Chalo Dilli Movie Reviews

The story may be simple, straight and sprinkled with all the predictable twists and turns you can envisage in a drama that pitches a snooty, spoilt woman against a desi Indian male. There is the usual upturned nose on the part of Lara when she is forced to encounter the dust bowls of mofussil India, which include suffering her down-market companions burps and farts. And there is Vinay Pathak's familiar disdain for the lady's la-di-dah ways

The film has so much soul, specially in the climax, it makes up for any shortcomings in story and vision.

Delhi is the 'centre of attraction' these days with movie-makers setting the premise of their films in this city. Whether it was the thoroughly enjoyable BAND BAAJA BAARAAT or the much celebrated NO ONE KILLED JESSICA in the recent past, both depicted the flavors of the city, while the city also had a significant role to play in those movies. Now CHALO DILLI, directed by Shashant Shah, talks about a journey that originates in Mumbai

On the whole, CHALO DILLI is exciting and amusing in parts. The film has some terrific moments, but the writing could’ve been more persuasive towards the post-interval portions. Yet, all said and done, there’s something nice about it, despite the blemishes. Decent watch!

Indeed, both Lara and Vinay carry the film through their electrifying banter, which leaves audience in mirth. Add to this is sizzling Yana Gupta, who gyrates to Zeenat Aman`s classic number `Laila o Laila`.

Mihika Banerjee is the kind of woman who is grossed out very easily. Manu Gupta is the kind of man who burps and farts goodwill all around. So when the two meet, as inevitably they do in this road movie, heavily inspired by the Hollywood classic 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles’, which begat 'Due Date’ ( also Hollywood, but of a much more recent vintage) , there are initial fireworks which, inevitably, turn the fastidious uptight miss into a rumpled

A sentimental climactic twist ends up being surprisingly not schmaltzy, and gives an interesting touch to ‘Chalo Dilli’. It could have been, though, shorter and crisper.

She’s an uppity investment banker who doesn’t suffer fools. He’s a boorish but well-meaning klutz who has a problem shutting up. Missed flights and car breakdowns leave Lara Dutta and Vinay Pathak’s characters with no option but to hit the road together from Jaipur to Delhi, hitching rides in trucks, camel-carts, and trains, and at one point in an overcrowded jeep owned by local goons. Blatantly ripped off from John Hughes’ cult hit 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles'

Minutes before the interval, Lara Dutta’s Mihika Banerjee runs through the platform of Jhunjhunu’s Nua station as the train that will take her to Delhi chugs past. Vinay Pathak’s Manu Gupta, her garrulous and grubby fellow passenger, extends a stubby hand in an attempt to pull her in. Nod to the iconic sequence in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge? You manage a half-smile. The rest of Chalo Dilli is too busy ripping off from Jab We Met.

Lara Dutta and Vinay Pathak definitely make an odd pairing almost like Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell in Elf. The only difference being while the latter worked cause of the two talents put together the former doesn't quite make the same impression. Set against the rickety backdrop of a journey from Mumbai to Delhi via some perilous adventures Chalo Dilli has Lara in the role of an investment banker who's surrounded by the luxury of assistants and Louis Vitton

Chalo Dilli is a reworking of John Hughes’ 1987 comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles, in which Steve Martin and John Candy played mismatched strangers who take a life-altering trip together. Instead of New York to Chicago, the journey is made from Mumbai to Delhi via Rajasthan and director Shashant Shah also throws in camel carts and trucks. Lara Dutta plays Mihika Banerjee, an uptight investment banker who is the senior VP

Chalo Dilli strains hard to be uplifting and poignant but it doesn’t quite make it. I’m going with two stars.

Watch Chalo Dilli for its mildly interesting first half, but leave during the interval. If your company forces you to stay on post-interval, don’t be surprised if you find yourself praying for the sweet release of death.

With lack of engaging moments, CHALO DILLI eventually turns out to be a tiresome ‘journey’.

Chape is a peculiar Hindi slang for a pesky, over-friendly fellow. Pathak, a fine actor, has unfortunately made a living out of playing just that role (Bheja Fry onwards). Small town is Bollywood’s new Switzerland. We're in the boondocks hence. Hot woman (Dutta) in a short-ish skirt that Mr Pathak meets on this unplanned road-trip through North India's badlands - encountering dacoits, midnight dhabas -- makes for fine certificate for women’s undoubted safety

Vinay Pathak (Manu Gupta) is an obnoxious country bumpkin and the owner of a cloth shop in Karol Bagh. With Chalo Dilli, Vinay revisits his Bheja Fry avatar of the simpleton who has his heart in the right place. Yet he suffers from constant heartburn and indigestion. So the audience is subjected to two hours of burps, hiccups and other audible rumblings hoping our disdain for him will turn into adulation. Quite enough to put you off your popcorn!

See it if you adore either Lara Dutta or Vinay Pathak. Or else give it a miss.

Chalo Dilli review by Komal Nahta: Business rating: 1.5 stars. What’s Good: Some comic punches and dialogues; th...

Chalo Dilli is a journey film that showcases India, through the relationship of this mismatched couple and ends with a surprise twist.