When Love, Laughter, and Language Met on a Speeding Train.
Bollywood has its share of blockbusters that are entertaining and then there are those that define a period. One of them was Rohit Shetty’s Chennai Express (2013). It was a colorful explosion of comedy, culture and romance. ‘Chennai Express’ was not a mere film. It was an experience. Both on and off screen. It was woven with the charm of Shahrukh Khan and the strength of Deepika Padukone. It was a tryst of the North and the South in the most melodious manner possible.
A Train That Changed Everything.
Rahul Mithaiwala (Shah Rukh Khan) is a forty year old bachelor who is originally from Mumbai. He has a relatively easy and effortless unless mundane existence working at a sweet shop that was formerly owned by his grandfather. Everything changes when his grandfather passes away. Rahul is given the responsibility of immersing the grandfather’s ashes at Rameswaram in South India.
However, Rahul’s primary intention is not all that virtuous, in fact he is actually planning a getaway in Goa with his friends. But then, fate in the form of a running train is not all that kind. When he aids a girl named Meenamma (Deepika Padukone) in boarding the Chennai Express, his mundane and monotonous existence transforms into an absurd and unprecedented misadventure brimming with an assortment of culture, languages and love stories.
Unbeknownst to Rahul, Meenamma is the heiress of a formidable don from South India, one Durgeshwara Azhagusundaram(Sathyaraj). The moment Rahul is immersed into the fiery world of family vendettas, raw feelings, and Tamil culture with Meenamma, what begins as a bafflement stirs into bonds of kinship.
From “Don’t underestimate the power of a common man” to “Ready, steady, po!” became part of the cultural phenomenon that the country could not stop citing.
A Romantic Icon Who is Also Growing Older: The Journey of Shah Rukh Khan.
At the “King of Romance” of the Bollywood industry in 2013, the shift that came with Chennai Express, has to date, been one of the quirkiest in Khan’s career. This was the first of many films in which the beloved actor openly played a man grappling with his middle age.
Khan’s character in the film encapsulated everything opposite to the abrasive male lead in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Instead, he was a portrayal of an individual torn between youth and maturity, a cycle that, much like the actor SRK, he was going through in that period of his life. Ever self reflective, Shah Rukh, in one of the innumerable interviews he has done, called the film ‘Chennai Express’ his opportunity to bring back his romantic avatar with self mindful comedy.
It is enjoyable to hear him say, “I fondly remember the times I used to imagine what people thought of me. I enjoyed the self-deprecating nature of being able to run and oil dance all over again, but, fulfilled with the wisdom of experiencing this again, I appreciate the age that I have grown into.”
Despite the laughter, SRK’s performance, was, for lack of a better phrase, milking it, and it was rather emotionally honest, most especially, in the quieter bits when, as Rahul, one comes to the conclusion that valor is not accompanying a sword into battle; rather, valor is sometimes love, and for that, one must, without performing stalls, be honest.
Deepika Padukone: A firebrand in a saree
Despite Shah Rukh Khan, who, with all wisdom, was the head that the film carried. It was Deepika Padukone who, and firstly, the heart. There was lots said and lots done that was also to her benefit, but her performance of Miss Meenamma was not the over the top epitome of the damsel in distress as she was made out to be. She was rather, in point of fact, intelligent, fiercely proud of her heritage, and most exquisite, with her Tamil cultured s ryth.
Such traits, her Tamil accent and what many thought would have, soared to new heights of being and sounding overdone, rather became one of the sweetest portions of the film. As one would expect, Deepika spent many and many months to, learn not the words, but the soothing sound and beating rhythm, not jazz, of the, drenched Tamil, and the whole of Southern, Indian, but the, with finesse, encapsulated the Pen-Indian, and in the doing, Meenamma, was born, whom was and is, filled with beauty that is said to be both classic and contemporary, with a mischievous demeanor, that is most lethal, and at the same time, filled with a draw of warmth.
Doing, not without, her, was also in, what one would call as, off the screen Deepika, and, as she has so beautifully, comes forth to say, she was and walked, not like most, but like many, under a Dark Cloud, the edges and corners of life that is filled with depression. From this depression, was able to break free, with a great that nestled the criticism that is so often e the core, of one’s self made oppression, from oneself, the which and the only, became a major that was, in the history, of the whole of Undivided India, made her, and the first to be, talked about as, one of the most, filled with carriages, alongside the giant sized many of who’s feet that are made with head of the industry.
Just as Meenamma’s journey was about reclaiming her voice and independence, so too was it reflective of Deepika’s evolution as an actress in real life — someone unafraid to step out of the boundaries of glamour.
A Director With the Ability to Combine Disorder and Grace
Rohit Shetty has always been known for his moving, high velocity action comedies. In his signature style, Shetty was able to introduce his trademark zealous flair to Chennai Express — this time, though, with a twist of Romance. From cars suspended in the air to colloquialisms that transcended regional boundaries, he effortlessly married North Indian laughs to South Indian sizzle.
It was the compelling emotional core lurking beneath the bedazzlement, not the action or the one liners, that sustained the film. While the colors and explosions in the frame were indeed of a Shetty film, the calmness was an uncharacteristic plunge he took to stitch loving instances — a glance on the train, a dealt smile, and a cultural miscommunication that blossomed into admiration.
Even in behind-the-scenes moments, Shetty paid tribute to South Indian cinema, mostly to its core showdowns and emotional magnanimity. Timelessness commended:
“I wanted the film to be a tribute: to the beauty of Tamil culture, to the music, to the people.”
The music of the film a part of its seamless flow, also added a lilting dimension the journey.
As it is said, every film needs music, and every Bollywood journey is deserving of a particular soundtrack. Equally memorable tunes included the, playful, ‘1234 Get on the Dance Floor,’ the and the more sultry, ‘Titli.’ All under the artistic genius of Vishal-Shekhar.
The title track, ‘Chennai Express,’ had also become a regional favorite that resonated with exuberant travelers looking to have fun. However, it was ‘Titli’ that truly grasped the essence of the narrative: emotional and delicate. ‘Titli’ was the one that completed the story.
Chennai Express was more than a comedic film. It was a celebration of the various cultures and the rich linguistics that speak the language of its people. The film was able to parody differences. The funny side of the film was in the miscommunications, the beauty of all the traditions, and the respect of it all.
It was a very straightforward approach where love was illustrated with no notable declaration.
As a storyteller of Rohit Shetty’s, it was clear that through Rahul and Meenamma, he wanted to broaden the geography of India, with the message that laughter is a powerful toll and speaking is highly accessible.
The audiences from various regions across India like Chennai and Chandigarh found something relatable in the movie and its characters, which was something that very seldomly happened back then regarding cinematic features and pop culture.
Behind The Scenes: The Fun Nobody Saw
SRK and Deeka’s improvised dialogues were some of the wittiest moments in the movie, and the crew often broke down in laughter. While shooting, it was clear that Deeka was attempting to hold back laughter.
The scene of SRK and the attempts to mimic the Tamil phrases was reported to be inspired by the time during SRK’s life when he was struggling to learn Southern language lines during the promo shoots.
Although the train scenes look like they were taken from a glamorous and grand movie, they were actually filmed in a combination of precision sets, real tracks in Maharashtra, and Munnar. The climax, which took 20 days to film, is packed with several elements including an action-packed showdown which is compiled with choreography, wirework, and the famous slow motion explosions by Shetty.
The Journey That Broke Records
The release of Chennai Express was a groundbreaking one. Not only did it provide a continuation to the entertainment of individuals, but it also broke multiple box office records, which was something that was prominent in the year of 2013 and also one of the biggest Shah Rukh Khan hits back in the day.
In other words, the film changed the perception of a masala entertainer, which is one the showcased a variety of aspects such as culture, humor, and heart.
Even today, conversations, memes, and songs see the advancement of the technologies every modern generation creates and see the way the older generations use them.
You can imagine the ‘Chennai Express’ train, metaphoricaly flying on the screen, every time someone says ‘for the so called common man, these powers shouldn’t be underestimated.’
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