First the disclaimer: I am neither a SRK fan nor m I a SRK hater. I am also not a Rohit Shetty loyal, neither I have the hots for Deepika Padukone. I am a pure film aficionado who 'eat, sleep and breath' films and can't help speak in gibberish tone.
Now, it has been two weeks since 'Chennai Express' hit the theatres and ever since it has broken one record after another and is on its way in becoming the highest grosser ever in Bollywood (I am not saying Indian cinema coz they don't earn money).
While, on one hand, there has been a complete frenzy over the film, there are sections of society who are feeling ashamed to watch CE and are also mourning the death of good cinema with such commercial-over the top-no brainer-potboilers bringing in all the moolahs.
I too watched the film (ofcourse under duress) but then I am not feeling too ashamed because I had a much below expectation from CE. I never considered CE to be a film, rather right from the first time I watched the trailers, I knew it is a business master piece which SRK has pulled off with Rohit Shetty.
When the trailer was released, three things strike me: First, it is aimed to cover the South Indian movie buffs and extend SRK's fanbase. (Since North India and oversees people bow in the name of SRK and they can create a riot at the theatres just by the mention of his name)
Secondly, CE had Rohit Shetty behind the camera, a man who has successfully pulled off the first of its kind Indian movie franchise in the 'Golmaal' series. A man, who after giving hits such as 'Singham' and 'Bol Bachchan', himself enjoys a sort of loyalty from his audience. SO, it meant SRK fans + RS fans.
Thirdly, interestingly, the trailer didn't reveal the plot, which kept SRK fans interested till they go to the theatres. Also Deepika was in a very different role with her 'bokwaas' accent creating a lot of curiosity.
From the time, the CE trailer was released till the film hit the theatres, SRK and RS didn't leave any stones unturned to promote the movie. They gatecrashed/bought/threatened/entered every Tv serials and reality shows to spread the news of CE. No points for guessing what a shrewd and tactical business man Mr SRK is and he went all out for the film.
Interestingly, during the promotion, we also came to know that it was not the script that RS had in mind and infact, it was an old script which RS had in his disposal and it was only at SRK's insistence that he decided to make this film with the super star.
Now the critical discussion. I don't understand why people are ashamed to watch the film. I guess, each and every person who walked into the theatre had a clear idea how the film would be, it was screaming out loud in the trailers that it will follow the trends of a typical Rohit Shetty film with an SRK topping. CE or such films are made but no one forces the audience to come to the theatre but still there are hordes of crowd making a beeline in the first weekend itself. I was shocked to see an 80-year-old lady who could barely walk with a stick, walk out of a Noida theatre. I saw old couples, children alike throng the theatres. So why this hypocrisy now. Moreover, there are many films which are worse than 'Chennai Express'.
However, PERSONALLY, I don't endorse making only such kind of film making and turning the world of cinema into a money churning affairs and killing the art completely. I know this unfortunate trend will continue for sometime because film making has completely become a business and actors such as SRK, Salman Khan and Amir Khan have become big brands in themselves and they not only act but also produce the films, which means they held all the aces and call all the shots.
Somewhere, it is important also for such films to exist because such films keep the producers, distributors, theatre owners and every people connected happy, what bothers me more is why can't these actors or directors after making a 100 crore film, invest the money in making at least a couple of good films. If they can't act or direct them, at least give someone a chance. There are a line of independent directors and actors who are struggling to make a mark for themselves.
Among all the super stars, Aamir Khan is an exception in this regard because he is sharp enough to not only enjoy the 100 crore status but also avoid the brickbats. Ranbir Kapoor also so far has chosen his film intelligently and even without doing such mindless movie, he managed to be in the 100-crore club.
There are others too like Anurag Kashyap, Shoojit Sarkar, Anurag Basu, Vishal Baradwaj and Imtiaz Ali, who have successfully touched the chord of the audience and for them probably a good story is more important than joining the 100-crore club. I hope such filmmakers don't follow RS-SRK example and go astray because then it will truely be the demise of Indian cinema.
'Madras Cafe' takes off at a breathtaking pace and keeps the audience at the edge of the seat all through out. It is an espionage thriller but it can't be compared with anything that has been seen on Indian celluloid. There is no time for romance or emotions because there is a job at hand -- saving the former Prime Minister from assassination.
Even though there are bullet-ridden bodies tumbling across in Jaffna as the civil war rages on, the blood doesn't make one nausea because the camera doesn't linger on a scene for long. There is so much information given at a breezing pace and characters (who are important pieces in this conspiracy) are introduced and removed that there is no time for the audience to get swayed away for anything else than the main plot. There are no unnecessary sub-plots, which kills a good story.
