Chandni Chowk to China

Po, an overweight panda and extreme kung fu fanatic, is anxious to see a tournament, but instead is forced to help his goose father to vend their famous noodle soup. After finally climbing the mountain where the tournament is being held, Po accidentally lands up in the tournament and is selected to be the next Dragon Warrior who will save the ‘Valley of Peace’ from the Snow Leopard Tai Lung. Po then is trained by a Master Shifu and finally becomes expert in Kung Fu and kills Tai Lung.

Sidhu, an overweight vegetable cutter of Chandni Chowk is desperate to become rich and famous is forced by his step-father to work in his Paratha house. Sidhu is accidentally misunderstood as incarnation of a famous Kung fu fighter and is asked to visit China. After finally convincing his father Sidhu lands in a Chinese village. Here is learns that he has to fight and kill Hojo who in return defeats him and kills his step-father. Sidhu is saved by one kung fu master and further is trained by him. At the end Sidhu kills Hojo and brings peace to the village in China.

The main plot of 2008’s Golden Globe nominated Animation movie ‘Kung Fu Panda’ is similar to Nikhil Advani’s ‘Chandni Chowk to China’. Except the later is a disappointment. The director has tried to make it too big by adding various sub plots, lot of action sequences and too much of mindless song and dances. There are very less funny sequences which you can remember long after moving out of the cinema hall. One of which, my personal favorite, is the aircraft sequence, where Sidhu tries repeatedly to shut the overhead locker but fails to. Why, is a surprise! This is one of the most beautifully crafted situational comedy with less (or no) dialogues and right amount of time for the audience to absorb the scene and laugh long. Rests are hardly enjoyable.

The Sita-Geeta plot of twin sisters lost on the Great Wall of China is completely sad. This diversion from the central plot takes the movie nowhere further. Even the characters like Chopstick and his double-minds, are mindlessly represented in the film. The main villain Hojo is unnecessary given more of screen presence rather he could have been given appropriate dialogues to bring out a ‘Gabber-effect in a Chinese Ramgarh’.

Ranvir Shorey as Chopstick was of no use in the film. Even Deepika Padukone in double role has nothing to do in the film; at least she could have run around the trees. Actor Gordon Liu playing Hojo is effective at certain times. Mithunda as Sidhu’s father brings some emotions and feelings to the mindless drama. He has good lines to speak but the director spoiled it by repeating it a lot, which in result lost its punch. At last it is Sidhu who is worth a watch. Akshay Kumar doesn’t mind in making fool of himself. Even though the film fails to make a mark it is Sidhu who virtually is best in every frame.

‘Chandni Chowk to China’ is a senseless attempt to show too much of everything. The worth watch is some nicely choreographed fight sequences but they cannot handle the pressure alone. The music and dance are ordinary, but their placement in the film looks as if they are cut and pasted for the sake of it. Screenplay is very week. Repetitions of scenes from the sub plots unnecessarily drag the film nowhere.

Not writing much, ‘Chandni Chowk to China’ turns out to be worn out comedy. An appropriate subject, a proper plot and well crafted story, are must for a film to appeal audience at large. No Singh has muscle to rule over them. Cause at the end, Content is King.