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• Chup: Revenge Of The Artist

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RAHUL HAZRA 16 64 days ago

This is the best of best film I have ever seen in my whole life. Mujhe lagta hai sabhi filmo ko uski ratings audiance ko Deni chahiye chahe wo 1 star ho ya phir 5 star. Kiu ki audiance ke liye hi to film bante hai, agar hum audiance us film ko Bina dekhe hi sirf aur sirf ratings per based karke na dekhe to kya fayda. Humhe us film ko dekhna chahiye, dekhne ke baad hum use ratings denge. Wo vi honest review. Hume pata hai ki Jo ratings dete hai unhe to film ke producers, actors koyi bhi Paisa khila sakta hai, magar hum audiance ko kabhi nhi... Chahe wo koyi bhi bada actor ho hum audiance ke Bina uska koyi namo nishan Tak nhi hai. Hum hi unke plus point hai aur minus point bhi. Mind it <br/>And I have this movie 5 out of 5 stars ❤️

Srj Hg 62 161 days ago

Mohammadyeasin 1 281 days ago, user mohanty 27 324 days ago.

The script of the movie and the title is so justified but few loopholes were there in the execution. The split personality of the actress in the first half completely vanished in the second half. And then how the killer got the victims at those murder sites was not clear. Except these all the actors were so accurate in their roles specially Salman and sreya . I completely loved the love story how it goes slowly and then got intensified . The dialogues were good , the plot and the cast were at the point . And yes I am ignoring the well predictable story line and all of know who was the killer from the first but the movie really wanted the audience to know that fact ... Over all the movie was worth watching. The ending could have had a twisted story like the protagonist killed the actress then got caught but I was really asking for a happy ending so yes it is a good movie to watch...enjoy ��

Suban 355 days ago

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Chup: Revenge of the Artist review – a killer Bollywood horror to frighten film critics

A thriller that skewers the tense film-maker/reviewer relationship in this tale of a Mumbai serial killer out for revenge on careless journalists

D irector R Balki must have got a kick out of writing this very enjoyable poison-pen letter to film criticism in which a Mumbai serial killer stalks the practitioners of our noble profession. Se7en-style, the killer tailors the murders to the critique; woe betide the hack who thoughtlessly writes: “A picture whose heart is in the right place, but whose other organs are all over the place.” Not only is this premise a droll kick up the arse for the Scream-style meta-slasher, it has to be the first film in which someone says “I need a critic” in the same imperative tone usually reserved for a Swat team or an elite hitman.

First for cancellation is the career-assassin journalist found seated on his toilet, scored around his torso with bloody grooves. Police chief Mathur (Sunny Deol) twigs that the triangle carved into his forehead is, in fact, an uncompleted star, and that the killer, the “critics’ critic”, is “rating” his victims. Meanwhile, Nila (Shreyer Dhanwanthary) is the new entertainment reporter on the Mumbai Post. A film fanatic who likes to live within earshot of the musical numbers emanating from her local studio, she seems to be falling into her own movie romance when she meets strapping florist Danny (Dulquer Salmaan). So far, so masala – apart for the fact that, in private, Danny holds Norman Bates -style conversations with himself.

Balki, whose last film was the 2018 sanitary-towel comedy Pad Man , has a knack for a topical hook. Chup successfully skewers not just the tense film-maker/critic relationship, but knows perfectly where to put its finger to best needle Film Twitter: it calls out hot-take merchants, overly positive and corrupt reviewers, and this exalted calling’s self-importance. “I cannot live like this any more – like a terrorist attack,” says the wife of one critic under police protection. Balki even manages to make Chup’s disparate sides – the satirical police procedure and dulcet romance – work productively in tandem. The latter increasingly puts a bloody, ironic spin on Bollywood fantasy, as Danny turns out to be a fanboy of the lamented Guru Dutt, the celebrated writer-director who may have killed himself in 1964 at the age of 39 in the wake of the bad reception to his final film, Kaagaz Ke Phool.

But as Amitabh Bachchan, cameoing, says: “Cinema needs fearless voices for its evolution”; someone has to tell Chup where it doesn’t quite click. Salmaan – though generally effective in his eerie affableness – clubs us over the head with the split personality stuff. The sound designer who came up with the bizarre mobile phone trill that accompanies significant plot points should be shot. And at well over two hours, the film stretches the plausibility of both his premise and the performances on the rack at the finish. Perhaps I should be more careful how I phrase things, but it’s a caustic and tasty film for the most part.

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Chup (2022)

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‘Chup’ review: Silence! The court is in session and film critics are in the dock

R balki directs dulquer salmaan, sunny deol and shreya dhanwanthary..

Some of R Balki’s movies can be summed up by one-liners. Real-life father and son cast as son and father with some help from a genetic disease: Paa . Mute actor borrows thespian’s voice to hit the big league: Shamitabh . She works, he doesn’t: Ki & Ka . Guru Dutt as the inspiration for a serial killer who murders film critics: Chup: Revenge of the Artist.

Balki’s slash-the-messenger thriller claims to have identified the real problem that is hurting the Hindi film industry. It isn’t bad scripts, Bollywood-hating trolls, paid publicity that creates false expectations or hard-to-please audiences. It’s film reviewers. To justify bringing a sword to a bout of arm-wrestling, Balki invokes no less than Guru Dutt.

Guru Dutt’s masterpiece Pyaasa (1957) and the critical and commercial failure Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) serve as lodestars for Balki’s script. Shot compositions from Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool inspire some of Chup ’s visuals. Songs from his films are used in their original form or as covers, as well as sung (badly) by Chup’ s antagonist.

There’s a Freudian touch too to the grudge report about the impact of criticism on a creator’s mental state. The writers of Chup include film reviewer Raja Sen, alongside Balki and Rishi Virmani.

Kaagaz Ke Phool , Guru Dutt’s cri de coeur about the travails of filmmaking, is of particular interest to Chup . Kaagaz Ke Phool traces the decline of a director who loses his audience, the woman he loves and cinema itself. It was the last film Guru Dutt officially directed (he made immeasurable contributions to his subsequent productions, including Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam and Chaudhvin Ka Chand ).

The director himself acknowledged that Kaagaz Ke Phool was unwieldy and far too maudlin for public taste. Although now regarded as a cult classic, Kaagaz Ke Phool is better seen as a deeply flawed diamond, reflecting Guru Dutt’s troubled mind rather than as the crowning glory of his achievements.

According to Chup’ s alt-history, though, Kaagaz Ke Phool was demolished by bad reviews. Like wights swarming over Winterfell, critics descended on Kaagaz Ke Phool , denying the film and its maker the greatness they deserve, Chup dubiously claims.

Danny (Dulquer Salmaan) is a hunky florist who catches the eye of journalist Nila (Shreya Dhanwanthary). Danny is actually a “critic of the critics”, eviscerating reviewers in the same manner in which they rip apart films. Danny’s calling card is carved into the foreheads of his victims – the numbers of stars that accompany movie reviews and are regarded as markers of a film’s worth.

Might the killer be a copy-cat inspired by a film, wonders police investigator Arvind (Sunny Deol)? The smug reply isn’t actually aimed at him. No such movie exists, a character declares. (It does: it’s called Chup .)

Arvind’s floundering investigation gets a boost from psychologist Zenobia (Pooja Bhatt). While the source of Danny’s actions is clear enough, Chup itself is never quite coherent about the role of critique in the ecosystem of cinema.

In a cameo, Amitabh Bachchan declaims about the importance of constructive criticism. Danny tells a victim, be a critic by all means but be a good one. The film holds the contradictory position that downbeat reviews can harm the box office but also have zero impact on ticket sales.

There’s a missing element in the equation, which was wonderfully articulated in Ram Gopal Varma’s Rangeela (1995). Aamir Khan’s Munna declares, we are the paying public, we can say whatever we want about the quality of movies. Chup has no equivalent moment of coruscating insight.

The film’s intent is more explicitly conveyed by the gratuitous depiction of Danny’s gruesomeness and its empathy for his psychosis. In the kangaroo court of Danny’s mind, he is judge, jury and executioner, with film critics cowering in the dock, wishing they had been soft instead of honest.

There are patches of humour in the gore. Nila’s mother (Saranya Ponnvanan) is to Chup what Zohra Sehgal was to Balki’s directorial debut Cheeni Kum (2007): a dispenser of wisecracks and welcome distraction.

Some comic moments are surely unintentional. Sunny Deol is encouraged to bellow and leap into the unknown in spectacular fashion. Except in these moments, Deol is exceptionally understated and a surprisingly steadying presence.

The use of SD Burman’s music from Guru Dutt’s films, taken out of their original context and set against grimy visuals, has flashes of spark. The sound made by temple blocks in Jaane Kya Tune Kahi from Pyaasa serve as a sinister sonic marker of Danny’s actions. Sneha Khanwalkar bravely covers Ye Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye , also from Pyaasa , transporting lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi’s 1950s lament to a contemporary tale of madness.

There’s plenty going on in Guru Dutt’s name, including the proposition that the sensitive filmmaker’s brooding themes can lend themselves to murderous sentiment. But Guru Dutt is ultimately a prop, plaything and convenient blank canvas for a scattershot and unevenly paced psychological thriller.

If Chup encourages viewers to seek out the real article, it might achieve half its purpose. As for critics, they are well-advised to keep their distance from florists, steer clear of anybody named Danny, and avoid using similes and metaphors that could give serial killers odd ideas.

As the deranged dispatcher, Dulquer Salmaan unleashes an evil laugh and gamely chews through sad wordplay on industry terms such as “editing” and “director’s first cut”. The more convincing actor is Shreya Dhanwanthary, who turns out a warm and nuanced performance.

Why ‘Chup’ director R Balki decided to bite the hand that fed him

‘Pyaasa’ is the Guru Dutt gift that keeps giving

How Guru Dutt laid himself bare in his films

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Chup Reviews

Chup is absolutely hilarious when it focuses on its slasher aspect. The murders are incredibly creative. Balki uses the freedom that comes with the A-rating to its fullest.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 20, 2023

For this critic Chup remains an interesting, intriguing idea that couldn’t quite execute what it ambitiously set out to achieve .

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jan 2, 2023

Director R Balki's Chup: Revenge of the Artist isn't a slasher horror or a serial killer thriller; it's actually a parody of those genres, with lots to say about the state of films and film criticism.

Full Review | Dec 2, 2022

It surely left me asking for more...

Full Review | Oct 17, 2022

The smug reply isn’t actually aimed at him. No such movie exists, a character declares. (It does: it’s called Chup...)

Full Review | Oct 1, 2022

Chup: Revenge of the Artist can only be described as an experiment. Watch the film for the fine performances by the entire ensemble cast and for its homage to Guru Dutt and his brand of cinema.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 26, 2022

That it ventures into uncharted territory is undeniably commendable. But it needed something more to elevate itself above a mere idiosyncratic concept.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 26, 2022

Dulquer Salmaan is better than the Hindi films he's choosing.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 26, 2022

Dulquer Salmaan gives in his best to play a loner and a lover. One can see the actor’s struggle in juggling his complex character and he does a satisfactory job of it.

R Balki's film mixes a serial killer thriller with a take on film critics but fails to effectively tackle both.

Full Review | Sep 26, 2022

This Dulquer Salmaan film, about dream-makers and those who destroy those dreams, is less satisfactory than it should have been.

Sunny Deol and Dulquer Salmaan try to salvage this film, but it’s an uphill task.

Attributing violent vendetta to psychological imbalance is an easy crutch to fall on when makers are reluctant to debate righteous anger over difference of opinion.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 25, 2022

It's hard to not be excited, amused, or even invested in any of these premises. Except, it's easy to forget one crucial thing -- what might prevent these one-line plots from ending up as a gimmick is intelligent filmmaking. There is no shortcut to that.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 23, 2022

Not only is this premise a droll kick up the arse for the Scream-style meta-slasher, it has to be the first film in which someone says “I need a critic” in the same imperative tone usually reserved for a Swat team or an elite hitman.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 22, 2022

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Chup Trailer: Sunny Deol chases down a serial killer who targets film critics, carves rating on their forehead

Chup trailer: film critics are branded as killers and mercilessly murdered in this r balki film starring sunny deol, pooja bhatt, dulquer salmaan and shreya dhanwanthary. its tagline is 'revenge of the artiste'..

The trailer for R Balki’s Chup , starring Sunny Deol, Pooja Bhatt, Dulquer Salmaan and Shreya Dhanwanthary is out. A psychological thriller, the film sees Sunny Deol trying to track down a serial killer — an unusual one at that, as this particular criminal carves stars into his victims bodies as they kill them. Their target are film critics, who get a rating carved on their forehead as they are mercilessly murdered.

The trailer of ‘CHUP’ for YOUR review! #ChupRevengeOfTheArtist 🤫🩸 #ChupOn23September #incinemas #RBalki @iamsunnydeol @dqsalmaan @shreyadhan13 @hopeprodn @PenMovies @saregama_official @itsamittrivedi @swanandkirkire @rajasen @vishalsinha_dop @jayantilalgada #GauriShinde pic.twitter.com/lnwOGYPMeI — Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) September 5, 2022

The trailer itself is gory with people being murdered in gruesome ways, interspersed with moments of an eerie romance between Dulquer and Shreya. The film also recalls Guru Dutt’s depression after his film Kagaz Ke Phool was trashed by critics. There are some very questionable dialogues such as, “A film is a director’s baby, kisse ke bacche ka rape kaise kar sakte ho?” and Pooja Bhatt emphasises the film’s point and messaging, “You critics are killers.”

In an interview with PTI, Dulquer had said that he is eagerly awaiting to see how the ‘experimental’ film is received. “When Balki sir offered me Chup, I was shocked and said, ‘Are you really thinking about me for this role?’ Because it’s something I haven’t done before. It’s not typical in any form. I think for him also, it’s an experimental film but it’s something I am very curious about. All of you will also be curious about it when it comes out,” he had said.

The film was announced on the death anniversary of the legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt last year. Balki said that Chup is an “ode to the sensitive artiste”.

Click for more updates and latest Bollywood news along with Entertainment updates . Also get latest news and top headlines from India and around the world at The Indian Express .

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Home » News » Chup Twitter review: Audiences hail Dulquer Salmaan’s ‘edge-of-the-seat thriller’ as his best, ‘Bollywood is back’ »

Chup Twitter review: Audiences hail Dulquer Salmaan’s ‘edge-of-the-seat thriller’ as his best, ‘Bollywood is back’

R Balki’s Chup, starring Dulquer and Sunny Deol, had free screenings for the public on September 20 and garnered mostly favourable reviews on Twitter

• Sanjith Sidhardhan Team OTTplay

Last Updated: 06.55 AM, Sep 22, 2022

It seems that the confidence on the part of the makers of Chup, starring Dulquer Salmaan and Sunny Deol, to hold free public screenings across several cities in the country three days ahead of the R Balki directorial’s release was justified. The first reviews from the audience flooded Twitter late on Tuesday and they are generally positive.

The movie, which also has Shreya Dhanwanthary and Pooja Bhatt, is a crime thriller about a serial killer who targets film critics. Told through doses of dark humour, the early responses hint that another big hit is on the cards for its lead actor Dulquer, who is fresh off the success of his movie Sita Ramam that has grossed over Rs 90 crore worldwide.

Also read: Chup advance booking: Dulquer Salmaan, Sunny Deol’s film set for grand opening with positive buzz, Rs 75 tickets  

Audiences in select theatres where the preview was held has been praising the film as well actors Dulquer and Sunny Deol for their terrific performances in the movie, which has “an engaging first half” and “an unexpected and gripping interval block”.

Fans have already started comparing the R Balki film to the best psycho-thrillers that had released in Malayalam and Tamil such as Kunchacko Boban's Anjaam Pathira and Vishnu Vishal's Ratsasan. 

The strong performances of Dulquer and Sunny Deol along with the engaging storytelling have been quoted as the highlights of Chup: The Revenge of the Artist. 

Malayalam star Dulquer' previous theatrical releases in Malayalam and Telugu - Kurup and Sita Ramam - have grossed over Rs 200 crore collectively, and it seems that the actor's Midas touch could rub off on his Bollywood venture too. The Hindi industry has been struggling lately to produce big hits, with a few exceptions such as Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Gangubai Kathiawadi, The Kashmir Files and Brahmastra: Part 1 - Shiva. Some of the audience, after Chup's preview, tweeted Chup could very well join the list. 

Balki, during the film's making as well as its promo interviews, had said that Chup is a tribute to Guru Dutt, whose films were bashed by the critics when they had initially released but now have gained a huge following and admiration for his craft. 

While most of the reviews have praised the film's story and performances, some found the violence disturbing. Considering that the movie is rated A, there's a fair warning from the side of the makers about the movie's content. 

Chup: The Revenge of the Artist's initial audience reviews would be heartening for the makers, who are now gearing up for the movie's theatrical release on September 23. The movie's advance bookings after the free previews were already poised to overtake that of Akshay Kumar's Samrat Prithviraj and Raksha Bandhan with 32,000 tickets already sold. The movie marks Dulquer's third straight Bollywood release after Karwaan and The Zoya Factor. The actor is also gearing up for his Netflix series Guns and Gulaabs, which is helmed by Raj and DK. 

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Chup (A) 23/Sep/2022 Crime, Thriller 2 Hours 15mins

Critics Review

R. balki's love letter to cinema & guru dutt is a winsome wild idea with a lot of merits.

Chup comes from a team that immensely loves cinema and everything it represents, you must surrender to an idea that is untouched and brilliant. With some minor flaws, you should not miss watching his ode which is more than just a movie about a killer on loose. (more)

Source: Shubham Kulkarni , Koimoi

'Chup' cannot silence its critics

Dulquer Salmaan gives in his best to play a loner and a lover. One can see the actor�s struggle in juggling his complex character and he does a satisfactory job of it. Shreya Dhanwanthary (of Scam 1992 fame) is endearing as the woman in love but her role as a journalist doesn't give her much scope to perform. Sunny Deol makes a smashing comeback. He plays the smart and dedicated investigating officer quite well with the required restraint. And it feels good to see him team up with Pooja Bhatt, who leaves a mark even in her short yet significant role. She plays a fierbrand psychologist Zenobia - a strong and opinionated character that feels tailormade for her. The customary Amitabh Bachchan cameo in this Balki film doesn�t feel out of place either. Tamil actress Saranya Ponvannan�s character of Nila�s progressive mother is a hoot. (more)

Source: Ronak Kotecha, Times Of India

Dulquer Salmaan delivers a knockout performance in R Balki's novel, flawed but immersive film

Chup is a must watch in theatres. You will fall in love with Vishal Sinha's cinematography, fall harder for Dulquer Salmaan and comes out of the hall with a number of thoughts on art, "official validation" from critics, an if it is an audience that truly makes a movie if artistes seek so much of the former. R Balki's winsome movie despite its flaws makes you do all that with flourish. (more)

Source: Urmimala Banerjee, Bollywood Life

Film critics, beware. You're about to lose your organs

The dialogues have situational appeal, and lines such as 'Scorcese nahi Shetty' and 'Galti Se Tax' stand out. The editing is good as Chup doesn't drag. The romantic song featured in the film, however, could have been catchier. The other technical aspects are up to the mark. To sum up, Chup is a highly watchable and layered thriller that may 'silence' its critics, courtesy of its refreshing concept. (more)

Source: Roktim Rajpal, India Today

CHUP is a unique tale which boasts of some fine performances.

CHUP starts on a thrilling note, with the murder of Nitin Srivastav. The way it�s executed, one can�t anticipate if it�s Nitin or his wife who�ll be killed. Danny and Nila�s entry scenes and the way they bump into each other are cute. The sequence where Arvind addresses the critics and industry members and the madness that ensues is hilarious. However, what takes the cake in the first half is when the lone critic bashes the film and the cops descend on his residence in full force. The intermission point is rocking. Post-interval, the film gets slow but a few scenes of Danny stand out. The finale is chilling. (more)

Source: Bollywood Hungama, Bollywood Hungama

Dulquer Salmaan Carries The Film, Sunny Deol Delivers A Star Turn

Chup is a muddle but certainly not of monumental proportions. That it ventures into uncharted territory is undeniably commendable. But it needed something more to elevate itself above a mere idiosyncratic concept. (more)

Source: Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV Movies

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Chup Movie Review: R Balki Film Attempts A Homage To Guru Dutt But Is Not Quite There

'chup' feels like an unstable marriage of the artsy kind of cinema which has its own layers, tonality, experiment with form to the commercial kind with its touch of rain, romance, music, and thrills..

Sunny Deol Dulquer Salmaan Shreya Dhanwanthary Pooja Bhatt

New Delhi: 'Chup' starring Sunny Deol, Dulquer Salmaan, Shreya Dhanwanthary, and Pooja Bhatt is a well-cooked thriller. The R Balki film is slightly stretchy, artsy in pace and horror-inducing enough to make any serious film critic think twice before penning down a review.

'Chup' has a predictable plot, follows the three-act structure, has the Marquezian whodunit element ( of the killer being introduced from the very beginning and then the backstory of how, what, when) with a Guru Dutt dressing. 

'Chup' is very well-written in terms of the dialogues. It also has a preachy tone to it, given it is a meta-comment on the process of filmmaking and reviewing; though not so much on filmmaking, and how to do the critiquing right.

The screenplay, however, despite its many layers and coinciding storylines which are attempting to connect all dots, could have been crisper. Then again, with the sprinkling and interlacing of archival footage from 'Pyaasa' and 'Kaagaz Ke Phool', inspiring shots from them, music and lyrics from legends like Sahir Ludhianvi and SD Burman intersected with the modern contemporary scene, is a difficult task. And, to achieve the tonality right by doing all of this could be the reason why the screenplay of 'Chup' feels a little overwhelming and confused.

Sunny Deol as investigating officer, of the gruesome killings of film critics by a serial killer who recognizes himself as the 'critics' critic', delivers a well-intentioned performance. A mentionable moment is when he justifies 'the ridiculous idealism of the youth' in the name/ passion of all the young people who are in the Army or the police force. It's like Balki is indirectly and almost intentionally putting those words in an actor like Sunny Deol's mouth, considering the kind of roles he has done throughout his career.

Likewise, 'Chup' is filled with these many passing intelligent, clever references, meta-comment on film, the art of critiquing, the nature of art/artist etc.

For a change, 'Chup' also happens to be a film that gives cinema/ film as a medium its due respect and place in society. A clever cameo of Amitabh Bachchan who emphasizes the importance of critiquing any art form or in society in general for it to evolve etc. are all pointers towards this. Infact, the seriousness of 'film' is best voiced by Dulquer Salmaan's character ( Danny, for the most part), who delivers excellent one-liners and the best of fresh dialogue any filmmaker making his next romantic film can learn from.

Lines like: 'Cinema is art and not a xerox machine'

        'Criticism bhi tab chubta hai jab artist khud unsure hota hai' etc.

" Kaagaz Ke Phool banane walo ko kaagaz par kalam ghisne walon ne chup kara dia "-- as much romantic nostalgia this line by Danny invokes, it is also the crux and heart of 'Chup'.

In fact, 'Chup' feels like an unstable marriage of the artsy kind of cinema which has its own layers, textures, tonality, experiment with form to the commercial kind with its touch of rain, romance, music, and thrills.

From one angle, it also feels like R Balki is redeeming his own film with its material, away from the eyes of the critic,  and not because of having audiences view and rate it first but with how the substance of the film underlines the seriousness of a film critic's job and how proactively it should be done.

What is also commendable is the ample experimentation with the form. The makers of 'Chup' use closeups of the serial killer to highlight his sense of gory in a very theater of cruelty-inspired Tarantino fashion ( apologies for the referencing), frame replications inspired from Guru Dutt's 'Pyaasa' and 'Kaagaz Ke Phool', using archival footage, the interlacing of shots and connecting the two with symbols and signs as opposed to jump cuts, so popular in this genre; all of these deserve a mention.

One interesting moment is when the title card of 'Kaagaz Ke Phool' plays on the screen as 'Chup' opens post-interval, almost signaling a new film within a film. Another meta-narrative comment so cleverly placed...

'Chup' uses a background score from the original soundtracks of 'Jaane Kya Tune Kahi', 'Ye Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye'... and interlaces it with the modern touch thus safely redeeming it from creating its own kind of original score.

In terms of performances, it would be great if for once filmmakers cast Shreya Dhanwantary in roles other than those of a journalist to give the actor a chance to flesh out more expansively. Having said that, Shreya delivers a good performance.

Dulquer Salmaan is a delight to watch for most parts, however, in some sequences, partly to blame the music and the writing, his character does not land.

Pooja Bhatt as a criminal psychologist, adds the necessary drive to a slow-burn investigation, but her role is nothing more than an ornamental narrative device.

As the film nears its end, R  Balki with his assured pace tends to connect the dots and brings all unfinished elements together, in the best show not tell fashion. Danny's backstory is revealed, and the pun on making a biopic on Gurudutt and his modern-day associate Sebastian interlaced to exploit the Guru Dutt analogy a lot more than it should have been.

A film within a film, 'Chup' is reconstructed after the 'Revenge of the Artist', a rise of an alter-ego of modern auteur filmmaker who considers Guru Dutt his idol, inspiration and relates to his fate as an artist. The only difference being that while Guru Dutt was so miserably affected by the failure of his last film 'Kaagaz Ke Phool', that he harmed himself to the extent that it is considered his suicide was the cause of the professional failure of 'Kaagaz Ke Phool'; in 'Chup', the antagonist manages to quieten all critics ( literally, by killing them) and winning as an artist.

Interestingly, as the film comes to a close, we see a resurrection of 'Chup', the film made by the serial killer, with the help of critics and Danny/Sebastian never coming to know of it. He languors in prison happily celebrating the demise of a film critic to COVID-19 calling him 'so sensitive'.

This image of Danny is inspired by the last song of 'Pyaasa'- Ye Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye recreating the success-when-not-needed idea yet at the same time the banality of overexploiting the iconography of one of the most memorable cinematic viewing experiences to justify the madness of a serial killer. Like I said earlier, the unsteady marriage of pulp fiction and high-brow art is what sums up 'Chup'.

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Chup Movie Review

Average Ratings: 2.5/5 Score: 45% Positive Reviews Counted:10 Positive:4 Neutral:1 Negative:5

Ratings: Negative Sentiment  Review By: Komal Nahta Site: Filminformation

R. Balkis direction is fair and one also gets to see glimpses of his brilliance at times but the fact remains that his choice of subject is so dull that the narration also loses impact. Amit Trivedis music and Swanand Kirkires lyrics are of a fair standard but the songs are not of the popular variety. On the whole, Chup has a weak premise and, therefore, stands bleak chances at the box-office.

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Ratings: Negative Sentiment  Review By: Anupama Chopra Site: Youtube

Chup: Revenge of the Artist is a suspenseful slasher film, a swoony romance, and a serious meditation on the contentious relationship between critics and artists. Like previous R Balki films the idea is instantly provocative and dazzling then the execution. Chup insists that critics are essential to cinema but it suggests that we do our job with more sincerity and respect and help audiences hone their taste. Point Noted but perhaps filmmakers should also up their game

Ratings: 2/5  Review By: Saibal Site: NDTV

Chup is a muddle but certainly not of monumental proportions. That it ventures into uncharted territory is undeniably commendable. But it needed something more to elevate itself above a mere idiosyncratic concept.

Ratings: 2/5  Review By: Shubhra Site: Indian Express

Am I supposed to take this seriously, or laugh it off? Ultimately, it comes down to this: do you really believe that film critics have the power to kill movies? Especially in this digital day and age, when everyone is a critic, not just professional ones? Its also true that good films always find their audience, but do bad movies deserve to die unsung? Towards the end, a character says : a film works because of word-of-mouth, not critics, and that straightaway undercuts the films premise. If indeed critics these days have less influence than doltish trolls, why take the trouble to go after them in the first place? There, Ive said it: will I still be alive tomorrow?

Ratings: 2.5/5  Review By: Anna Site: Firstpost

Despite its positives, Chups aspirations to grandeur make it far less engaging than its uncommon theme might suggest. Balkis film fails to grasp the essence of Guru Dutts magic, which was rooted not merely in the beauty of visuals and music, but in the ability to use both to capture the pain, mischief, sense of humour, love and longing of his characters with empathy. In contrast, Chup feels distant from its characters and uninvolved.

Ratings: 3/5  Review By: Ronak Site: Times Of India

At a concept level, Balki and his team of writers (Raja Sen and Rishi Virmani) have a virgin plot that focuses on the life of the film critics, whose vocation has never really been explored in Hindi cinema. He dedicates the first half in cooking up the story and building up the intrigue, quite brilliantly.Now, all you can do is wait for the big reveal in the end, but in a Bollywood thriller that is seldom rewarding. And Chup is no exception.

Ratings: 2/5  Review By: Sonil Site: News18

The film surely gripped me till the interval. And then, the curse of the second-half struck. The explanation of the intriguing mystery was so lame that I refused to believe it. I hoped that Balki who wrote the story and the screenplay along with Raja Sen (a film critic himself) and Rishi Virmani would spring one final twist on us and redeem the film. But sadly, that never happened.

Ratings: 3/5  Review By: Bharathi Site: Lehren

Its like the secret fantasy of every filmmaker come true €“ kill a film critic every Friday. Although the premise provided grounds for sound critics-bashing, Balki actually gets the space of a critic pretty well, even giving him a dash of respect. Chup is, of course, not perfect And the winding up which gives the killer an entire reel of sentimentality, offers no comfort or justification for the venomous brutality of the killings.

Ratings: 3/5  Review By: Hungama Site: Bollywood Hungama

On the whole, CHUP is a unique tale of a serial killer on the loose and boasts of some fine performances. At the box office, itll take a healthy start due to the reduced ticket prices on Day 1. From Day 2 onwards, word of mouth will play an important part in pulling audiences to cinemas, especially in urban centres.

Ratings: 3.5/5  Review By: Shubham Site: Koimoi

Chup comes from a team that immensely loves cinema and everything it represents, you must surrender to an idea that is untouched and brilliant. With some minor flaws, you should not miss watching his ode which is more than just a movie about a killer on loose.

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Chup: Revenge of the Artist Story:

A psychopath is killing film critics one after the other in the most gruesome manner. Can the police catch him before the next film review is out?

Chup: Revenge of the Artist Release Date:

September 23, 2022 ( India) straight to Theaters

Chup: Revenge of the Artist Cast:

Sunny Deol Dulquer Salmaan Shreya Dhanwanthary Pooja Bhatt

Chup: Revenge of the Artist Director: 

Chup: revenge of the artist producer: .

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Jayantilal Gada Anil Naidu Gauri Shinde

Chup: Revenge of the Artist Production Companies:

Hope Production

Chup: Revenge of the Artist Distribution Companies:

Pen Marudhar Cine Entertainment

Chup: Revenge of the Artist Run Time: 

2 Hour 15 Minutes (135 minutes)

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Rajeev Masand , Taran Adarsh, Komal Nahta , Anupama Chopra Reviews are awaited for this movie

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