/> MOVIE DETAILS

Chandni Chowk To China
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Ranvir Shorey, Mithun Chakraborty, Gordon Liu, Roger Yuan
Director: Nikhil Advani
Producer: Mukesh Sharma
Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Kailash-Naresh-Paresh, Bappi Lahiri, Bohemia
Lyrics: Rajat Arora, Kailash Kher, Shaily Shailender, Bohemia

THE FILM

In one of my candid conversations with Nikhil Advani, the man who has been beaten up, crucified, almost murdered and what not, after the release of his Chandni Chowk To China, he confessed that his film was not made for the critics/classic, but was mainly centred at mass audiences and he would be surprised if the film would get a rating of three star or above.

Well Mr. Advani, if you are already on this page, please scroll down and then come back to resume reading.

For others, let's begin from the basics. What was it about Chandni Chowk To China that actually ended up starting a nationwide debate around Akshay Kumar's so-called downfall? Just one factor - 'Law of Averages'.

It was great till it lasted, i.e. Akshay's diamond run where everything that he picked up, whether black or white, turned out to be a diamond. There had to be a break after all, and it came with the release of Chandni Chowk To China.

The question is - 'Did CC2C really deserve this treatment?' The answer is NO! The film isn't bad, as it has been made out to be.

A decent entertainer, it is an engaging watch and all backlash that it actually got seems unjustified. In fact it only reminds of the statement that Ram Gopal Varma made after all the media bashing that RGV Ki Aag got (not that his film was better).

He had said - 'If only all those people who are bad mouthing my film would have actually gone to theaters to watch it, the movie would have been a Superhit!'

This is what has happened in case of Chandni Chowk To China too. The movie was panned by a few media folks at the end of first paid preview show, they were joined by others as Thursday night came to a close, the word of mouth started spreading around and the Friday opening took a jolt. That's it.

Headlines started screaming that the movie had failed and it didn't have any breather to recover on Saturday/Sunday. 'Aam junta' joined as well and by the time the opening weekend was through, the film was a qualified flop already!

Sad but true!

There were a few weak moments in the film though that did lead to boredom. Like that reprised version of the song 'Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost' which was absolutely unessential.

Or that angel v/s demon conversation around Ranvir Shorey. Or that over-exteeeeeended tele-marketing sequence featuring Deepika Padukone.

Or those repetitive scenes where Akshay Kumar gets launched a la a rocket across the length and breath of Delhi after being kicked by his mentor (Mithun). Or those couple of forced fight sequences in the second half of the film.

But leave these portions aside and you have quite a few memorable moments, the biggest of them being the extended 'Chak Lain De' sequence where Akshay gets trained as a martial arts expert.

Clearly, it is one of the most high impact sequences in the film. Also special is the background score which compliments the swinging mood of the film that travels the distance from Chandni Chowk to China.

So what really works most for Chandni Chowk To China? Well, it's not the martial arts sequences or 'The Great Wall of China darshan'.

It's that Manmohan Desai touch (in fact more than just a touch, it's a clear take off) in the proceedings where the quintessential lost-and-found saga is repeated all over again. So while a Chinese cop has two daughters, one of them is taken away to India while the other finds her way into the super villain's den, only to become his accomplice in all the 'kaala dhandha'.

Dad and the two daughters come so near yet so far, Akshay Kumar becomes the catalyst, Great Wall of China is the silent witness while all the fun, masti and mazaa keep happening during those 140 odd minutes.

PACKAGING

DVD of Chandni Chowk To China comes in a glossy plastic case

DURATION

The film's duration is 144 minutes

SPECIAL FEATURES

- Deleted Scenes

There are near 10 months worth of deleted scenes in the DVD but nothing really makes an impact which is good enough for one to wonder if they were better placed in the film itself.

Around 10 scenes are incorporated here that feature Deepika having a conversation with her mother, Akshay chatting with Ranvir, Ranvir getting bowled over by Deepika, Deepika learning Bollywood tricks, Gordon Liu getting mad at his son etc. etc.

However, the only sequence that does make some impression whatsoever (due to some suspense and thrill moments) is the one where Akshay is trapped in a kitchen and Gordon is searching for him. Otherwise, the deleted scenes were best kept deleted!

TECHNICAL DETAILS

- 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation
- Subtitles in English
- Dolby Digital 5.1

PRICE

Rs. 199/=

CONCLUSION

Well, the film would work for you only if you are willing to follow Nikhil Advani's advise and choose to watch Chandni Chowk To China for sheer entertainment rather than trying to find logic in all those dozen odd coincidences that take place in the narrative.

After all even Manmohan Desai (no, I am not comparing Nikhil with the master; it's just about making an analogy) was being lynched for the lack of logic in so many films (three sons - Amar, Akbar and Anthony giving blood simultaneously to their mom Nirupa Roy in a common ward holds the record for being an absolute killer) but today he is one filmmaker whose movies see a satellite re-run by dozens! Got the point?

Rating: ***