Kids to the Rescue

CAST: Irrfan Khan,Divij Handa,Vedant Desai,Sanath Menon,Rohan Grover,Naman Jain,Aarav Khanna,Vishesh Tiwari

Rating: **1/2

A Mumbai housing society is the scene of the adventures of this “chillar” party,which starts out as a super fun ride. A little boy called Fatka (Khan) is the new entrant into this solidly middle-class oasis with its well-appointed flats,big cars and well-meaning parents overseeing children,homework and pranks. As his name denotes — no subtle notes here — Fatka is the fellow who cleans cars,makes do with just the shirt on his back,and no affection from anyone. Except from his dog,whom he loves to death,and who loves him right back.

A boy and a dog is an irresistible combination,especially if it is a motherless waif and his furry pal. Chillar Party,a debut feature produced by Salman Khan,scores high with getting this combo right. Not just Fatka,but the other kids are lively and life-like. This gang,which roams around on shiny bicycles,hangs out in a shed and treats a cricket game with an enemy team like war,targets poor Fatka by being properly mean. Gangs are seriously clubby affairs,and new members have to prove their worth before being handed out joining rights: Fatka is invited in,but only after he helps wallop the other team,and Bheedu the dog becomes everyone’s well-loved mascot.

So far,so enjoyable. Despite the cartoony swipes,and the thundering track underlying every scene,Chillar Party proves that it is entirely possible to make a smart children’s film,with good production values,with kids seen to be having a blast. But that’s only till the first half. Post interval,when Fatka and Bheedu need to be saved from a local neta who turns out to be a mongrel-hating monster,the film falls into the trap of let’s-get-the-message-in,right in your face: child labour is bad,evil politicians are worse,and,of course,children are the best.

And the only way to save the poor boy-and-dog is a highly improbable scheme: for the kids to strip down to their undies,and carry the revolution to the centre of Mumbai,and to the media,and to TV studios. So what this film,which is served to us in the most part with lashings of humour,nice lines,and likeable kids,boils down to is a sea of little boys swarming city thoroughfares in their underpants. Now who’s going to do that,even for underprivileged children,and sweet-tempered canines?

shubhra.gupta@expressindia.com