Review
Kapoor's film not only has a set of values that it talks about; it has a story which has been extremely well told. The cast may lack star presence but they make up for it with some excellent performances. The values may be dismissed as old fashioned by many, but one cannot dismiss the fact that they are the bedrock of all things that are good and just in Indian society.
Generally, theatre directors get carried away by their passion and zest to say something meaningful and make a mistake in replicating the language of theatre in films. But Kapoor makes none of those mistakes. He makes a near flawless film start to finish. His inimitable touches are clearly visible in the loving manner in which the film unfolds. This is a film which has been made with a lot of love. The other beautiful thing about this movie is Kapoor's quintessential humanistic touch which is the keystone of 'Chintuji'. A gentle humour pervades the. The essential goodness of human nature resonates in every corner of the movie.
The film's story is about Chintuji (Rishi Kapoor), who gets in touch with his real self when he visits this quaint unknown town of Hadbahedi. A utopian town of sorts, Hadbahedi seems to have been unsullied by the ills and evils of modernisation. Fired by his political aspirations, he visits Hadbahedi and begins his campaign to enter the political arena. It all begins when he is invited by the denizens of the town to visit them as they hope it will make their town famous.
The simple town folk open their hearts and homes for him even as he plays the typical boorish, uncouth, demanding matinee idol, who proceeds to trample on their feelings and is willing to sell himself off to the nearest bidder. All that he has to do is declare that he was born not in Hadbahedi. In return, he is promised a Rajya Sabha seat by the political broker (Annu Kapoor). But the appearance of an old Russian actress (Kseniya Ryabinkina), who worked with his father, the late Raj Kapoor in 'Mera Naam Joker', touches a chord inside him and serves to awaken his conscience. He awakens just in time and manages to redeem himself in his own eyes. Entwined within the story of Chintuji, is the love story of his PR agent (Kulraj Randhawa) and the local newspaper editor (Priyanshu Chatterjee).
The life and soul of 'Chintuji' is Rishi Kapoor. It is indeed sad that mainstream Bollywood is yet to give him his due as an actor. It is a flawless performance by the veteran. He is an actor who always manages to get into the skin of his character and manages to make the whole process of acting look so effortless.
While the entire cast pitches in with very competent performances, the two who stand out are Kulraj Randhawa and Priyanshu Chatterjee. Debutant Kulraj comes across as a very natural and spontaneous actress.
Ranjit Kapoor makes an impression not only as a director but also as a skilled writer. One of the songs penned by him in the movie, 'Akira Kurosawa', is one of the most innovative songs in recent Bollywood. The film has been shot well and it moves at a very enjoyable pace. 'Chintuji' is definitely an enriching experience!
Source: MovieTalkies
