Review of Chennai Express (2013) by Mohan R — 23 Aug 2013

Did I get my fix of Tamil drums, music, green ecosystems, waterfalls and all things South Indian that we love? Yes! Yet we had to pay a price, Shahrukh's silly comedy and terrible actions scenes. At this point of my life, and after so many years searching for Indian films that combine luscious visuals, good music, good cast and meaningful stories, I have come to terms that it is not easy to find it all in one movie, mostly nowadays that Bollywood directors are not making good films for thinking audiences.

I miss the times of epic good movies like Mangal Pandey, Umrao Jaan, Parineeta, and so on. Yet, this was good enough. I am proud to understand the context when other movies are referenced, but it is doesn't make me laugh.

Something interesting is that this movie was my first in a movie theater after 10 years... it is quite different from watching them at home, in installments and without my Mexican husband having to endure the whole movie at once, mostly because there was no real intermission.

Yet I enjoyed seeing the public's reaction to SRK's silly jokes... they loved him! wow! I realize I am not desi enough, but nowadays, who is? I must point out that Deepika has matured and I am finding a new respect for her as an actress, she is also approaching her 30's and that might be part of the charm, I am not sure if I bought the Tamil accent and identity though.

Finally, Shahrukh Shahrukh, you will never grow up. I have to respect his ability to age gracefully, yet I am ready to see fresher talent, or see Shahrukh play a more mature role, maybe a father of teenage daughters or something more meaningful than the typical shaadi role.