Chandni Chowk to China (2009)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Nikhil Advani

Writers:

Rajat Arora (dialogue)
Bohemia (lyrics)

Release Date:

16 January 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

This Diwali, two great civilizations... will wish they had never met!

Plot:

An action-comedy about a simple cook from Chandni Chowk mistaken for the reincarnation of an ancient peasant warrior Liu Shengh by residents of an oppressed Chinese village.

Plot Keywords:

Assassin | Cook | Megalomaniac | Beautiful Woman | Femme Fatale

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Akshay Kumar	...	SidhulLiu Sheuyn
Deepika Padukone	...	Sakhi / Suzy 'Meow Meow' 'Miss TSM'
Mithun Chakraborty	...	Dada
Ranvir Shorey	...	Chopstick
Chia Hui Liu	...	Hojo (as Gordon Liu)
Roger Yuan	...	Inspector Chiang Kohung
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kiran Juneja	...	Mrs. Kohung
Yuk-Ting Lau		(as Lau Yuk-Ting)
Jun Li	...	Wong
Chang En Lu	...	Han
Conan Stevens	...	Joey
Kevin Wu	...	Frankie

Also Known As:

Made in China (India: English title) (working title) (USA) (informal alternative title)
C.C.2.C. (India: English title) (promotional abbreviation)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence and martial arts action.

Runtime:

USA:154 min

Country:

India | USA

Language:

Hindi | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Australia:M | Ireland:15A | Singapore:PG | India:U | USA:PG-13 | Hong Kong:IIB | South Africa:10V | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

R.S. Entertainment

Trivia:

Akshay Kumar claims that this film is semi-autobiographical: Sidhu is a cook who grew up in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, just like Kumar had.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Below the Greatwall there is a monument, which upon Sidhul's arrival was introduced by village leaders to be something like "the tombstone of Liu Sheng the great warrior". But actually what inscribed on the monuments actually means "The Greatwall: Keystone Historical Site of Hebei Province".

Quotes:

Sidhu: Dado Hojo! I'm going Chandni Chowk to China!

Movie Connections:

References Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Soundtrack:

Chandni Chowk to China

Overladen with clichés

If you take this film serious in any manner, you will not enjoy yourself. however, if you see this film for what it is: a Satire featuring every cliché x1000, you will laugh until your jaws hurt.

Chandi Chowk to China uses the simple formula of the heroes' journey as often used in comedy. The Protagonist playing the not to bright dreamer who, a la Don Quixote de la Mancha starts on a journey which he believes is full of adventure and heroism, while onlookers will only see a man duped by his own foolishness.

While not going into the story too much, you can rest assured that most clichés pass the revue, such as the long lost relative, Mr presumed dead but no body ever found (jee what would happen), and even, for your viewing pleasure an actual cliffhanger, just before the "break" to get your popcorn. (which I am sure plenty movie theatres do not feature, mine didn't.)

Eventually our protagonist gets wise, but not after the necessary painful experiences, and slapstick. now I'm not too great a fan of slapstick, but the manner in which it is preformed makes you laugh nonetheless.

The whole movie seems just an excuse for sheer entertainment, which you get in the form of very colourful and stylish scenes and surroundings, a great soundtrack accompanying 'fantasy' scenes in true musical style, and over the top martial arts scenes, which for once are choreographed well.

It is a lengthy movie, so if you chose to watch it makes sure to relax and take your time, use that break. mind at zero, and you will have a great time.

all in all it was a good film as it succeeds in what it attempts. it doesn't take itself seriously, and neither should you. although it has to be said, after a while you wonder where they draw the line, because it really is OVER the top. Great for kids and adults alike.