Movie Review: Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is delicious

Star Cast: Kunal Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Vinod Nagpal, Rajesh Sharma, Rajinder Sethi, Seema Kaushal, Rahul Bagga

Directed By: Sameer Sharma

Written By : Sameer and Sumit Bhateja

Music: Sumit Dwiedi

Duration: 2 Hrs 15 Mins

Rating: * * * 1/2

It looks like in 2012, Anurag Kashyap's production house AKFPL is blessed with a boon of unveiling some of the memorable flick one after the other. Be it " Ganga of Wasseypur I and II", "Chittagong" or the newest delight on Anurag's entertainment salver i. e. Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana.

This "Slice of Life" directed by Sameer Sharma (who has also made his directional debut with Luv Shuv Tey Chicvken Khurana), featuring a brigade of talented artists like Kunal Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Rajesh Sharma et al opened with an occupancy of around 28% at the multiplexes.

"Slice of Life" is one such budding genre of Bollywood, which is seen decorated with cine flicks, which at times inspite of being commercial let downs, succeed in leaving their impact and escalate in to the elite category of lovable cine cantatas. And because of its magnificently well brewed ingredients Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana deserves to be in that league of movies.

Synopsis:
In ancient India (and in some cases even today), some of the skilled communities use to prefer trickling down their trade skills, only to their descendants, in order to keep it confidential to the family.

So with its roots embedded in quite a similar tradition, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is a perfect cine cantata which showcases the tale of a UK returned free spirited grandson, an elderly patriarch grandfather and his yummilicious cooking recipe which he never shared with anyone and their rendezvous with life.

Story:
With in no time from start, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana gets down to business and as the story takes off it showcases a free spirited guy, Omi (Kunal Kapoor) residing in London, who owes a debt of 50,000 pounds to a mafia goon Shenty (Munish Makhija), who imposes a compulsive return to India on Omi in order to manage the money that he owes to him. Clad in the blanket of hopes, of managing money from his patriarchal Dhaba which own a good repute all across Punjab, Omi returns to his native village Lalton, Punjab.

But on reaching there he realises that, as compared to the time when he absconded from his home at a very young age, after sacking a hefty amount, things have deteriorated now and his lovable Darji (Vinod Nagpal), too have slipped into dementia but inspite of that has a fixation to his Dhaba and its much adored dish "Chicken Khurana".

On his return Omi comes across a warm and emotional reception by his cousin Jeet (Rahul Bagga), Aunty (Seema Kaushal) a suspecting Uncle (Rajinder Sethi) and also meets a highly eccentric character, Titu Mama (Rajesh Sharma), who reside in his grandfather's house. As the frames move ahead, steps in Omi's childhood love Harman (Huma Qureshi), whom Omi left behind while absconding during his adulthood.

As the story rolls ahead comes in a flurry of humor, emotions and commitments ultimately leading to a touching climax. So did Omi succeeds in regaining the lost glory of Chicken Khuran and pays back the debt that he owes or returns back to UK.

Script:
Unlike the script of those hang bang cine flicks, which have a premise rooted in the Punjabi culture and showcases the same in the shades of larger than life colors. Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana has got a simple and near to life premise, which very well portrays the Punjabi legacy through the lenses of reality and simplicity.

Script of Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is so well knitted that it leaves no scope for any kind of melodrama or inflated expression of emotions. And it's because of the neat and uncomplicated drafting of the script, that every artist comfortably slips under the skin of its character with quite an ease and thoroughly succeeds in delivering an outstanding performances.

There are very few stories which inspite of being highly predictable, succeeds in keeping audience attention glued to the screen, and undoubtedly, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is surely one of those stories which keeps on tickling your curiosity instinct.

As far as dialogues are concerned then onscreen loquaciousness of characters also compels you to associate with them, because of their simplicity. Even the quick witted and spontaneous humor sans gaucherie is good enough to bring smiles on your face.

Screenplay:
Though at times flow of the narration of Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana seems slowing down, but otherwise, since frame one the movie thoroughly keeps you captivated within the confines of its mesmerising charm. About Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, it won't be wrong to say that, it's simply the marvellous execution of the script, which keeps on pampering the entertainment hungry bud of the masses.

In the second half, for a while one may find onscreen proceedings to be dragging, but inspite of that it nowhere mar the over all flow of the narration.

As far as the direction of Sameer Sharma is concerned then there is just one word to describe it and i. e. Outstanding. After seeing the excellence with which Sameer has brewed the common man humor, familial legacy and culture, one thing is for sure that he masters the art of making an entertaining cine cantata.

Music:
Inspite of the absence of those obtruded peppy Punjabi tracks (as it is seen in various cine flicks having Punabi legacy at their roots), the music and lyrics of Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana are soothing aural delights. Just like other components, even the the music and lyrics of the movie elegantly carries the soul of the movie.

Performances:
It won't be wrong to say that while performing their characters in Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana each and every member of the cast was at his best. Be it the main lead or the supporting cast, each and every protagonist has thoroughly proved his or her acting adroitness with utmost excellence, hence making it a tough choice to pick any one as the best.

Though Kunal carried his character with utmost dexterity, but inspite of that this can't one can't be counted as one of the best performance of this otherwise highly talented actor.

Just like her GOW stint Huma again is an absolute delight to watch in a Punjabi Kudi avatar. In Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, Huma once again proved that she owns the potential to do justice to any and every kind of character offered to her.

Inspite of having nothing much to say, Vinod Nagpal thoroughly succeeds in tickling your ribs by his cute acts of senile innocence. But the man who thoroughly steals the show is Rajesh Sharma who is seen playing an eccentric character.

Infact it won't be wrong to say that despite being part of supporting cast, Rajesh's mere appearance on the celluloid and his spontaneous and quick witted comedy punches overshadowed everything else.

Dolly Ahluwalia in dhongi bua avatar is too good. And besides this Rajinder Sethi, Seema Kaushal and Rahul Bagga too succeeds in doing a thorough justice to their respective roles.

BO Potential:
Because of the absence of glittery star cast Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana may not succeed in emerging as a Commercial miracle but, inspite of that the movie is expected to recover its cost of production at BO and will be widely liked by the audience of all age groups.

Verdict:
To sum up, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is an exquisite dish which will deliciously quell your entertainment hunger.