'Chal Bhaag' Review: With its sketchy editing and weak screenplay, the film fails to leave an impact

Whether it is the recent spate of murders, crime against women, cases indicating police-criminal nexus or the slow judicial process, there is no denying the fact that every factor has contributed in making Delhi the crime capital of India. While the masses rebuke cops and other concerned authorities for their inability to curtail criminal activities, filmmakers continue to use the rising crime graph as a key component in their films. So when Prakash Saini's 'Chal Bhaag' opened with a late night shootout of MLA Solanki in Delhi, we weren't shocked.

Honestly speaking 'Chal Bhaag' doesn't have an intriguing premise. It revolves around small-time and hopeless thieves who are framed, arrested and planned to be killed in a fake encounter by desperate police officials. Munna Supari (Deepak Dobriyal), introduced as Munna Bhai wears razor blade shaped steel pendant and entertains with his quirky one-liners and downright weird antics. Daler Singh (Varun Mehra) loses his temper quite quickly and easily and thrashes goons, but can't muster up the courage to express his true feelings to the girl he loves. Chain snatcher Bunty Chor (Tarun Bajaj) is too scared to pull off audacious robberies which the Delhi notorious thief (the original Bunty Chor) was popular for. Also his physicality and appearance doesn't do justice to the infamous criminal he borrows his name from.

Handled sans any irony and rationality, director Prakash Saini fails at giving viewers an interesting film. The film's premise, if that's how you'd like to call it, is as tedious and dreary as its most of the characters. But Yashpal Sharma, who plays a senior police official, succeeds in infusing humour in the film, courtesy the manner in which he is treated by his miserable, nagging and a condescending wife. His wife nags over apparently insignificant topics only to work her way onto important issues. His appalling situation is well explained when a subordinate says, "Aadmi duniya jeet sakta hai lekin biwi se haar jata hai". His inability to handle journalists from Garma Garam news channel, and the murder of don Suleman gets him peeved and further aggravates his situation, but not once do you feel sympathetic towards him.

The film's dialogues are replete with cuss words, and a few gags are pitifully crude. At one point, Sanjai Mishra comments on the female lead's sex appeal by saying, "18 Fire ki kurti pehni hai toh fire toh ho gi hi." In another scene, a police official while speaking about the girl he wants to bed, says, "Humei khiladi nahi anari bheja kar".

The truth remains that the films neither has a unique concept nor a strong screenplay. With sketchy editing and not too amazing acting, 'Chal Bhaag' is not a convincing option. Those looking for interesting ways to spend the weekend, should stay away from 'Chal Bhaag'.

Rating: 1.5

####