What’s Good: An original concept, Balki’s passion for film, Dulquer’s style, and of course the tribute to Guru Dutt, a legend who deserved much more.
What’s Bad: Other than a few convenient choices, there is nothing that should prevent you from witnessing this novel concept that has barely been touched upon in film.
Toilet Break: Balki has a great narrative to tell if your bladder can wait; otherwise, there is a predictable chunk, and you will know.
Watch or Not? : You should watch it in support of a filmmaker and his team who are attempting to introduce a unique idea amidst the endless stream of remakes we are subjected to. Supporting a clever, immersive idea could inspire a lot more to follow.
Language: Hindi (with subtitles).
Dispatched Through: Theatrical Release
135 minutes in total.
R. Balki stands for a type of cinema that takes a unique perspective on the world. His stories explore the absurdity of the everyday and the gaze that creates that absurdity. Be it Ki & Ka, Paa, Shamitabh, or Cheeni Kum. Even when they miss their mark, they generate a discourse that advances the viewer’s thinking even when they don’t land where they are supposed to. If nothing else, one must respect his effort to be innovative and provide us with new information.
The director now ventures into the “what if?” territory with his co-writers Raja Sen, a renowned film critic, and Rishi Virmani to craft a tale that explores uncharted territory and is both thrilling and thought-provoking.
The movie Chup is about a legend whose films depicted the world as it is—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Balki’s writing, which seeks to convey everything, also does this. But even if everything works, he also employs practical measures to skip to the following scenes. It is a problem because you can see how everything is conveniently available close by so the story can move on to the more lucrative conflict.
The authors definitely make an effort to include a new romance centred around flowers, but they also stay true to the era in which it is set. The girlfriend informs the boyfriend that because of her menstruation, she is unable to have sex on a particular day. It’s a quick scene, but it conveys a lot about the authentic approach. However, the second half of the film completely ignores the same love story, only to bring it up again at the conclusion. And there is a blockage there.