Film Review: Cheeni Kum

Film: Cheeni Kum

Writer and Director: R Balki

Producer: Sunil Manchanda

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Zohra Seghal, Swini Khara

Rating: 4/5

Each one is awarded an age each year. To many it is simply a new number, to others it is a baggage and a notice of dos and don’ts. Cheeni Kum is a remarkable film that explores not one but several relationships between characters of varied age groups.

At 64, Budhhadev Gupta (Amitabh Bachchan) is the chef of London’s finest Indian restaurant. He is arrogant, sardonic and completely passionate about his food and restaurant.  Into the restaurant walks 34 year old Neena Verma (Tabu), who angers Gupta with a complaint about the very same food he makes with passion. Soon enough a relationship between the two that began with rudeness blossoms into a tasteful romance. Hitch? The 30 years between the two is the least of their problems… however, convincing Neena’s 58 year old father (Paresh Rawal) is.

While love is just a part of the problem, Gupta’s confidante, nine year old Sexy (Swini Khara) is battling blood cancer. Apart from the bag of witty one liners she throws at Gupta, she is also his pillar of strength. The film explores the journey of relationships through all its phases.

Cheeni Kum accomplishes a lot more than one initially expects it to. The story and screenplay is fresh. The film’s variety of characters and thought levels takes you to a new plane all together. The bond between each character has been beautifully scripted and expressed through the medium of cinema.

There is an extraordinary essence of purity and passion that is seen in the film, and though commercial in every sense of the word, does not take it to an extreme. Each character has been treated individualistically, yet in consideration of the larger story that is being told. The outcome of all this is an expressive and heartrending film.