Chup Review: An Unconventional Take On Movie Critics, Childhood Trauma and More

Chup the film is as exciting as its name. R. Balakrishnan's directorial Chup: Revenge of the Artist starts with a solid message for critics to be sensitive about their writing. For them, it may be just another piece they wrote, but for a director, it is his life. 

The movie's plot revolves around the serial killer who directed a film. His film received heavy criticism, which Danny (Salman Dulquer) couldn't take. The critics threw him into the trap of depression and caused mental trauma. 

Spoiler Alert

R. Balakrishnan has tried to experiment with the crime-thriller. One cannot call it an absolute thriller because he uses a love story and social issues to connect the entire plot and deliver the thriller. Writers team Balakrishnan, Raja Sen, and Rishi Virmani put in a lot of effort to deliver a meaningful story. They used Guru Dutt's flop film Kaagaz Ke Phool as the film's backdrop. A teaser of Chup was also unveiled on 9th July to mark Dutt's 97th birth anniversary, paying homage to the late director's film Kaagaz Ke Phool. 

The murders in the " target="_blank" rel="noopener">movie are spine-chilling and come close to the level of Game of Thrones bloodshed. Gory deaths at the hands of a serial killer often make it hard to keep your eyes on the screen. To top it off, the music from Kaagaz Ke Phool is used when murders are ensuing. There are moments where the murder scene captures the still from the film. In the last scene, Danny's body posture is exactly the scene from Dutt's film.  

The movie has a few unnecessary elements that seem forcibly inserted. For instance - the mother (Saranya Ponvannan) of the Nila Menon (Shreya Dhanwanthary) being blind and Amitabh Bachchan's monologue on how important critics are unnecessary. Other than that film has a good storyline. 

Chup-Revenge of the Artist Review

From star cast to dialogues to scene sequences had a freshness and were packed with creativity. The dialogues are hilarious, and Salman Dulquer and Sunny Deol shined in their roles. 

Romance does not eat the thriller aspect of the film. It is well-balanced. The dialogues are relatable, and the aesthetics of the romantic scene are blissful and give you awe amid the criminality vibes. Mumbai tour on cycle sets some romantic goals. Danny and Nila's onscreen chemistry with little bubbliness is top-notch. Nila is a young entertainment journalist, whereas Danny is charming. The two exchange smiles over bouquets of tulips, their easy chemistry giving Chup some of its best moments. Danny also has Norman Bates-styled conversations with himself, which is the first sign of him being a psychopath. Their romance flourishes as quickly as the body count of critics. 

The romance and the crime entwine in the second half, which hooks the audience as to what will happen next. The climax force you to sympathise with the killer. It can make you teary-eyed when Nila and the police staff watch a movie directed by him. The film tells you how childhood is important and what trauma can do to a person. If society makes fun of that trauma, it is more disheartening. Why the film title is Chup, one gets to know it in the film, so to know that film is a must watch. 

The views expressed are the author's own.

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