Chintuji - Movie Review

Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Kuljit Randhawa, Sophie Choudry, Annu Kapoor

Director: Ranjit Kapoor

Rating: ***1/2

With the advancing technologies most films today look extremely chic and attractive when it comes to editing, DI and cinematography. ‘Chintuji’ however takes us right back into the ’70s when it comes to the look. It does not look like it had any colour corrections done or any sort of polishing. But then 1970s also had some simplistic stories told in a heart touching way. ‘Chintuji’ is just about that.

‘Chintuji’ is set in a utopian village where some real factors barge in. The story is about an old film star who hopes to get a ticket to the Rajya Sabha elections by associating himself with a small town where he was born but never returned after that. He would have never returned if his Public Relation manager had not suggested that that would create the right image for him. The simple villagers welcome him assuming a famous personality would bring respectability and recognition to the place. However, Chintuji actually brings along more issues of the modern world along with him, intentionally and unintentionally.

‘Chintuji’ has been written cleverly. Every character evokes your emotions – up to the rickshaw puller who appears just once. The utopian town has people right from Kerela, to Bengal, to Punjab – all living in harmony. And taking delight in each others’ rituals. It has brilliant dialogues. However, while Chintuji’s character is very well sketched, Arun’s (Priayanshu) dark background does not really make much to the story and seems like it has been added just for the sake of the actor. The character of Devika (Kulraj), the PRO, is also very real.

There have been very few movies where stars have actually gone ahead and given their name and background to the films, almost making it appear an autobiography while they were still works of fiction. An excellent example where this has been done extremely successfully is ‘Jean Claude Van Damme’. Jean is surrounded an array of problems and finally turns a villain... quite a contrast to what people around see him to be.

‘Chintuji’ walks on the same path. The title character is played by Rishi Kapoor also known as Chintu by the industry people and his fans. It is not easy to take such jokes on oneself, considering the industry is still full of stars who would not risk taking up characters which would be a contrast to the regular image they carry. Things have been getting better with some stars like Aamir Khan and Anil Kapoor taking up challenging roles. Even Shah Rukh took a real life character of a film star in ‘Billu’ but it was rather glorified. Rishi Kapoor’s effort is way ahead and is a symbol of growth of Indian cinema and actor’s willingness to try out drastic things. And he has not just taken it up but has also delivered a marvellous performance, making it look like a piece of cake with his timing. He also generously lends a bit of his father Raj Kapoor’s archives to give more authenticity to the character. They even get the Russian actress Kseniya Ryabinkina (of ‘Mera Naam Joker’ fame) for the film for an important aspect in ‘Chintuji’.

Priyanshu Chatterjee returns after a break in a good role. Kulraj Randhawa is very lively and spontaneous as the PR of Chintuji. Saurabh Shukla as the frustrated producer-director is hilarious.

‘Chintuji’ is one movie that could have done with a great marketing budget. The movie has hardly been promoted while it deserves a watch. By the end ‘Chintuji’ does not just leave us with the title character but also with a feeling of wanting to break free and get into the utopian town Hadbahari where there are no thieves and everyone has smiles to share.