'Chhichhore' review: Sushant Singh Rajput-led film is formulaic yet fun
What's the story
There are some films you really do not want to think much about, because if you go down that path, it will only ruin all the fun you had. Chhichhore, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, and starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Shraddha Kapoor, is one of those films. Because despite its formulaic approach, it still manages to be engaging and fun. Here's our review.
Plot
A young boy chooses self-harm to deal with failure
The movie opens with a vivacious past event from a Mumbai college, and then cuts back to present times. Annirudh Pathak alias Anni is a divorced father to a young Raghav, who awaits perhaps the most important day of his life- the results of the country's top engineering entrance exam. Raghav fails, and attempts suicide. He is now in the hospital, fighting for life.
Plot
The incident sets in motion a college reunion of sorts
As juvenile as it may sound, Anni starts recounting his good-old college days to his ailing son, to prove a point- "Life doesn't make you a loser, you choose to become one." Following this, Anni continues narrating his college life, while Raghav's health fluctuates. As can be predicted, this 'brings together the college gang that had lost contact.' Not the freshest of ideas indeed!
What's good
'Chhichhore' is genuinely fun, when it stays on campus
If at all Chhichhore works, it does so riding on nostalgia and some well-written jokes. Despite its predictable nature, the film is genuinely fun and engaging, as long as it sticks to the flashbacks, ie., the parts showing the good old college days. It is only when the narrative drives back to the present that everything starts to seem dull and slow.
What's bad
But there's little focus on the present; social-commentary is frail
Apparently the makers were having so much fun shooting the flashback college scenes, they put little focus on what story offers in the present. This is downright shameful because it makes the story's tragedy seem so trivial. Moreover, the film's social commentary about our education system and parental pressure is so scattered and frail, it eventually doesn't add up to anything.
Performances
SSR is inconsistent; Shraddha Kapoor has little importance
Much like the film itself, its lead man, SSR does full justice to his character when he is dancing or flirting in the college, but cut to the film's present, his performance feels inconsistent and unconvincing. Shraddha Kapoor, on the other hand, has little role to play. Since all the focus is on the boys of the film, Shraddha's character is forgettable.
Information
Supporting cast: The boys of the film steal the show
Fortunately for the film, its supporting cast, playing young college lads, impress the most. Varun Sharma as Sexa is a treat to watch. Others comprise Tahir Raj Bhasin as Derek, Prateik Babbar as Raggie, Naveen Polishetty as Acid, Saharsh Kumar Shukla as Bevda.
Final verdict
Final-verdict: It's not your '3 Idiots', still better than 'SOTY'
Despite its predictability and other flaws, Chhichhore fulfills its promise - it does make you laugh and smile in parts, which is not bad, I believe. So, if you don't mind some mindless laughs coming your way, do give it a watch. Yes, it is not another 3 Idiots, but it's way better than a SOTY (or its intolerable sequel). Final verdict: 3/5 stars.