Chef
Back in 2017, when I watched this film in the theatres, I had loved it instantly. And I fall in love with it even more every time I watch it. More than just a film that entertains, this has become the bible that I follow given that it teaches so many life lessons. Lessons of relationships, modesty, the value of hard-work, staying true to your art, finding yourself and your purpose are just some of the many that this film brings forth.
‘Chef’ is a cathartic story of a chef who reconnects with his broken family and finds his true self. This film is based on the American film titled the same by Jon Favreau. I have seen both the films and as unpopular as this opinion might be, I loved the Indian adaptation way more. There are multiple reasons for this. It is so smoothly blended in Indian context with empathetic additions to the story which connect you to the characters very deeply. I vividly remember the scenes which are shot at the Golden Temple and in the streets of Delhi both being paramount to the story. It is written beyond excellence. The dialogues are so raw, real and organic. The direction by Raja Krishna Menon is flawless. He has a solid grip on his craft and is one of the best directors Bollywood has! Also, the performances are amazing. It is hard to take your eyes off Saif. Watching Padampriya and Svar is such a delight.
To add more, this movie is a visual treat. It is so amazingly shot by Priya Seth. Predominantly set in Kerala, the beauty of God’s own Country has been magnified by her camera-work. The food-truck travels have been so well captured. Also, the BGM and soundtrack by Raghu Dixit is another factor that makes Chef so lovable. Especially, look out for the song ‘Darmiya’ & ‘Banjara’.
Rarely are cooking themed films made in Bollywood and this one was surely ahead of its time and deserves much more acclaim and popularity than it already received. If you haven’t watched this film so far, it will definitely be a light and tasty watch. More than anything else, Chef is a film that’ll give you a rush of feel-good and hope in these hard times. It is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
