`Chalte Chalte' doesn't move, it `drags'

           The release of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's latest home production 'Chalte Chalte (As we walk) on Friday left most of the cinegoers disappointed. Directed by Aziz Mirza, the movie stars Shah Rukh Khan, and Bollywood's latest romance queen Rani Mukherjee. The big star cast and sleek production values at least managed to pull a decent crowd in the 44 degrees Celsius summer heat. But even then, film buffs said the movie lacks a storyline. "I didn't like the storyline. It is very dragging. It's not at all entertaining. Songs are good, characters are also good, but storyline is not good," said Seema Sinha, a cinegoer.

          'Chalte Chalt' is a mushy "rich girl meets poor boy tale", wherein after a turbulent marriage the couple realises that it's not love but monetary logic that governs relationships. But some said the film was worth watching. "I think the movie was good and SRK (Shahrukh Khan) and Rani were ultimate stars. It's an emotional love story and I think everybody should go and watch it, at least for once," said Divya Verma, another movie goer.

          Many others said the film didn't turn out the way they expected it to be. "It's okay but not as good as I expected it to be. Shah Rukh overacted, and so did Rani (Mukherji). It was funny. In the end it was funny," said Amit, another movie buff. Shah Rukh's earlier home productions 'Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani' (The heart is Indian) and 'Asoka' (King Ashoka) failed to satisfy the audience even though the movies recovered their costs. Khan, who has invested heavily in this Rs 200 million venture is selling the film's rights much below the market rate in India, hoping to recover the costs in the overseas or NRI segment.

ANI
June 13,  2003