script, but labored on Aag for years. What went wrong with CCTC was 1. The Chinese touch excited me, with my passion for a lot of their cinema, but Indian audiences are not that curious about other cultures, particularly those nearer “home”. 2. The filmmakers adopted Kun Fu Hustle as model, and this was a step too far.

There is a cultural distance between Akshay’s comedy and the Kung Fu Hustle brand.

ăbzee 20 January 2009
11:30:35 pm

I agree with The Skeptic that anything from a one line concept to an image to a osund can trigger off a script. Most people don’t get this. I know I have difficulty explaining that a one line synopsis can be made into a full length feature film or how even a 300 page novel cannot be made into one. I guess the problem lies in the ability to see a picture and a narrative in the mind’s eye. But I wouldn’t blame or Taran. As a filmmaker, it is my job and acquired skill to picture a film in my mind upon listening to a one-liner or a random incident in daily life. But for the average Joe, he only sees what is presented. So obviously, most will find it hard to fathom that a film can be kicked off by just the idea of a poster.

BTW, all stories begin as one line concepts and/or are ignited by some image, etc. Nobody…and I mean nobody…conjures up an entire story. One finds a platform to take off and then creatively traverses a path that is a nice mix of the author’s machinations and the character’s destiny.

neelu 20 January 2009
11:40:33 pm

In your review you say nothing about Deepika. For me it was paisa wasool just to see her take on the cops at the airport and then fly away. In fact Meow Meow made the film worthwhile for me.

rks 20 January 2009
11:45:03 pm

Cinema is primarily a visual medium but it has other elements (story,music, direction) which probably need more attention. And they should come out in synchronized fashion to have an impact.
If you are making a 5 crore movie then probably you can think what TheSkeptic is alluding but when you are making 50cr movie you need everything planned out in proper fashion. (Similar things happen in corporate world also. If you are small you have lot of liberties and people come out with very good products but on larger scale that can not be sustained. You need proper plan to succeed.)

ăbzee 21 January 2009
12:09:33 am

RKS- I don’t think you’re getting what The Skeptic is trying to say. You are confusing what can spark of a script with lack of planning. What The Skeptic is saying, and which I completely agree with, is that almost anything can be a starting point for a film. Once that is established, you definitely chart out the rest. Planning is required, but one cannot criticize someone for being inspired by the ‘idea’ of a poster. What you do post getting inspired is what matters. Did you know that Imtiaz Ali was inspired to make Socha Na Tha after observing a girl waiting for someone at a coffee shop or that Spielberg was fascinated with the thought of a film being ‘robbed’ off its colour by the extinguishing of a candle flame. That is how he started Schindler’s List, and then approached Steven Zaillian to write a script. Almost anything can kick-off a picture.

P.S.- Yaar, please don’t compare filmmaking with any other faculty/profession. It’s completely crazy and altogether unique I tell you.

rks 21 January 2009
12:26:11 am

Abzee: “please don’t compare filmmaking with any other faculty/profession.”

I understand your point of view and irritation. But, if I ask Steve Jobs he would probably say similar thing about IPod. It started with an idea!

akshay shah 21 January 2009
03:48:28 am

Abzee; How the hell are ya?? Long time no talk bro!!!

Awesome thoughts on CCTC, still to see it myself. Hope all else has been well.

A.Shah