Chaalbaaz

Having read the previous negative review posted by Gunsha, all i can say is that she seems to have completely missed the point.

Chaalbaaz is an all out entertainer which shows no pretence of being anything other than a wholesome fun family entertainer.

This film has everything that is good about Hindi cinema, excellent songs, dialogue, action and above all side splitting comedy. Sridevi & Rajnikant fans won't be disappointed, as they perform to the height of their iconic status'.

Chaalbaaz is a timeless masterpiece, a text book reference on what Hindi entertainment is. Though the film was made 15 years ago in an era when Shakti Kapoor & Anupam Kher weren't annoying & when Sunny Deol was able to give a restrained performance. It's brand of comic humour, far from appearing stale, comes across just as fresh as when it was 1st made (in fact David Dhawan could learn a thing or two on what REAL comedy is, by watching this). Definitely one of the definitive movies of the 90's.

Classic Scene : Shakti Kapoor mistaking Anupam Kher for the "Ghar ka naukar"

Watch it with friends & prepare to laugh your socks off!

Who so ever is giving less than 10 for this film , can they quote any other comedy acting which is better and more suited to the environment as created in the film? In this film , a comical situation is created more and appropriately comical by the "The Sridevi". This film further enhances the status of her as similar film "Seeta and Geeta" was the inspiration and other than the storyline , none was similar to Seeta and Geeta. Infact Sridevi enhances and creates entire new level of comedy thus inspiring other actors and directors like Madhuri Dixit , Karishma Kapoor , David Dhawan to say the least and none could reach even the 1% of what Sridevi did ? Infact she herself could not emulate until she acted in Judai. It would not be exaggeration to say that she deserves national award for best actress , atleast for comedy.

I watched Seeta aur Geeta and Chaalbaaz but found the former had a better flow to the story, better calibre of acting, songs were melodious. Over and above that you have the classic beauty of Hema malini. Sunny Deol was decent, while Rajnikanth's comedy was good in parts. The fights especially Sridevi 's did evolve since the 70s. Sridevi's acting though was a bit exaggerated and over the top. If you watched this movie in the 80s you wouldn't mind it, but if you are watching it in this century you might not appreciate it as much. Anupam Kher and Shakti had their moments of laughter. There was a scene where Anu Kapoor's dark hair was clearly seen peeking from underneath his white wig. The shot changed but the director did not bother to correct the error. The authenticity of the scene was totally compromised. There were other scenes where the disparity in the quality of direction was apparent between Ramesh Sippy and Pankaj Parashar. There is some entertainment value but don't expect too much.

This film is a pain to watch. Not because of technical flaws or performance (it's an 80s film, so one must be quite tolerant), Sridevi is a great actress and dancer, but the story is terrible. There is just no way to enjoy this film. It shows such gut-wrenching abuse of the one twin role of Sridevi, Anju, and the whole film long you see the poor girl being broken and exploited. The film has some good intentions, which is to accuse the men's society of ruining the lives of women, but this film is so mercy-less and seems to right-out enjoy the Anju being abused, that the message becomes a farce. The ending does not help this film either, they spoiled it. I have not seen many Bollywood films before the 1990s, but I would say this one is special. Special because of Sridevi, but also infamous because of its cruelty. Just maddening and gut-wrenching.

Chaalbaaz review :

Based on the staple plot of twins separating at birth and circumstances leading to role reversals later, it is Sridevi who carries the film on her very capable shoulders, displaying incredible range by playing the alcoholic trickster Manju and her coy and repressed twin sister Anju.

Infact, the two male leads - Sunny Deol and Rajinikanth are mostly relegated to being bystanders getting a few fights and some hilarious one liners. One of them -"Aaj Sunday hai, aaj Sunday hai, toh daru peene ka din hai " mouthed by the thailavar himself has become a way of life for many...but Chaalbaaz is primarily a Sridevi film and she makes the best out of it.

Her sob story to creditors, run-ins with Sunny Deol at a bar where he offers her a drink and beating the hell out of Shakti Kapoor after tricking him in to a massage are some of the film's high points. Coming to that bar scene, the film even in the late 80's was refreshingly unpretentious enough to let a lady enjoy her drinks without attempting to label her or reform her in any way. Bravo!

Director Pankuj Parashar keeps the serious moments to the minimum - the atrocities committed on Anju by her buck toothed uncle (Anupam Kher) are not overdone - and concentrates more on the masti element. Technically too, the movie is impressive and a couple of Laxmikant-Pyarelal's songs score are noteworthy, particularly Sridevi's rain dance in "Naa jaane kahan se aayi hai"

The supporting cast delivers big time - Shakti Kapoor as Battuknath Lallanprasad Malpani is the perfect comic villain, idiotic enough to get robbed by a street beggar (Kader Khan in a two minute unforgettable cameo) and also devious enough to harass Anju to call him her "Balma". Rohini Hattangadi gets to show her evil streak as Amba, Anju's tormentor. The ever dependable Anupam Kher plays the evil uncle Tribhuvan as a criss cross between KN Singh and Mukri.

Undoubtedly, Chaalbaaz provides wholesome entertainment for all ages with Sridevi demonstrating true "Girl Power"...

Recommended watch (or re-watch if you have seen it earlier)!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.