Chillar Party

Rating : 5/10
Release Date : 8th July, 2011
Time : 130 minutes
Director & Writer : Nitesh Tiwari, Vikas Bahl; Music : Amit Trivedi
Starring : Irrfan Khan, Sanath Menon, Rohan Grover, Naman Jain, Aarav Khanna, Vishesh Tiwari, Chinmai Chandranshuh, Vedant Desai, Sherya Sharma, Divji Handa

Its fun, its feisty, its funny but its just way too long.

Till about the half way mark you’re not even sure what the film is about. Is it about the kids in Chandan Nagar, the gang known as Chillar Party, and their cricket battle with their oversized neighbourhood kids ? Is it about their battle with the new kid who washes the cars, accompanied by his dog ? Is it about each of them and their individual relationships with their parents ? Or is it to do with the minister, who is promising a terror free Mumbai of a different kind ?



The kids are endearing, some of their jokes funny, the parents come across very nicely & naturally. Amongst the funnier episodes are those involving their nicknames (Akram, Panauti & Jhangiya taking the cake), Panauti’s sudden new found love for milk and the slow tapori-isation of the group, thanks to Phatka.



On the con side, it’s a loose script, even the end meanders, the casting of the villain could’ve been better & the ending itself was intentionally made too soppy. It also lacked the wow moments – the ones that will stand out & bear repeat viewing (as in Home Alone or even Alvin & the Chipmunks). Even Amit Trivedi’s music lacked its usual zing, seemed similar to his earlier efforts


It’s a nice effort, kept light and breezy for the most part. Not sure how kids will react to it but I wish it was at least 20 minutes shorter….