It’s a busy weekend for Indian films in the Chicago area, including two new Hindi releases opening January 10, 2020. First is Raazi director Meghna Gulzar’s acid attack survivor drama Chhappak, starring Deepika Padukone and Vikrant Massey.
Chhappak opens Friday at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, MovieMax Cinemas in Niles, AMC South Barrington 24 in South Barrington, Century Stratford Square in Bloomingdale, Regal Cantera in Warrenville, and AMC Naperville 16 in Naperville. It has a listed runtime of 2 hrs. 2 min. Its streaming partner is Hotstar.
The weekend’s other new release is the period action film Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, starring Ajay Devgn, Kajol, and Saif Ali Khan.
Tanhaji opens Friday at the River East 21, MovieMax, South Barrington 24, Cantera, Naperville 16, AMC Niles 12 in Niles, and AMC Woodridge 18 in Woodridge. It has a listed runtime of 2 hrs. 15 min. Its streaming partner is also Hotstar.
Good Newwz carries over for a third week at the River East 21, MovieMax, South Barrington 24, and Woodridge 18.
Other Indian movies showing in the Chicago area this weekend (all films have English subtitles):
- Sarileru Neekevvaru (Telugu) at the River East 21, MovieMax, Niles 12, South Barrington 24, Stratford Square, Century 12 Evanston in Evanston, Century 16 Deer Park in Deer Park, Marcus Addison Cinema in Addison, Classic Cinemas Charlestowne 18 in St. Charles, Cinemark Tinseltown USA in North Aurora, and Cinemark at Seven Bridges in Woodridge
- Darbar (Tamil and Telugu) at the Century 16 Deer Park, MovieMax, South Barrington 24, Stratford Square, Cantera, Seven Bridges, Marcus Addison (Tamil only), and Marcus Gurnee Mills Cinema in Gurnee (Tamil only)
- Ala Vaikuntapurramuloo (Telugu) at Century 16 Deer Park, MovieMax, South Barrington 24, Marcus Addison, Stratford Square, Charlestowne 18, and Seven Bridges
- Driving License (Malayalam) at MovieMax
I made it to see Tanhaji with my female Bollywood watching buddy. We left the husbands at home. My daughter had a school project so she was at home too.
First, Saif plays the evil character very well. His facial expressions were downright creepy and scary at times. You felt sorry for his underlings. He excelled in the role.
Kajol did her typical slightly sassy well. Once her part in the end credits is over, there’s nothing else but names if you want to leave. She has good chemistry with Ajay, but being spouses, you’d hope so. Her role was small but important but it felt lacking a bit.
My friend didn’t like Ajay’s acting at the beginning of the film but said he grew on her. She thought the second half of the film was better than the first. The main battle is in the second half. Ajay surprised me in the film. He was believable in the great warrior side and also the caring husband side.
As for the battles, they’re pretty bloody since the main weapons are swords and arrows. In typical Bollywood fashion, the hero can fight well no matter what befalls him. Some of the siege tricks would be cool if they actually work in real life.
Our conclusion was it was a good film but not one we’d see twice. The credits listed Hotstar as the streaming partner, which neither of us have so it was worth going on discount night.
Kajol was the dominant actor featured on some of the posters, so it’s disappointing to hear that her role was small. Thanks for the review, Jill!