Movie Review: Chalk N Duster a Worthy Idea Marred by Bad Execution

The unnecessary melodrama, plot twists, long monologues all create a maze that does little to hold our attention.

If Chalk N Duster was a subject being taught in my school, I would have yawned my way through it. Alas, that wasn’t to be! It’s this week’s newest release and I could not even bunk it!

Now I shall proceed to give you three reasons why you must watch Chalk N Duster.

1. Because it isn’t every day that we see seasoned actors like Shabana Azmi, Girish Karnad, Juhi Chawla, Divya Dutta and Richa Chaddha failing miserably to save a sinking ship.

2. To watch with rapt attention as our beloved stars Jackky Shroff and Rishi Kapoor are taken for a ride.

3. And the final reason being that we are so “vella” and bored with life that there isn’t even one dishevelled cupboard in the house which we would rather rearrange.

Once having made the momentous decision of going for Chalk N Duster, there would be many moments throughout the 130 minutes run time when the four exits of the movie theatre would look inviting.

Chalk N Duster is the prime example of how mere good intentions can’t guarantee a good film. The thought undoubtedly is noble. Celebrating our age old guru-shishya tradition, this film talks about the importance of teachers in our society and how they deserve all the respect and rewards.

Devoted school teachers played by Shabana Azmi and Juhi Chawla, are engaged in a tug of war with a “female- Hitler” like principal, Ms Gupta (Divya Dutta). Turning education into a profitable business she wants to oust all senior faculty members. Her stare venomous, and her characterization plain vanilla! She is evil we know but apart from a jibe by Shabana Azmi calling her a sadist there isn’t much that we are allowed to garner. A worthy idea marred by a painfully bad execution.

The unnecessary melodrama, plot twists, long preachy monologues all create a maze that does little to hold our attention. Director Jayant Gilatar who has managed to rope in stars like Rishi Kapoor and Jacky Shroff in inconsequential cameos would be better off taking tuitions for film-making.

Such a pity that inspite of actors of the caliber of Shabana Azmi and Juhi Chawla the film never really takes off. Dust this movie off your weekly “must watch” film roster. I will give it 1 QUINT OUT OF 5. Skip this one and you shall not miss anything!