Our homegrown Gump knocked on the doors of the cinemas last week in India but released in theatres in the Netherlands only the day before yesterday. After listening to incessant backlash from critics and audience alike for a week, my hopes on the film should ideally have slumped. However, given Aamir Khan's previous track record as a Producer, I remained sanguine. After all, Aamir the Actor may have made some questionable decisions in the past, but Aamir the Producer has never faulted (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na may have been the worst of the lot, but as a standalone film that was not too bad either). Thankfully, this hypothesis was further strengthened after watching Laal Singh Chaddha; a lovingly crafted film that takes quite some getting used to its tone and atmospherics, but halfway into the film I was consumed entirely by it, struggling to hold back tears on many occassions. It's not a perfect film, but it's so extemely likeable that you are willing to forgive its shortcomings in return for giving you a good time.
Forrest Gump was a classic....at least that's what they say...I, particularly, was not very impressed by that movie for the prime reason that I could not connect with the characters and the story. That is where Laal Singh Chaddha emerges real strong: it establishes a genuine affection for the tiny little world it creates around itself. Still, it takes quite some guts and belief to recreate a movie which has been seen and talked about so many times in the past. Returning as a director after his very endearing debut Secret Superstar, Advait Chandan handsomely rises to the occasion and sticks faithfully to the original (original screenplay by Eric Roth and adapted screenplay by the talented Atul Kulkarni) by keeping things simple and light hearted. Despite having the groundwork being laid by Eric Roth, the makers of Laal Singh have done a commendable job at translating that vision to suit Indian cinema without ever diluting it. The script had an inherent sincerity which has been retained in essence, which I consider a big win for the film.
Having said that, Laal Singh also retains the flaws (or at least what I consider flaws) of the original. My patience was seriously tested in the first one hour of the film where the direction in which the film was moving appeared hazy. I agree that it is not a plot based film, but without a convincing enough story, my attention began to wear thin. Aamir Khan, too, is not instantly likeable at first. There's always that thought constantly running in your head if a younger actor should have been playing his part. But, all these concerns were put to rest in the second half where his mettle as an actor overshadowed everything else. Coupled with the soft directorial touches by Advait Chandan, Aamir outdoes himself in some crucial scenes, especially towards the end, portraying the gradual growth and maturity of his character with unmatched ease. The film may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I would recommend watching it just for him. In fact, almost every actor has been perfectly cast in their roles, including Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mona Singh, Manav Vij among others. A loud shout out also to Pritam's terrific score and Amitabh Bhattacharya's profound yet entertaining lyrics. They play a big role in sustaining the mood of the film throughout.
I am going with 3.5/5 for Laal Singh Chaddha. The extra half star is for Aamir. Although the film is long and does not have a dense plot to boast of, I was so settled in eventually that I did not want the film to end. Your mind knows that the movie should end given that all loose ends have been tied, but your heart doesn't want it to end. This exact thought is echoed in the theme of the film "zindagi golgappe ki tarah hoti hain, pet bhale hi bhar jaave hain par mann nahi bharta".
