Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Drama
Year: 2022
Running time: 2 hours 39 minutes
Director: Advait Chandan
Cast: Amir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Mona Singh, Naga Chaitanya Akkineni
Kid rating: G
Laal Singh Chaddha is based on the movie Forrest Gump, and will of course be compared to it. Even so the film has been made quite well and is a charming, engrossing entertainer, standing tall on its own.
So if you haven’t seen Forrest Gump here’s the lowdown. Laal Singh Chaddha (Amir Khan) is a man of diminished mental capacity. But he is a kind, generous, golden hearted soul and the film is about his adventures in life as he goes about interacting with different people. His adventures are interesting because of his unique perspective, taking everyone at face value and not suspecting any ulterior motives. Surprisingly, the world treats him kindly and he is able to achieve unimaginable success. Only in one thing is he unhappy – his unrequited love for Rupa (Kareena Kapoor), his childhood friend.
Now, I quite like Forrest Gump. It is a true classic. And it is hard to measure up to true classics. So I’m quite impressed with Laal Singh Chaddha. The adaptation exceeded my expectations – kudos, Atul Kulkarni! Also fantastic is the fact that it did not turn into a cringy, moralistic, melodramatic remake featuring ma-bete ka pyaar and sanskaar.
While the story is basically the same, it has been adapted to fit in actual events from Indian history like the 1983 World Cup, Babri Masjid riots, the Anna Hazare movement, the Mandal commission protests, the Punjab insurgency, the army operation in the Golden Temple and the assassination of Indira Gandhi. This has been done deftly, with humor and panache, correlating the effects of these on Chaddha, his family and society in general. It was actually hysterical to see the segment involving Laal’s dancing and the way it might’ve influenced the dancing of an Indian superstar.
The film is shot in different parts of the country. Laal on his running journey (he runs for about 4 years because he feels like it) travels to different parts of the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Rajasthan to Ladakh. Gorgeous locales from each part of country flash on-screen, with a bearded, flowy-maned Laal Singh Chaddha running through it all, trailed by a band of followers who look to him for inspiration and hope. Laal Singh Chadha, the film and the character, embody and portray unity in diversity. The film depicts goodness and kindheartedness not because religions tout these traits but because that’s the way we should be.
Aamir Khan is impeccable as Laal. He is the one actor in Bollywood who matches Tom Hanks’ depiction of Forrest Gump in its simple-minded earnestness. And it’s been such a while since we’ve seen him on the big screen you forget what a great actor he is! The scene at the grave, towards the end of the film, was especially moving.
I have never thought of Mona Singh as an especially great actress but here, as Laal’s mother, she is very good. Kareena Kapoor also fits the role of Rupa pretty well and the de-aging effects were quite effective because she looked like she was 18! I also really enjoyed the easy friendship between Bala (Naga Chaitanya) and Laal. And the chaddi-baniyaan business idea was a hoot! Great casting all around!
Laal Singh Chaddha has something for everyone – drama, romance, humor and touchy-feely poignant moments! Fabulous direction by Advait Chandan (he also directed the lovely Secret Superstar), a thoughtful script, well-paced screenplay and a great cast makes this simple tale a feel-good entertainer.
Kidwise: Clean.
