One would argue that you would judge every film on it's own merit; however when you have a director like Rakeysh Mehra who has given such outstanding performances like Aks and RDB - it will be unfair to ask expectations.Well, think again....
He's always known to give something different... this time he chose more personal subject. It's about Delhi (pin) 6 - Chandni Chowk. It's about Roshan who hails from NY to take her grand-mother to her age-old home in Delhi6. It's a story of how he discoveres his own life in that very own part of the capital. However, the biggest problem of this film is - that's the only piece of story you have. It's a skill of a team of Director / Scriptwritter / Storywritter to flourish this plot into a story with a heart. I speak about "heart" in my every review because that's what make or break any story. The script is so full of flaws which tries to pack too many parallel stories / characters at one place that I think at one point Director must have lost the plot as to what should he add to those 2 line plot. This is the same old plot that Swades has chewed but it's a complete different path Rakeysh has taken here.
The story starts with a small story of "Kala Bandar" which you think is just there to add a mad-fun but slowly it shapes into a actual story of the film. Then the characters in the story are rounded against the Baboon story which lacks logic, sense and treatment. The love story between Abhishek and Sonam is soul-less. There is very little effort to nurture that plot and develop it along with the shades of characters that carry it. What you get is Hindu-Muslim riots, mindless Baboon story and a very typical end where you have "never die spirit" (even after visiting heaven once).
Abhishek (NRI) takes her grand-mother to India as her last wish before she dies. Slowly and steadily an American starts seeing various colours, shades and love which Delhi6 has underneath. Various colourful characters around him build the plot in first half. You have a age-old rivalry between two brothers, a young widow, an "out-of-community" garbage collector girl, two naughty small kids who wants to become men etc. Then it also has Sonam Kapoor who's one of those next-door girl who wants to break-free from routine life and with aspiration to become Indian Idol. The story crawls in first half to just set the whole plot about Delhi6 and never really moves ahead. But it also comes with lot of humour, witty moments, good songs. So, even if you feel stuck - you keep your faith with few laughters.
Second half is totally disappointment. The so called sub-plot "Kala Bandar" has now become a main subject of the story and then it follows hindu-muslim issues, riots, trust-breaks, quarrels, disbiliefs. I totally understand the point director wants to make but don't buy his logic of doing the same. Do you really see a Delhi burning because of a one Baboon story. The treatment gets really sluggish and you feel like being fooled. You hope to get some salvation with love story but no, this is not love story - actually not sure what this is all about. Story wants Abhishek to stick to Delhi6 but don't know how to get that point. In the end - you see a scene between him and Amitabh which is totally pointless.
The only saving feature would be it's fantastic music score by AR. All the songs are terrfic and this guy is in form. You can't stop yourself singing Masakkali, humming Rehna Tu OR bit of rap in GendaPhool. Also cinematography is top-notch. It's a real Delhi from heart - you have not seen before. You can deinitely relate with surroundings, gallies, Jama Masjid. Take a look at song where Delhi and NY being brought together - that's a concept well executed. On performances, Sonam is good but her character hasn't developed too well. Abhishek is OK - nothing great. His accent does sound bit weird at places as he tried too hard to pretend. I'm really disappointed with Atul Kulkarni as he's totally wasted. He's a guy with tremendous talent and needs character role - not this moneky roles. Divya Dutta is ok. Rishi Kapoor's character - again lacks any shades and being wasted. Wahida Rehman is OK to good so as all big star-cast behind with big names.
It's prominent that Rakeysh tried to do somehting different than his previous larger than life films but to execute these micro-based stories - you need well developed characters with lot of energy, shades and depth. Also, it's like adding all the flavours in one drink - you don't know which should work.
All in all - it was a big disappointment. I heard lot of cheers while seeing the first shot of Delhi but in the end it was BOOs.... Watch it if you want to see how lack of good script destroys a film.....