Chalo Dilli

Inspired or Copied films have always discouraged me to write about them in length. But once in a while comes a film which though is not an original, but still remains a descent one having some new entertaining additions in its script, which keep the viewers hooked for most of its duration. CHALO DILLI is also one of those very few films which compel you to praise them despite the fact that they are clearly inspired. The last movie which gave me a similar kind of feeling was the well directed "Taxi No. 9-2-11" (2006) which was largely based on "Changing Lanes" (2002).

The film revolves around the unplanned journey of two opposite sex strangers who come from a completely different background and are forced to live one night and day together in absence of any other choice. Lara Dutta is a happily married rich corporate business woman, habitual of living an up-standard life and Vinay Pathak is a middle class ladies garments shop owner in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. They together give you a nice enjoyable fun ride in the theaters with some predictable but still funny realistic stuff which more or less keeps you engaged. Particularly the film never lets you down in the first half but in the second it does have a drop in the pace and drags. Yet, after watching its superb emotional climax you don't mind its minor drawbacks and just want to remember the movie with a smile.

However the fact remains that CHALO DILLI lifts its main plot and many of its major initial sequences, all from the English Hit "PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES" released in 1987. To be specific, the part played by Steve Martin in the Original is played by Lara Dutta in the Hindi version and the role of John Candy is played by Vinay Pathak. In a very silly and childish manner, the film starts exactly with the same sequence as seen in the English flick where in a corporate meeting the boss is trying to select an advertisement campaign for his product. And then till the next few reels the film blindly follows its inspiration without any major changes. For instance, Lara getting late for her flight, the first meeting of the couple in the traffic jam, the change in flight schedules, Lara deciding to go by budget class, they both meeting again in the plane, the plane landing at a different destination due to some problem (Jaipur instead of Delhi), Lara taking a taxi for Delhi and then they both sharing the same taxi incidentally on their way to Delhi. Everything is taken as it is from PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES. Interestingly another recently released English film titled DUE DATE (2010) also is said to be based on this Steve Martin's movie too.

So, where it doesn't excite me to write about CHALO DILLI anymore due to its Copied status, at the same time I am also willing to praise its highly impressive climax which will be both shocking as well as enlightening for all the viewers with a rightly pumping heart in their bodies. In fact the final part of the film has a power to transform even the coldest heart in the theater and I am always a little biased with movies having that kind of power of changing a person in them. So, if you are game for such life-inspiring content then do watch it for sure. Director Shashant Shah uses many close to real life instances in the film perfectly. Like the sequence of the couple's early journey by taxi having a sleepy driver, a late night dinner at the road side Dhaba, their ticket less journey in the train, their stay in the weird Red Tomato Palace and few more. He also uses Delhi and its reference to build up a north Indian ambiance effectively (as the capital is at present the hot favourite spot for all Bollywood film-makers). But I only wish Shashant had not copied the overall concept of his film blatantly from the one mentioned above and had cleared his name from such uncreative controversy.

The film purely depends upon the refreshing performances of its two lead characters Lara Dutta and Vinay Pathak who alone make the project watchable and entertaining. Lara shows another side of her talent and that's her excellent comic timing evidently visible in this film. She is simply great along with the amazing Vinay Pathak who has become a pro in acting for such kind of roles (though a little repetitive too). He is really superb as the Old Delhi shop-keeper and I truly loved him in the last 10 minutes of the film. In the supporting cast Brijendra Kala as the TC is the best and Akshay Kumar looks cool in his climax cameo. The film doesn't have any great songs and the Cinematography is also just fine. But it's the light mood of the film which wins you over in the end and you really don't mind spending your money and time on this enjoyable ride.

As an undisclosed inspired or copied movie, as always I am not willing to vouch for CHALO DILLI. But only because it has got something which can bring up a positive change in a person's attitude towards life…….I would like to recommend it to all my readers for this weekend. Go have a nice entertaining ride with the charming Lara and the witty Vinay saying CHALO DILLI.

before sitting in cinema hall i was thinking that i am going to watch jab we met part 2, but when i read the cast i got to know that it would be a different movie, because Lara Dutta and Vinay Pathak were together but after watching whole movie i realized i have been cheated this movie is copied from Plain, Train, Automobile. Any way i am not against copied movies because some time director use his own mind to copy scenes,and i like that. so friends, movie is good, time pass, one time watch, but don't confuse yourself with director's idea to show Jaipur and Rajasthan, rajastan is not like that. there are two flaws in movie, first of all jhunjunu is not between Ajmer and Delhi and there in no flyover in behror, even people of rajasthan are damn friendly. now lets talk about the movie, The first half of the movie is quite interesting Mr. Vinay pathak was the best fit for that role m not sure about lara dutta because she was looking aged in that movie, i like her in comedy role not the serious one. the entry of akshay kumar was awesome but the dialogue delivery was just OK, the second half is little boring but when climax is good some how it was not expected climax. so guys go for this movie if you like different movie and please don't watch plain train, automobile before that it will spoil your fun :)

This is the first venture of Lara Dutta as a producer (She looks dead- drop gorgeous in the movie).

The so called road movie is inspired from many English flicks like "Changing Lanes" and many more. So the movie, frankly is not original unlike the last venture of director Dasvidaniya.

This is a kind of movie which is better to be enjoyed on weekends on DVD players.A good entertainer with its own loop holes (and huge loop holes).

The best thing about the movie is its star cast.Vinay is witty and Lara is a chick!Cameo by a superstar is good!

The movie fails to focus on any one track and keeps on struggling to catch your attention. Film starts well but falls flat by the interval and is never picked up.The humor quotient much needed for a road movie is less.

Editing is poor. Cinematography is brilliant. Nikos Andritsakis has successfully captured spices of Rajasthan and Delhi.

Challo Dilli never tries to be out of the box or extravagant. The movie remains a descent entertainer from the start till the end.

Overall an above average movie.

A banking executive trying to get home in Delhi faces numerous obstacles when her flight gets diverted to Jaipur, including an insufferable companion. All the mishaps in the journey , though a bit overdone at instances, nevertheless entertain; but it brings the simple truths of life in disguise with two contrasting characters, played by Lara Dutta and Vinay Pathak.

It compares the materialistic life with the simple pleasures of life, which feels simply awesome and provides surprises by the end. The arduous journey taken by the executive in a day and half changes her attitude towards life; so does that of its viewers which in itself a victory of this pleasant non star cast road movie.

Rating: 2 stars out of 4.

This was more of a gamble and I had left it last to watch but I'm glad that I did because Chalo Dilli provided me with plenty of laughter and surprise.

Vinay Pathak wasn't the surprise- he's a really underrated actor who's more than capable of taking the lead role of a movie and turning it into a success and joy to watch and this is but a shining example. I felt that he was never irritating, loud or obnoxious. The best description of his character that comes to my mind is "happy go lucky." Whatever situation or jam that he gets himself in he never gives up and it was amazing to watch him make friends everywhere. The dialogue is very good and the jokes are very funny, even the visual gags.

For me Lara Dutta turned out to be the surprise package with a very good performance. I've never really thought much of her acting abilities but here she does a very good job as a stuck up high profile modern business woman who comes unglued as the movie progresses. Yes, she looks very glamorous and high profile but it suited the character. What she brought to the role was pep and edge. She wasn't rude or obnoxious and she certainly wasn't above remorse and making apologies.

The movie itself had several things going for it. For one they didn't make the two lead characters fall in love with each other. There was no sexual tension, no longing looks and hence there was no need for pointless love songs to appear and the wrong moments. Even the songs that were in the movie were well placed.

Lara Dutta's character wasn't a one dimensional person who does an about turn at the end and becomes opposite to what she started out as, unlike most of the Indian movies where a character starts out as stuck up, rude and arrogant but withing a few scenes turns into a demure, polite, law abiding and super nice person. Her change is gradual and only reflects what's within her and that's more of an insight as opposed to a behavioural change.

This is a really fun movie to watch at any time of day and is definitely not a waste of time. Sometimes strangers can turn out to be saints in disguise, opening facets that lie hidden deep within, unknown to ourselves, and when opened can turn our lives upside down, bringing new adventures and insights for a better life. In Chalo Dilli Vinay provides that stranger while Lara represents the rest of us.