A lot can happen over good meal! It’s the most important thing in our lives. Food can mend or break relationships. And Saif Ali Khan film reminds us just that... A way to anyone’s heart is through his stomach.
An official remake of 2014 Hollywood hit Chef. The original film had John Favreau, Scarlett Johansson and Sofia Vergara in the lead. Keeping the basic track intact, Saif plays the role of Roshan Kalra, Punjabi chef from Delhi who gets fired from his job in New York. While trying to figure out his next move, he decides to visit his ex-wife played Malayalam actress PadmaPriya Janakiraman and his son, Armaan aka Svar Kamble in Kochi. Initially frustrated with this break, Kalra ends up discovering his paternal instincts and what he missed while staying away from his son all these years. A workaholic chef finally finds time to mend his relationship with his family. That’s not all! His estranged wife and an old friend make him rediscover his passion for cooking and encourage him to start his own food truck.
Raja Krishna Menon, the filmmaker whose last release Airlift with Akshay Kumar was a huge hit, doesn’t disappoint all those who loved the original film as well. In fact, while desifying it for Indian audience he has added a lot of new layers (like the idea of planning a trip to Kerala)
Saif Ali Khan plays charming, loud mouth, impulsive and a no filter Punjabi from Delhi. He keeps cracking one-liners with a straight face throughout the film. Then he also has an aggressive side to him, he not loses his job because of that but even forces his life lessons on his adolescent son. Punjabi VS Malyalam banter is fun without being offensive. Dialogues like ‘It’s Radha Menon conspiracy that Chandni Chowk’s Roshan Kalra’s son doesn’t know chole bature’ is true to reality. Now isn’t that a typical Punjabi foodie reaction.
Saif Ali Khan is amazing when he talks about food and its importance in our lives. But this Chef doesn’t serve food porn like MasterChef Australia does or even what Chef John Favreau did. This Chef won’t make you feel hungry like Irrfan’s tiffin boxes in ‘The Lunchbox’ did as well. As he mainly serves two delicacies– spaghetti and Rotzaa (pizza made out of rotis) throughout the film. But his preparation for the part shows as Saif looks sexy while chopping vegetables(something most of us detest doing in the kitchen).
PadmaPriya looks good and has performed well but unfortunately there is no chemistry between the lead actors. Supporting cast matches up to Saif Ali Khan’s antics in the film. Milind Soman steps into the role originally played by Robert Downey Jr (Good Choice). Dinesh Prabhakar as Alex is funny and Chandan Roy Sanyal also has his share of punches in the movie.
Saif Ali Khan has played a metrosexual urbane confused in love time and again. Salaam Namaste, Hum Tum, Love Aaj Kal, Kal Ho Na Ho and so on. But this time the actor is dealing with life issues, career problems and with conviction.
Just don’t compare it with the original Hollywood film and once again Chef will leave you with a smile.
3.5/5
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 "A still from Saif Ali Khan's Chef")
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