Benchmark Pictures and Ninderwal Entertainment’s Chakki (UA) is the story of the owner of a flour mill. Vijay (Rahul Bhat) runs a flour mill. He is in love with Reema (Priya Bapat). Reema also loves Vijay. To his horror one day, Vijay receives an electricity bill of an obscenely high amount for his mill. When he complains, he gets stuck in the web of bribes, falsehood and deceit. Does he come out of it?
Satish Munda has written the story of a common man’s travails in society even when he is not wrong. The story offers nothing which is novel or new. The screenplay, written by Ashwin Verman and Satish Munda, is no better than the story because it moves on the tried and tested path and is replete with oft-repeated scenes. There are no light moments and there is no hint of emotions. The drama moves ahead without really involving the audience or getting their participation. Ashwin Verman and Satish Munda’s dialogues are routine.
Rahul Bhat does a fair job as Vijay. Priya Bapat is alright as Reema. Alka Amin leaves a mark as Vijay’s mother. Tirth Sharma lends decent support as Dabbu, brother of Vijay. Neha Bam (as Reema’s mother) and Aniruddh Khutwad (as Reema’s father) are adequate. Shahnawaz Pradhan is okay in the role of executive officer Ram Naresh Tripathi. Dhirendra Dwivedi is average as advocate Manoj. Aseem Dubey hardly gets any scope as Vijay’s father. Simran Natekar is ordinary as Reema’s sister, Kiran. Mushtaq Khan has his moments as the investigation officer. Shrikant Verma (as Bada Babu), Durgesh Kumar (as Veerubhai), Sahidur Rehman (as Rakesh), Pradeep Nema (as the SDO), Irfan Khan (as Chhotu) and Harish Verma (as Rajeshji) lend routine support. Others just about fit the bill.
Satish Munda’s direction is average. His narration should’ve been more forceful. Indian Ocean’s music is functional. Piyush Mishra and Varun Grover’s lyrics are of a good standard. Meghdeep Bose’s background music is nothing to shout about. Camerawork (Tribhuvan Babu Sadineni) is okay. Jayant Deshmukh’s production designing and Shekhar Yadav’s art direction are average. Suresh Pai’s editing leaves something to be desired.
On the whole, Chakki will prove to be a non-starter.
Released on 7-10-’22 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Platoon Distribution. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.