Chennai Express ( 2013)

Driven by boredom, one fine Saturday I accidentally jumped into the "Chennai Express" ( Courtesy some complimentary tickets ). I had no idea what to expect considering this was my first Rohit Shetty movie. Can't say I was disappointed but I completed the journey with mixed feelings. Overall the movie oozes loads of energy inspite of an insipid storyline

 Rahul ( Shahrukh Khan) a 40 year old Punjabi is entrusted with the task of immersing the ashes of his grand father in Rameshwaram by his grand mother ( Kamini Kaushal). Whereas Rahul has already planned a getaway to Goa with his freinds. To hoodwink his grandmother, he boards the Chennai Express with an intent to get off at a nearby station and join his friends. But life has other plans for him. Playing the good Samaritan and repeating an act from his earlier movie DDLJ ( Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge) he helps Meena Lochani ( Deepika Pedukone )by pulling her into the moving train. He extends the same services to about 4 burly men that follow her into the train. Little did he realize that this act of his is about to change the course of his life. It turns out that Meena is the daughter of a local Don from a picturesque village called Comban based in Tamiltadu. Meena runs away from home to escape marrying the hulky Tangaballi ( yet another Don, though he looks more like a displaced punjabi truck driver with his kurta pajamas), an alliance arranged by her father in hope of strengthening his power. The '4 burly men' are her cousins, deputed by her father to bring her back home. What follows is an action packed roller coaster ride filled with songs and dances, romance, villains, fights, flying cars etc etc. Goa and friends are forgotten and Rahul is forced to follow Meena to her Village Comban which turns out to be an adventure of a lifetime.

This movie is a sure shot entertainer with all the ingredients of a successful Bollywood blockbuster. The journey on Chennai Express starts of quite well with quite a few situations that were uproarious but it tends to teeter along the way specially post interval. SRK desperately tries to re-create his past glory but it is Deepika that takes the cake away for her performance. she looks gorgeous in the traditional colorful south Indian accoutrements. She was able to do justice to her south Indian twang ( well blended in her hindi delivery but seems to be wanting in the English dialogues). SRK was totally lame in his comedy and action avatars. Unfortunately, he did not get too much opportunity to romance which is his strength area and whatever little there was,it quite fell flat due to absolute lack of chemistry with Deepika.
 The movie even tries in vain to promote national integration ( Does the north south divide still exist ? ) and the sermon on women empowerment was not necessary ( leave it to movies like Astitva)
 Subtitles would have been great considering that 30% of the dialogues were in Tamil.
On the whole Rohit Shetty has managed to create a heady concoction with dance, drama, action, romance all blended together fairly well.
Dudley managed to capture the southern natural beauty in abandunce which was a pleasure to the eyes.

 Verdict :- 6 out of 10. A total family entertainer for the masses. You will love the movie if you are looking for some mindless entertainment and can be oblivious to a script that is thinner than the neer dosa.