CHEENI KUM - A SUGAR FREE ROMANCE SUGAR N SPICE
By Vishal Verma

Rating:- * * *

What is it?
Coffee with spice ………… Anyone?

There’s certainly seems to be a spurt amongst new filmmakers to come up with innovative & different ideas, last week if Ek Chalis Ki last local was a black comedy, than this week we have a comic sarcastic romance in debutant writer director R Balki’s ‘Cheeni Kum”.

R Bali’s Chutzpah does not comes out from any Mills & Boons but its comes out from Tangdi Kebabs, an Umbrella and a spoon.

It is difficult to tell a mature love story, but R Balki does a commendable job over here, by brilliantly mixing sugar with spice, the writer director smartly blends humor with sarcasm.

R Balki has done a remarkable job in maintaining the sweetness for quite an extent. The tongue in cheek dialogues between Amitabh and Tabu and of course the little wonder sexy – Swini Khara, the cute little philosopher gets the best of the lines, thus making this ‘Cheeni Kum’ a sweet entertainer.

Whats it all about?
Buddhadev (Amitabh Bachchan donning a cute pony tail) is an arrogant, egoistic, pompous 64-year-old chef cum owner of London's top Indian Restaurant who lives with his 85-year-old mother (Zohra Sehgal), who wants her son to join the Gym. But, the chef’s only passion in his life is Cooking. The chef shares a special bound with his 9-year-old neighbor Sexy (Swini Khara), a cancer patient who is the chef’s only friend philosopher and guide.

One fine day Nina Verma (Tabu) walks into his restaurant and eventually in his life. Both are two extremes in age, character and attitude. They meet and against all odds fall in love and decide to marry. Buddhadev respectfully comes to ask Nina's father who is 6 years younger than him Mr. Omprakash Verma, (Paresh Rawal) a pseudo ghandian but an avid cricket follower.

What to look out for?
In his very first film, R Balki does something that only season filmmakers have done before, but after some time. He successfully creates an impact to an extant. His story telling certainly has a style and flair. Also does a brilliant job as a writer in addition. He successfully establishes the chemistry between Amitabh and Tabu on screen with some sarcastically funny tongue in cheek dialogues. 

Love stories revolving between an aged man and a woman who is almost half her age had been made in past but here R Balki keeps it simple and sweet. Avoids any triangle and the track of sexy makes it quite a different film all together. Cinematography by PC Sreeram is sharp. Editing by Chandan Arora is crisp. Production values are rich.

Performance wise, Amitabh Bachchan as the arrogant chef, donning a cute little pony tail is amusingly refreshing . Tabu as the level –headed, cool & sober woman who is in love with a 64 year old person is quite charming. Paresh Rawal as the father and a pseudo gandhian is fine.

But, the real surprise comes from this little bundle of talent (Swini Khara), she gets some good lines and punches from the writer and she delivers a striking performance. Her cute little philosophies are the major highlights after Amitabh and Tabu.

Zohra Sehgal as usual does her big mama part with finesse. The title track by Ilayiaraaja is melodious & in sync with the feel of the film.

What Not?
The second half is disappointing and it drags. A perfect example of a delicious dinner being somewhat spoiled by a sweet less desert. The impact, which was so wonderfully created during the first half, sadly during the second half gets lost in pseudo ghandism. There are very less funny moments between Amitabh and Paresh Rawal. Was not there any better choice from ghandhism to bring the plot to its required crescendo? The humor that was so evident during the first part gets lost in the second.

Overall, Producer Sunil Manchanda’s Mad Entertainment Production ‘Cheeni Kum’ presented by Gautam Kumar and written as well as directed by R Balki is certainly a coffee worth trying for. Cause this coffee also has a bit of spice along with it.

If you love good sarcastic humor blended with romance than ‘Cheeni Kum’ is definitely a ticket to your nearest multiplex or a single theatre.