bobbysing
The biggest star of Punjabi Cinema (Diljit) playing a character he is best known for, one of the most innovative directors of 'music videos circle' with some huge projects in his repertoire (Gifty) making his proud film debut, the nostalgic narrow lanes of old Delhi used as an immensely likable colourful backdrop and a comic theme revolving around cunning property dealers (vaguely inspired from the basic plot of KHOSLA KA GHOSLA), certainly seems to be an exciting premise for an enjoyable Punjabi comedy film tilted MUKHTIAR CHADHA along with some catchy upbeat tracks raising the expectation level.But sadly, the above mentioned potential elements appear to be great only on paper, as the film simply fails to present them all in any collective enjoyable form disappointing many, particularly the family audience expecting some great entertaining cinema from Diljit and his team post SARDAAR JI.In fact such is the substandard, upsetting result of this big project (reportedly stuck in the making for a long time) that one wonders that did they really had anything in hand as a storyline or script to shoot their various sequences at all? Because the film is just like a sum of many poor gags put together in a silly rush and all we have is the lead character and nothing else to be precise in the name of story progression or plot line heading towards a clumsy climax.In exact words, here we have a Hindi speaking friend who keeps annoying right from the beginning quite pathetically, a leading lady (Oshin Brar) unable to make any connection with the viewers whatsoever and a big display of overacting from the'Mama Ji' along with the typical mother played by the veteran Kiran Juneja. Besides there are many deliberately added 'over the top' characters too like the thin funny gangster (Khyaali), a poetry loving land-grabber (Yashpal Sharma), a big well-built person with a girlish voice and a middle aged Bihari man being repeatedly fooled on the phone, that are unable to generate any laughter in the theater ruining all the big expectations from the film. Moreover it's the clichéd sequences of a funny Ramlila being played on stage, a 10-faced Ravan riding a scooter (straight away reminding you of Akshay Kumar's scene in TASHAN) and the ridiculous machine gun firing in the climax, that strongly pull down MUKHTIAR CHADHA to even below the level of mediocre to be honest. However the biggest shock comes post intermission, when we get to witness the weirdest scene of a 'graphically created girl' inserted without any reason at all, simply forcing you to ask, 'What the hell they are really up to as a creative team?"In the technical department, the songs as well as the cinematography do keep trying to give the film its much required lift sincerely, but the background music keeps ruining their noticeable impact adding all kinds of variety sounds in its distinctive sequences. In short there is only one enjoyable element in MUKHTIAR CHADHA and that is the performance of its leading man Diljit Dosanjh alone, who just marginally saves the film from being a complete disaster.However as fans and enthusiastic viewers of Punjabi movies, everyone was certainly awaiting a much better, polished, well written and maturely directed product from the team of Diljit and Gifty together.
Jasrick Johal
Mukhtiar Chadha is yet another punjabi comedy, and by now you would think the punjabi audience would want something more unique and novel to watch, rather than the same done to death genre.But thats not the case as even good films like Shareek which are of a different genre fail at the box office in Punjab. However what sets this film apart from other Punjabi comedies is that it stars superstar Diljit Donsaj, this man is easily the most popular actor and singer in Punjab, he has a huge fan following. This can be seen through his box office recored,he has about 5 of the highest grossing Punjabi films ever under his belt, and they all released from 2012 to 2015. Them being Jatt and Juliet,Jatt and Juliet 2, Punjab 1984, Disco Singh, and Sardar Ji, he hasn't delivered a flop for the last 3 years. And I can guarantee you Mukhtiar Chadha will be a hit too. He is one India's new superstars.So how Ready is for Salman Khan. how Lingaa is for Rajinkanth, how Gabbar Singh was for Pawan Kalyan, is how Mukhtiar Chadha is for Diljit Dosanj. Meaning the film has no real story, but the film is made to please fans of Diljit Donsaj, who will eat up his comic act, his screen presence is undeniably amazing, he is hilarious, and one can tell he was born to be a star, he has that quality. So for me being a fan of Mr.Dosnaj I lapped the film, and throughly enjoyed his comic act, and hilarious antics, and most Punjabi's who step into the theater will know what there getting into also, but for the rest the film holds a beware tag, because it is another predictable mindless, but funny comedy film.Story wise Mukhtiar Chadha is a 'Purani Dilli' guy whose only desire in life is to get rich, by hook or by crook. He is so business-oriented, he doesn't even spare his neighbor Dimple from his shrewd tactics. He finds out Dimple flunked in her exams, so he starts extorting money from her to not tell her father.But soon Mukhtiar finds himself caught up in a property deal gone wrong with some goons, what happens next forms the rest of the plot.Acting wise Diljit Donsaj is at his comic best, as the crook Delhi wala Mukhtiar Chadha. He is starting to repeat himself on screen now though,and other than 1984 Punjab, he is doing the same kind of roles. But I must admit, his screen presence can match up to the biggest superstars in India, he is just so entertaining. Other than Diljit, Yashpal Sharma is the only one who impresses on screen, his way of reciting poems is hilarious. Watch out for the scene were him and Diljit go back and forth battling it out in in poem battle. He is a comic villain.Mukhtar Chadha is a film were nothing but entertainment is given utmost importance. The film has gags, jokes, and different comic scenes happening at every second, the audience will not get bored for a minute. The second half does drag though a bit till the climax. But one does realize the film has a very lazy story and screenplay. Its a film that just follows a typical Delhi guy, and the comedy revenge angle is weak. But this nothing Diljit fan's will mind, because the star is full form and they have came to see him. The film does get the Delhi lingo, and Delhi culture correct in the film, the characters and especially Chadha's feels like he is straight from the capital city. The film was also shot nicely,had decent songs, and I enjoyed the climax terrorist friend angle, and the terminator gun thing, those scenes were the films highlight. However I despised the massy action it didn't suit Diljit.Overall the regular punjabi family audience will enjoy Mukhtiar Chadha, because they are used to films of these kind, mindless punjabi comedies. And if your a Dosanjh fan I don't need to say anything you will watch the film regardless of any review. Other people who are wanting to watch there first punjabi film, if you don't like mindless comedies, try something like Punjab 1984.3/5* or 6/10
