Chennai Express
2013 · Directed by Rohit Shetty
Original language: Hindi
- romance
- comedy
- action
The story
Rahul embarks on a journey to a small town in Tamil Nadu to fulfill the last wish of his grandfather: to have his ashes immersed in the Holy water of Rameshwaram. En route, he meets a woman hailing from a unique family down South. As they find love through this journey in the exuberant lands of South India, an unanticipated drive awaits them.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated Bollywood studio colour throughout: sunflower yellows, turmeric-orange saris, rich green paddy fields and whitewashed railway platforms under hard midday sun, with a warm, slightly overexposed glow that makes every frame feel like a postcard. Rohit Shetty's camera stays busy and kinetic, with wide sweeping shots of trains thundering across South Indian landscapes, quick cuts during chases, and broad, mugging comic close-ups that rarely hold still. The score is brassy and bouncy, full of dhol beats and playful Hindi-Tamil film songs, and the dialogue is a constant high-volume crossfire of comic misunderstanding. The vibe is lively, sun-drenched and goofy, a comfort-food romp for a lazy weekend afternoon or a group watch when you want noise and laughter. The pacing is brisk and the emotional register is light and affectionate: a stiff city man and a feisty, rebellious woman trade barbs, bicker through a series of mishaps, and slowly warm to each other. Violence is present in several slapstick brawls with goons and a stylised action finale, but it is cartoonish and bloodless, and there is no gore. Romance stays chaste and playful. It suits fans of big-hearted, slapstick Indian romcoms who enjoy loud, colourful ensemble comedy.
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