Cheeni Kum
Tags: romantic

Plot synopsis:
Two extremes... in age, character and attitude, meet and against all odds fall in love. They decide to get married. And, like any Indian man, Buddhadev Gupta [Amitabh Bachchan] respectfully comes to ask Nina's [Tabu] father, a true Gandhian played by Paresh Rawal.. and chaos ensues.Cheeni Kum focuses on Buddhadev Gupta (Amitabh Bachchan). Buddhadev is the 64-year-old chef and owner of London's top Indian restaurant, Spice 6. He lives with his 85-year-old mother (Zohra Sehgal) and his only friend and confidante is his 9-year-old neighbour, Sexy (Swini Khara) who is diagnosed with cancer and been to the hospital seven times. Buddhadev Gupta is an arrogant, ego-centric, pompous man with a singular passion in life cooking. He is a confirmed bachelor who has never been in love until 34-year-old Nina Verma (Tabu) walks into his restaurant and his life. Nina is a beautiful and charming Indian woman. Cool, calm, quiet, always smiling but independent and strong willed. The two extreme in age, character and attitude, meet and against all odds, fall in love. They decide to get married and like any Indian man, Buddhadev respectfully comes to ask Nina's father, Omprakash Verma (Paresh Rawal), who is a true Gandhian living in Delhi, for her hand. The main problem here is the Buddhadev is older than Nina's father. Omprakash is horrified when Buddhadev asks his daughter's hand and intentionally refuses, he start to commit suicide by starving himself to death. Buddha explained to him why he loved Nina and what kind of father is he keeping Nina single for 34 years. He left them with his mother and is horrified when Sexy's father (Vinay Jain) calls him and said that Sexy just died. Omprakash finally realises his mistake and let Nina go after Buddhadev and with his in-laws family, he let them go to London to his restaurant. He bonds with Omprakash when he tells him he got tickets to the cricket match. [Source: Wikipedia]

Review: At the point in this romantic comedy where they are definitely getting interested in each other, Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu are sitting on a bench in a park in London, and she tells him animatedly to run to a tree across a meadow and touch it and run back.
It's the kind of thing you tell a little boy to do -- a brilliant touch that captures so much of what's good about the movie: their fresh dynamic, her self-possessedness, his readiness, if reluctant, to step out of a somewhat ossified "grownup" character.
Tabu and AB are really good together - it's nice to see them both matched in terms of their size, for one thing, and Tabu emanates the kind of intelligent, self-confident, unsentimental, serious young woman who often is happiest with an older man -- like Jo in Little Women.Story takes place in both London and Delhi, which is fun.
And eventually there's her father in Delhi to deal with.AB lives with his 90-year-old mother (Zora Seghal, she's the grandmother in most movies) and one of the great things about the movie is their totally mutually insulting relationship -- she is a horrible cook and he is very mean and funny about it; she watches wrestling and Sex and the City or something on TV all day and nags him to go to a gym.
This is delightful in an Indian movie, as relief from the standard Mataji of the brimming-over compassionate gaze -- and we also unexpectedly see his deep reliance on her, and her availability, when something very distressing happens to him.Alongside the AB-Tabu story is the story of AB's relationship with a little girl next door who has leukemia.
And the scene where he goes into the video store and demands "adult dvds that are suitable for small children" is the kind of thing this movie excels at.The presence in the story of people of all ages, from little girl to 90-year-old Mother, as well as Tabu's father who is younger than AB and thinks of himself as elderly (and carries on to AB about how AB is so-lucky to have been "old enough to see Gandhi-ji") -- all of them written as anti-stereotypes -- makes a very nice philsophical background score about life, love, and mortality.I like the actual music a lot too - no "singing" by characters, but some nice scored passages that won't leave you, if Bollywood is your home, feeling exiled..
I laughed almost throughout the movie and I loved the flawlessly spiced dialogue between Amitabh and Tabu.
Cheeni Kum is about the unadulterated but sweetened love-story of a 64 year old man (I'm pretty sure Amitabh Bachchan is at that age right now in his real life) and a 34 year old woman.An arrogantly sarcastic Buddhadev Gupta (Amitabh Bachchan), who is still a bachelor at 64 meets a 34 years old spinster, simple and sweet Nina Verma (Tabu) at his restaurant, one of London's top authentic Indian Restaurant.
The similarities in their difference brings them together which culminated into a romance of a funnier genre.There were many ingredients of spices, little more than a typical romantic Hindi Movie; besides Amitabh and Tabu, the sizzler of curly straight dialogue from the 9 year old Sexy (Swini Khara) is refreshing to make you laugh all along.
Of course, Amitabh's 85 year old mother (Zohra Sehgal) who loves TV shows with muscle man and "Sex and the City" added enough flavor to make you reach out for the side dish that she flaunts..
Amitabh Bachchan is a crabby 64 year old chef / owner of an Indian restaurant in London.
The second half primarily depicts Tabu's 58 year old father, Paresh Rawal's viewpoint on the relationship.
Whether it's the interaction amongst the chef's in the restaurant, the waiter hilariously nicknamed Colgate because of his protruding teeth and the jokes at their expense ('Iske Liye Dimaag Ki Zaroorat Hai, Daant Ki Nahin', he is gently admonished on one occasion), the Sardarji pharmacist and Amitabh's interactions with him, Amitabh's mom's fascination with the gym in the face of her sons obvious reluctance to go anywhere near it, his acerbic comments on his mom's cooking ('yeh Tihar Jail Waali Dal ?'), Paresh Rawal's love of cricket and Gandhism.
I'm still laughing as I remember some of the jokes.And I haven't even mentioned Amitabh and Tabu  their running joke around the umbrella, the ruthless way she teases him the first time he tries to ask her out, their almost every conversation was beautifully constructed.
Everyone was excellent  from Amitabh to Paresh Rawal to each chef / waiter in the restaurant, Amitabh's neighbour and his daughter (a nice sub-plot here and at last we get a real child who talks like today's kids actually do, unlike the saccharine mumblings of the girl in TaraRumPum).
The music, with the title song playing constantly in the background, the settings (even Qutab Minar looks beautiful in the movie), everything, like spices, enhance the brilliance of the dialogue.Take a bow, Mr Balki (an ad maker and first time director).
Amitabh is truly the King of Hindi movies, you just have to watch him in those suits and Tabu has come of age as a seasoned actress, Paresh Rawal is OK.An unusual story depicted with very realistic situations and laced with light-hearted humour.
Another highlight is the role played by the child actor aptly named sexy, who is very witty and worldly wise.I think the bottom line of the movie is that girls mature faster than men do and thus age should really not be a bar when one looks for a life-partner.After a long time,(for Hindi movie-goers) one gets to see a movie and say Ya!
I am not too sure if Cheeni Kum is the first Bollywood movie which fits into this genre of "Sarcastic Comedy", but definitely there could be many more to follow.
With the ad-man at the helm of affairs, its no wonder that every line of the movie seems to have been written by a copywriter.Amitabh and Tabu share a great chemistry and for once you wonder if you have been focusing on Tabu's performance than Big B.
Fanstastic performance indeed and the same for the little girl "Sexy" who gets one of the best lines in the movie.
It is during one such outburst that he sees a dish, Hyderabadi Zafrani Pulao no less, returned by a customer (Tabu) because it's too sweet (and hence the recommendation to reduce sugar or Cheeni Kum).
He now owes her an apology, thus setting into motion a series of events that lead to attraction between the two, and finally love.Although the age gap between Amitabh and Tabu is there to see, it is totally downplayed and doesn't even come into focus until later in the second half.
The tight script and screenplay make sure the movie progresses at a good pace although it was slow at times for my liking.
power packed performance from amitabh bachchan and tabu..Buddha(amitabh) is the owner of spice6 restaurant which is the best in and around London....
JBJ was an AWFUL pile of bakvaas, and Amitabh's appearances in that movie were pointless and embarrassing (why was he trying to look like Stevie Ray Vaughan?) Cheeni kum was a very good movie.
A little slower than it could have been, and maybe Amitabh's character was a little bit TOO "cheeni kum", but overall it was an intelligent and well put together film.
Amitabh,Tabu,Paresh rawal have all acted great in this movie.
While the movie is appealing and a delight to watch in the first half and slowly seems to change track in the second half, things get a little too messy in the last third after Buddha goes to India to meet Neena's father.
The first half works as a romantic comedy where Balki introduces the love story of the two interesting protagonists, Buddha (Amitabh Bachchan) and Neena (Tabu) There are some very funny feel good scenes.
The comedy between Amitabh and Tabu works well and Zohra Sehgal is absolutely hilarious.
Zohra Sehgal is a delight to watch and Swini Khara is wooden (her voice sounds a little monotonous but her non-verbal expressions are good at times) Why did the writer choose to give a little girl a nickname like 'Sexy' (forced humour?)?.
I watch in awe at every movie Amitabh stars in these days with such admiration and respect for such a fine man and gifted artist, a true jewel in the crown of India.
Apurv Nagpal pretty much sums up the greatest of this film in his review, I had tears coming down my face for the first half of the film, and the one on one scenes between Amitabh and Tabu touched my heart like nothing else has done before.
all the best bits of the movie were in the trailer itself, and the item numbers you could watch later on you tube.Well, Cheeni Kum, was no such thing.
Tabu was superb, and Amitabh was absolutely outstanding.This film isn't just about the possible romance between a 64 year old and 34 year old.
It is a great movie indeed, very funny dialog and some great acting by Mr Bachchan, Tabu & Paresh R.
This is a kind of movie u can ask your friends to watch, who r not used to Indian movies (foreigners, or those who think Indian movies r not good enough).A great work by the director, Mr Balki and the entire team.
CHEENI KUM is a rare recent film which defies stereotypes and entertains you thoroughly from start to finish .It has excellent performances by an eminent cast and brilliant soundtrack by the maestro Illaiyaraja .
special mention to tabu, for playing her role at the right tempo - at just the right pace.balki handles the film with finesse, in the first half.
zohra sehgal is sooooo sweet, you wish she was your mom.paresh rawal is strictly okay.watch this film without having too many expectations.
Cheeni Kum is Fine Film with Great performances.
The movie concludes on the desired note after some interesting twists and arranging not only rib-tickling but also heart-piercing and sentimental moments for the audience.The title of the movie has been kept as Cheeni Kum(sugar in little quantity) because the first encounter of the lead pair starts with the preparation of Zaafraani Pulaao in the hero's restaurant for the heroine who is dissatisfied with the dish prepared on her order and then the hero who considers himself as a great chef, tells her that Zaafraani Pulaao is to be prepared with a little amount of sugar only because it shouldn't be very sweet.
There is an ample dose of sentiments also through the character of a little girl fondly called as Sexy (Swini Khera) and her sad demise leaving the lead characters especially the Mrs. Gupta and her son as soaked in grief.The movie is undoubtedly very interesting without boredom at any place and that's the victory of the writer-director R.
Musical score prepared by Illayaraja is completely in sync with the mood of the movie.Both Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu are highly talented actors and they have sparkled in this movie right from its opening to its conclusion.
Cheeni Kum boasts of a peculiar tagline 'Sugarfree Romance', the never paired Tabu and Amitabh Bacchan and also Illayaraja's superb music.
Cheeni Kum is one of finest works till date with superb performances, good storyline and everything one wants in a perfect entertainer.
That one is completely different.34 year-old Neena Verma (Tabu) meets the 64 year-old short-tempered chef of an Indian Restaurant in London, Spice 6 - Buddha Dev Gupta (Amitabh Bacchan).
Love blossoms between them and Buddha travels all the way to Neena's residence in Delhi and asks her father (Paresh Rawal) for his daughter's hand.
4. 9 year-old cancer affected neighbor, Sexy's interest for Adult movies and the way she talks like grownups.
Cheeni Kum,is a fresh movie,in term of its story for the Indian Audience and R.Balki has beautifully narrated the story.
Performance wise-Amitabh Bachchan is outstanding.I am sure no actor less them him, could done this role wit ease.Tabu is also too good.Paresh Rawal is hilarious.Zora Sehgal is both cute and humorous.This 98 year old woman must be appreciated for the way she acts.She is so confident and energetic.The child enacting Sexy is good.On the whole Cheeni Kum is a must watch..
Cheeni Kum. My expectation to see this movie was low after reading a The Hindustan Times poor review written by ex-Times of India film critic, Khalid Mohammed.
The story is about a 64 years old London based chef Buddhadev (Amitabh Bachchan) of an Indian restaurant, who is arrogant and proud of his Indian gourmet knowledge and cooking; and a 34 year old lady tourist to London, Neena Verma (Tabu), who lands up in the restaurant to be in argument with the chef over Hyderabadi Jafarani Biryani.
The second half of the movie is devoted to how Buddha tries to convince Neena's father Omprakash (Paresh Rawal), who is a hypocrite 58 year old Gandhian and against the relationship of his daughter and the chef.
Both, even with the huge age differences hold unique relationship with Buddha.The movie script is good and the first time advertisement agency director R.Balkirshnan has done a wonderful job.
Guyz if you've watched promos of "cheeni-kum" and expecting it as outstanding hilarious movie.....
Where old man Amitabh Bachchan(64) and young lady Tabu(34) falls in love..
A weak script, screenplay that made me want to eat myself, poor performances, and music that I didn't like filled my ears, screeching away.I thought a lot of Cheeni Kum was very cheesy.
I would have thought more would be displayed from Tabu, a wonderful performer, and Amitabh Bachchan, who does do good work.
I was sadly disappointed.Cheeni Kum could have been a powerful movie, but it was made in the wrong way.
Had the lady been 50 Plus in the film – played by may be Dimple Kapadia or Revathi – then the falling in love at an old age could have been made to present rather sweetly!In the film Tabu is 34 and Amitabh is 65!
But the lines spoken by Amitabh Bachchan during that scene are clap worthy.On the whole, Cheeni Kum needed to have more sugar!.
The subject this latest adman-turned-movieman tries to tackle in his debut (ad)venture is quite an age-old topic of discussion by almost any cultural standard -- timeless romance (pun intended).However, the exploration (and exploitation for Desi auds) falls woefully short as the usual inclinations to 'pepper, spice and sugar' up the usual masala mix of b/g score, dialog, dance, drama, etc creates a nice-looking package with not much inside.In the first 40 minutes of the movie, the kitchen scene has been repeated at least 8-9 times.
Reasonably good acting by Paresh Rawal who has the only sensible role in the film.
other than few good dialog there is nothing in this movie.the big b rt now is preaching to fall in love with girls of half of you age.
Now the task in hand is to convince Tabu's father, played by Paresh Rawal, to accept a man 6 years older than him as his son-in-law.
Worth watching at least once, for a different kind of a movie, than the usual, loud, Bollywood fare, which goes under the name of a comedy, or drama, and yes, specially for Amitabh, who has made justice to the main character , by his handling of it , with underplay and a beautiful sense of timing .
For some reasons, Amitabh played a role where he falls for younger girls, it started with KANK, then NISHABD and then Cheeni Kum. while in Nishabd there was more of late Jiah Khan's legs here this is a more mature love story.
The second half starts well but the entire fast part seems odd but the emotional scenes and last 10 minutes are awesomeDirection by R Balki is good Music is decent though Illayaraja used most of his tamil, kannada songsAmitabh is a natural and handles his role perfectly, he is simply awesome Tabu compliments him beautifully and adds realism to the part Paresh Rawal is fantastic in a clichéd role Zohra Sehgal is a delight, the lady was 94 when the film released but her energy is simply awesome, Swini Kara is delightful too rest are adequate.
A very clean movie with some double meaning dialogues, Cheeni Kum is a very mature love story between a 64 year old man and a 34 year old woman.Amitabh Bachchan is the owner of the best Indian restaurants in London Spice6.
Paresh Rawal as Tabu's father has also done justice to his role.
When you have two tower house of performers pitched against each other, the least you can expect is the superb camaraderie and that is the case in this film where we have a 64 yrs old Amitabh Bachchan romances a 34-yr old Tabu.
Nina's father is one who doesn't respect their relationship because of the age difference and therefore doesn't respect their decision to be together forever.Cheeni Kum has the potential to be a very well known Bollywood movie, but because of the long drawn out way in which it was performed, it is not one that I would recommend that anyone go see.
An Amitabh Bachchan, fresh from the failure of Nishabd, and Tabu, still reeling from the success of the Namesake.However the film does not deliver.
Why an intelligent woman would fall for an old cynical and expressionless man is never explained.Supporting characters of the mother (Zohra Sehgal), a precocious young girl ("Sexy"!!?), Shalini and the staff at the restaurant are easily summarized in two words: Annoying and Unnecessary.Tabu was good in her role, as was Paresh Rawal.
In this movie, the old Amitabh Bachchan falls in love with a much younger woman, again.