Director: Rohit Shetty
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Mukesh Tiwari
‘A Fun Blockbuster’
Few actors in Bollywood are as beloved as Shah Rukh Khan. Ever since his toward recognition in the 1990’s, Khan has become one of the greatest actors in the film industry. Whether it is star-crossed lovers, gangsters or doomed superheroes, Khan has proven he can portray many characters. Arguably, Khan’s finest strength as an actor has always been his charisma. He has often been of those rare actors with the abilities to use his charisma to attract audiences to the theatres. Through his abilities to play characters which prove to be compelling, Khan has created a legacy that’s lasting. Known as the Badshah of Bollywood, Khan has stood the test of time as a great icon in Indian Cinema. Despite reaching the ages of retirement, Khan hasn’t lost his passions for making engaging entertainment. An icon in India, Khan has become a bold actor whose movies commonly attract audiences to the Cinema. Throughout his long-lasting career, Khan has appeared in several unforgettable movies which are definitely without a doubt worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Khan and adore all movies which he has made in his career. However, “Chennai Express” stands out as being one of his funniest films. Released in 2013, Rohit Shetty’s movie offered a fun but flawed train blockbuster. Packed with engaging visuals, strong storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s an entertaining Indian train blockbuster. At the centre of it all is a bold performance by Shah Rukh Khan, who portrays an action hero seeking to save trains that experience destruction. Although “Chennai Express” is an engaging blockbuster, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, lacking the strong storytelling of Shah Rukh Khan’s best films. Nevertheless, it offers strong entertainment that would satisfy fans of SRK.
Set in Chennai, “Chennai Express” tells the story of a young man embarking upon train journeys that terrify. Shah Rukh Khan plays Rahul, a young Indian man that has a strong devotion towards his family. After the tragic death of his grandfather, Rahul embarks on a journey to immerse his ashes into the Holy Water. Boarding the Chennai Express train, Rahul embarks on journeys to ease his pain. However, Rahul’s life forever changes when he falls in love with a South Indian woman. Meenamma (Deepika Padukone) is a fierce woman with strong connections towards a gangster family. As Rahul is hunted down by gangsters causing danger, he questions if he would ever be able to truly fulfill the last wishes of his grandfather.
Rohit Shetty has always been fascinated by the comedy genre. A brilliant Indian director, Shetty has often made engaging comedies evoking laughter. His iconic film “Golmaal” offered a hilarious glimpse at runaway cons facing a downfall. With “Chennai Express”, however, Shetty crated his first ever trains blockbuster. It was the filmmaker’s attempt capturing doomed trains facing adversity, but he succeeded. Evoking Aditya Chopra’s “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge”, Shetty uses stunning montages to capture lovers aboard trains. For instance, montages enhance the trains boarding scene. During this hilarious scene, Rahul reaches out his hands to assist Meenamma in catching the speeding train. Using stunning montages, Shetty creates a portrait of trains that’s engaging. Montages are complex techniques. As Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” demonstrated, montages elevate Bollywood movies about broken families. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, Shetty captures the tensions which doomed trains are facing.
Another strong aspect of “Chennai Express” that merits appreciation is the production. Emulating Imtiaz Ali’s “Jab We Met”, Shetty effectively uses the production of trains to capture lovers facing tension. Throughout the movie, the production of trains plays a crucial role. For instance, the production of the trains enhances the Titli Chennai song. During this heartwarming scene, Rahul and Meenamma form a strong bond together by bonding on a train. Using bold production, Shetty crafts music sequences that are engaging. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the movie an engaging atmosphere capturing the heavy burden individuals on trains bear. Through stunning production, Shetty captures trains facing destruction.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Shah Rukh Khan delivers one of his best career performances as Rahul. Khan first earned appreciation for playing romantic heroes in classic Bollywood movies. With “Chennai Express”, however, he took upon his moat comedic role. It isn’t easy to play an Indian man embarking on a dangerous train journey but he succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, hilarious and charming in his funniest roles. With bold expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and reckless spirit of a young Indian man embarking on train expeditions. It’s a strong performance from one of the most commemorated actors in India today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Shah Rukh Khan, the supporting cast is also excellent. Deepika Padukone is dazzling, bringing charisma to a woman embarking on a dangerous train ride in India. Mukesh Tiwari is magnificent, bringing menace to a corrupt cop seeking to care for a doomed city. Lastly, Nikitin Dheer merits praise. As a villainous gangster, he brings menace to the movie.
Despite its powerful performances, however, “Chennai Express” can’t quite capture trains that face stress. If there’s a shortcoming to the film, it lacks truly engaging storytelling. Shetty’s decisions to focus solely on action sequences leaves no time for any character development. For instance, Rahul is a paper thin character that lacks a strong backstory. We’re barely given strong reasons if any to care about Rahul beyond the fact that he is portrayed by Shah Rukh Khan. Furthermore, the movie lacks a compelling ending. It’s an over-the top ending that lacks a satisfying resolution. At worst, it perpetrates a false message about trains that isn’t true toward reality. Therefore, “Chennai Express” can’t quite capture trains with success.
Nevertheless, fans of Shah Rukh Khan will absolutely enjoy “Chennai Express” and so would audiences that seek heartwarming entertainment. A spellbinding Bollywood comedy, it honours a legendary actor with lasting legacy.
Nearly 15 years following the release of a hilarious Bollywood comedy about lovers facing pain on a doomed train, it’s a bold reminder of a legendary Indian actor that has managed to gain a huge following by his ability to portray compelling characters in unforgettable movies which haven’t lost abilities to entertain.
3.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 