Chillar Party - From the heart for those who have a heart Vishal Verma, IndiaGlitz [Thursday, July 07, 2011]
What is it all about?
UTV Spot Boy in association with Salman Khan Being Human (SKBH), Salman's maiden production venture, places the guns on the kids' shoulders and hit the bull eye. 'Chillar Party', gives another reason to Bollywood and of course the current hot favorite Salman to celebrate but this time with the entire family with added sweetness of more friendship, love and togetherness.
First time writer directors Vikas Bahl and Nitesh Tiwari ride a touchy, straight from heart, intriguing and pulsating journey in 'Chillar Party', which tells a simple, touching tale of this ten baachhas who fight for their dear four legged 'bheedu' (read friend) grabs audiences with the elemental force of the underlying messages in the story, told straight out of from the friendship humanity manuals that keeps the grownups mind engaged while the kids just lapped it up for sweet touchy moments of fun, dosti and bahicahara (togetherness).
The Story
'Chillar Party' is a film about a gang of innocent but feisty bachcha log - Sanath Menon as Arjun/Encyclopedia, Rohan Grover as Ramashanker/Akram, Naman Jain as Balwan/Jhangiya, Aarav Khanna as Aflatoon, Vishesh Tiwari as Laxman/Second Hand, Chinmai Chandranshuh as Lucky/Panauti, Vedant Desai as Silencer, Divji Handa as Shaolin and Sherya Sharma as Toothpaste who lead a carefree fun filled, made for each other life in Chandan Nagar colony. Soon Fatka (Irrfan Khan) and Bheedu (dog) come into their lives and they become an inseparable part of Chillar party. The lives of these bachcha logs get difficult when Bheedu's life is endangered, thanks to a mean politician. Together, they fight the big bad world of politics in a world where reason outweighs emotions, 'Chillar Party' is about doing what you feel right, courage, the values of friendship and togetherness.
What to look out for?
First timers Vikas Bahl and Nitesh Tiwari as writers and directors do the remarkable by making a film which becomes difficult for anyone to hate it if they have a heart. Honestly told from heart, the movie begins with the introduction of the nine little charmers in the society who have interesting story behind their nicknames, telling it here will spoil the fun in the theatre.
After the initial masti baazi, the movies takes a warmly pulsating, captivating drama told without any nonsense, wonderfully mounted with underlying messages that comes out during those touchy situations like the chaddi march by kids in the city, kids hiring fatka to wash their bicycles, Laxman urf Second Hand donating his entire piggy bank to arrange money for Biddu movement. The topri act by kids in school, home and more, which brings out the bacha in you. Kudos to the casting director for casting these ten smart pants which must strike a respondent chord amongst family audience at the B.O.
Every kid plays his part well but Naman Jain as Jhangia becomes special due to his funny reasons for not wearing pants and his sheer innocence on screen. All the kids Sanath Menon as Arjun/Encyclopedia, Rohan Grover as Ramashanker/Akram, Aarav Khanna as Aflatoon, Vishesh Tiwari as Laxman/Second Hand, Chinmai Chandranshuh as Lucky/Panauti, Vedant Desai as Silencer, Divji Handa as Shaolin and Sherya Sharma as Toothpaste give noteworthy performance considering the fact that most of them are first timers.
A clean, swift technicality contributes to the film's parable feeling. In addition, Vikas and Nitesh bring out a sacred quality in their smooth narration in relation to the characters. Another major plus of 'Chillar Party' is it doesn't put parents and teachers in bad light and is not at all preachy.
What not?
Not much but still, some more attention to Shaolin and Silencer could have been paid. Biddu's attachment to the colony would have added more weight to the emotions. Ranbir Kapoor comes after the end credits are over.
Conclusion: 'Chillar Party' is destined to register itself amongst the best of 2011. It's worth a dekho because it celebrates friendship in a touchy, easy way and it's a sincere, honest flick told through the eyes of kids after a long time in Bollywood.
Rating: ****