Four people decide to earn money by looting a place that has around 20 crs of money, with only 2 people safeguarding it. They decide on a plan of going as police, stealing a van but on the course of the plan they get into the liberties a policeman has, as a result getting away from their task resulting in lots of troubles.

I like the screenplay, non-linear and very good way of introducing the characters. Infact, they show those sequences twice which as a viewer I didn't mind as the comic element was high in them. Also, there is a sherlock holmes kind of sequence(one way though) twice in the film, where the protoganist dreams what would happen if he does something. Very innovative.

Camera-work is good, and editing is impressive. I like the climax, keeping it simple without going over-the top which some directors could had done.

The music is well used, without effecting the flow of the film.. plus the songs are entertaining with the kind of choreography done. I especially loved Hawa Hawa ae hawa, old time classic song, re-done in a very good way. And, notice two songs, one relating to Munni badnaam and other to Sheila ki jawaani very much intentionally. The choreography also has a deja vu of those songs.

Among performances, Naseeruddin Shah is fantastic as a person who is always calm even in tough situations. Notice his reactions when they fall in their own trap or when he meets the Haryana police. Offlate, he has been dancing a lot, in 3 songs we see him do that in this film.  Atul Kulkarni for me was the best performer of the lot, mainly because he plays a wanna be singer who turns a pimp and then partner in a crime to be done, in short he is the one who gets scared a lot easily. Special mention to the scene where he keeps repeating '2 hi log the'.

Kay Kay Menon, I always felt had a good comic timing even in his serious movies and one of his performance in 'Sankat City' that wasn't much noticed. Here in this film, except for few overdose of expressions in starting van scene, he was perfect in the rest film. Especially, his dream car sequence, or the pistol scene.

Ravi Kissen shows he can act, and not just ham if given a proper role. How contrary the role is to his image we have seen in other films, he plays more of a responsible person among the four. And he does it effectively!

Manoj Pahwa was okay. Zakir Hussan is fine in a small cameo. Rajesh Sharma could get typecast in police roles again and again, if he remains this good, though something should be done about his appearance, at one stage I felt he has come directly from No one killed Jessica story. But, isnt it a good thought, a particular character repeated in films (but than which actor would like to do one kind of roles in every film).


Overall, Chaalis Chauraasi is the first good film of 2012, it has the entertainment value, a humour to connect with and laugh at, and good performances by the 4 actors.


Verdict : Very Good