Laal Singh Chaddha And the Unnecessary Plethora Of Hate

Eight weeks after its initial theatrical release, Laal Singh Chaddha has arrived on Netflix in a rather silent form. The Indian adaptation of Forrest Gump received a wide range of reviews, mostly ranging from negative to mixed responses. Although tough critical feedback is a ground of commonality with most massy Hindi films, this time around, it was the preconceived notion that dismantled the film even before its release.

There was a time when we use to chatter about badly made movies as much as a critically acclaimed one. The point was not to uphold the dignity of a personal favourite actor or actress but to maintain an environment of commentary around films. For instance, the area of communication was what we liked, what we didn’t and what could have been.

Now, the general commentary has been reduced to bashing and trolling, with no space for a constructive discussion. Basically, we have made it pretty clear that it is a black-and-white path, with no shades of grey.

Is it the right form of communication strategy to move ahead? Definitely not. Films are highly subjective entities which cater to different audiences at a given point in time. They generate a different kind of emotional response for them, which often compels them to look over the flaws and appreciate the bulk.

But we are no longer communicating about certain films. The general attitude is of dismissal, not discourse.

The pros and cons of Laal Singh Chaddha

In the case of Laal Singh Chaddha, a wave of the audience eagerly pointed out the repetitive cringe at Aamir’s performance, but there was little to no discussion around Mona Singh’s exceptional role. Similarly, the entire supporting cast was left out of the conversation. (Like can we ever redeem ourselves for not giving Naga Chaitanya his due?)

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Yes, the screenplay is something else after the first half, and almost lose track of time. But the spot-on moments of Laal’s childhood, followed by his army days, and then later the endless run of no purpose- deserve their share of praise. Atul Kulkarni’s attempt at redesigning the masterpiece around Indian happenstance is a job well done. The bar was already too high for him, and the way he keeps the spirit intact with the fresh element of originality is commendable.

We cannot leave out the songs away from the discussion. The entire album reflects the innocence of Laal’s character and his arch of never giving up on Rupa. Pritam and the team added a layer of unsaid words to the film, and it shows. Especially the title track of the film, which slowly grows over you.

All in all, Laal Singh Chaddha was a film that had its heart in the right place. The act of dismissing a movie might not be the best approach to converse about art in the first place. In fact, the biggest takeaway from its aftermath would be more commentary and less hate.

You can watch Laal Singh Chaddha on Netflix. Let us know your thoughts about the film in the comment section below.

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