Movie: Chup: Revenge of the Artist
Chup cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Sunny Deol, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Pooja Bhatt, Saranya Ponvannan
Chup Director: R Balkan
Where to watch: In theaters
Review by: Urmimala Banerjee
R Balki has proven time and again that he is one of the most original storytellers in Bollywood when it comes to ideas. His movies, Cheeni Kum, Shamitabh, Ki & Ka, Paa all had fresh ideas. His movies may have been a little absurd, but none of them are forgettable. Chup, R Balki’s latest film, is about a serial killer who preys on dishonest critics. The timing of the movie is perfect. We’ve seen movie critics get dissected by the public on social media after each Friday release. The film uses Bollywood’s legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt as a metaphor with wonderful effect. Is Chup worth his two hours plus runtime at the box office? Is it a worthy watch? Read the full review below…
What is it about…
Mumbai police are on alert after the horrific murders of two critics in consecutive weeks. They are looking for a serial killer who targets critics who are dishonest and fail to “feel a movie.” Danny, a reclusive florist, lives a double life – one as a diligent gardener growing tulips in Mumbai, and another as a fan and self-proclaimed successor to Guru Dutt. The legend’s cult classic, Kaagaz Ke Phool, which was panned by critics after its release, finds numerous references in Chup. We won’t discuss the story further because we want people to watch it in theaters.
Watch the Chup trailer below
What’s hot…
Chup belongs to Dulquer Salmaan. The heartthrob is running like clockwork this year. After a great performance as Lieutenant Ram in Sita Ramam, he plays another great act as Danny/Sebastian Gomes. His performance as a serial killer who abhors dishonest, insensitive critics is largely subtle and effective. Dulquer Salmaan is great in the climax where he shows the ‘idealism’, pain, anger and madness with equal zeal. It’s like the icing on the cake. Shreya Dhanwanthary conveys the sense of seriousness as a film reporter passionately in love with the world of cinema. Sunny Deol is good, but has a very limited capacity. Pooja Bhatt as a clinical criminal psychologist overshadows him in a small but flamboyant role. Saranya Ponnavan as Nila’s (Shreya Dhanwanthary) modern mother is a hoot. After Dulquer Salmaan, the two main stars of the film are cinematography and music. Vishal Sinha did a fantastic job. He makes you fall for the cinematic charm of Mumbai again. At the same time, the frames are terrifying, melancholy and disturbing, but not necessarily gory. Since Chup is an ode to Guru Dutt, he uses some of the techniques adopted by the legend itself. Amit Trivedi’s music also lifts the film a few notches. Songs by Kaagaz Ke Phool such as Yeh Duniya Agar are used with great success. The poignant lyrics strike a chord, even in a film set in today’s milieu. Finally, the whole concept of the film is fresh and untouched rather in Bollywood. R Balki deserves a round of applause for being original at a time when people prefer to opt for what has been tried (read remakes).
What not…
If you’re excited to see it think it’s going to be a kickass murder mystery cum investigative thriller, you’ll be very disappointed. As the film moves along with that story, the essence of the film is something else entirely. Also, the plot looks a little too cleverly designed in places, especially the serial killer’s offensive backstory. Sunny Deol is good, but don’t expect too much from his signature moments in Chup. Nila and Danny’s love story is also a bit patchy, especially in the beginning. But these are minor glitches given Dulquer Salmaan’s compelling story and superb acting.
BL verdict
Chup is a must see in theaters. You fall in love with Vishal Sinha’s cinematography, fall harder for Dulquer Salmaan and come out of the room with some thoughts on art, “official validation” from critics, and whether it’s an audience that really makes a movie when artists seek so much of it. the first. R Balki’s endearing film, despite its flaws, will have you doing all of that with flourish.
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