Chalo Dilli Review

'Kaunsi Badi Baat Ho Gayi' - This is what one ends up saying once the curtains come down for 'Chalo Dilli'. Now that's nothing less than ironical since this is the oft repeated dialogue by Vinay Pathak right through the course of the film. While he seems to be undeterred by the mishaps around him and believes that there are bigger things to worry about in life than petty issues related to materialistic matters, the same can't be said about the audience for whom 'Chalo Dilli' comes across as a half baked attempt.

So you actually have conventional elements that one expects in a road movie, case in point being missed trains, goods being stolen, encounters with cops and rogues, interaction with strangers, a run here and there, a step into unknown small towns, lifts from trucks passing through on the highway, a visit to a 'dhabha', a song & dance routine popping out of nowhere, a stay in a shady hotel and then of course the leading lady's eventual reunion with her real love. This happened in not just 'Jab We Met' and 'Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahi' but also recent Hollywood romcom 'The Leap Year'.

There is no denying the fact that there are genuine moments of fun between Lara, a nosey corporate woman and Vinay, a 'Dilli Ka Lala' who doesn't mind uncouth even at the dinner table. But then well, since he is Vinay Pathak, he ought to have a heart of gold a la 'Bheja Fry'. He is definitely not stupid; in fact he is a street-smart by all means and has a solution for all problems.

It could all have been okay if not for the bizarre twists and turns in the second half of the film. An encounter with a bunch of goons followed by two gang leaders shooting at each other in a party happens out of nowhere, increase the length of the film, don't add any value to the narrative and worse of it all, they are plain boring. Yana Gupta's 'Laila' that arrives during this time is neither choreographed nor picturised well which means that sole glamour portion in the film fails to rise to the occasion.

Thankfully it is the ending which ties it all up for 'Chalo Dilli'. It is truly emotional, heart warming and bound to bring tears in one's eyes. Vinay Pathak is fantabulous in this part of the film and makes the most of the opportunity provided to him. Even otherwise he is the heart. Lara is happy to be a close second here and doesn't mind that either by coming up with a convincing act.

Technically though the film is just about okay with background music not quite creating the kind of zing that one expected from a film of this genre. It could have been more energetic. Cinematography is average while the music is a big disappointment as there is not a single tune that one can take home.

However it is the full on laughter that one misses most in the proceedings. Never once does a scene appears that could result in one falling off one's chair. The jokes too aren't the kind that one takes on home. At the end of it all 'Chalo Dilli' isn't actually a ha-ha ride, something that you definitely expected with the name Vinay Pathak being attached to the film.

Rating: **1/2