Ajay Kumar at 05:55, 20 August 2023

2023-08-20T05:55:23Z

New page

{{short description|2021 Indian film directed by Rumi Jaffery}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Chehre
| image = Chehre film poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Rumi Jaffery]]
| producer = [[Anand Pandit]]
| story = [[Ranjit Kapoor]]
| writer = [[Ranjit Kapoor]] [[Rumi Jaffery]]
| based_on = [[A Dangerous Game (novel)|''A Dangerous Game'']] by [[Friedrich Dürrenmatt]]
| starring = [[Amitabh Bachchan]] [[Emraan Hashmi]] [[Krystle D'Souza]] [[Siddhanth Kapoor]] [[Annu Kapoor]] [[Alexx O'Nell]] [[Samir Soni]] [[Raghubir Yadav]] [[Dhritiman Chatterjee]] [[Rhea Chakraborty]]
| music = '''Score:''' [[Clinton Cerejo]] '''Songs:''' [[Vishal-Shekhar]] Gourov Dasgupta
| cinematography = [[Binod Pradhan]]
| editing = Bodhaditya Banerjee
| studio = Anand Pandit Motion Pictures Saraswati Entertainment Private Limited
| distributor = [[Pen India Limited|Pen Marudhar Entertainment]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2021|08|27|ref1=<ref name="release date" />}}
| runtime = 139 minutes<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/chehre-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc01mzmwmzq|title=Chehre (2021) |website=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR|25 [[crore]]}}<ref name="BOI">{{cite web |title=Chehre Movie (2021)- Box Office India |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=6139 |website=Box Office India |access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref>
| gross = {{INR|7.5 crore}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/chehre/box-office/|title=Chehre Box Office |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=27 August 2021 |access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="BOI"/>
}}

'''''Chehre''''' ({{translation|'''''Faces'''''}}) is a 2021 Hindi [[mystery film|mystery]] [[thriller film]] directed by [[Rumi Jaffery]] and produced by Anand Pandit with Saraswati Entertainment Private Limited. Starring [[Amitabh Bachchan]] and [[Emraan Hashmi]] in lead roles,<ref name="BH"/> the film features [[Krystle D'Souza]], [[Rhea Chakraborty]], [[Siddhanth Kapoor]], [[Annu Kapoor]], [[Alexx O'Nell]], [[Samir Soni]], [[Dhritiman Chatterjee]] and [[Raghubir Yadav]] in supporting roles<ref>{{cite news |title=Chehre: TV actress Krystle D'Souza joins Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi film |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/chehre-tv-actress-krystle-d-souza-joins-amitabh-bachchan-and-emraan-hashmi-film-1624994-2019-12-04 |access-date=16 December 2019 |work=India Today |date=4 December 2019 |language=en}}</ref> and is an uncredited adaptation of the 1956 German novel ''[[A Dangerous Game (novel)|A Dangerous Game]]'' by [[Friedrich Dürrenmatt]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/amitabh-bachchans-new-film-chehre-attempts-to-be-a-slow-burn-thriller/cid/1828237|title=Amitabh Bachchan's new film attempts to be a slow-burn thriller}}</ref> which had earlier been adapted in Marathi as ''Shantata! Court Chaalu Aahe'' (1971),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/1003646/chehre-movie-review-one-actor-steals-the-show-its-not-who-you-think|title='Chehre' movie review: One actor steals the show (it's not who you think)|first=Nandini|last=Ramnath|website=Scroll.in|date=27 August 2021 }}</ref> in Kannada as ''[[Male Nilluvavarege]]'' (2015) and in Bengali as ''[[Anusandhan (film)|Anusandhan]]'' (2021).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/buzz/blog/Movies/bengali-film-looks-eerily-similar-amitabh-bachchan-emraan-hashmi-starrer-chehre|title=This Bengali film looks EERILY similar to Amitabh Bachchan-Emraan Hashmi starrer Chehre|website=BookMyShow}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/amitabh-bachchans-new-film-chehre-attempts-to-be-a-slow-burn-thriller/cid/1828237|title=Amitabh Bachchan's new film Chehre attempts to be a slow-burn thriller|first= Priyanka |last= Roy|date= 27 August 2021|access-date= 28 August 2021 |website= Telegraph India}}</ref>

The film was announced on 11 April 2019 and filming began on 10 May 2019. It was scheduled for worldwide release on 17 July 2020,<ref name="reld">{{cite tweet |user=taran_adarsh |number=1219484644967473152|title=New release date... #Chehre - starring #AmitabhBachchan and #EmraanHashmi - will now release on 17 July 2020 and the change in date is due to a request made by the makers of #GulaboSitabo to avert a clash... #Chehre was earlier releasing on 24 April 2020... Here's a new glimpse|publisher=Taran Adarsh|date=21 January 2020|accessdate=21 January 2020}}</ref> but was delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Chehre producer Anand Pandit explains why Rhea Chakraborty is absent from film's posters |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/chehre-producer-anand-pandit-explains-why-rhea-chakraborty-is-absent-from-films-posters-9433711.html |access-date=18 March 2021 |work=Firstpost |date=18 March 2021 |quote=..was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.}}</ref> The film was ultimately released in theatres on 27 August 2021. Upon release, the film was a box office disaster, grossing only 7.5 Crore INR against its 25 Crore INR budget. <ref name="release date">{{cite web |title=Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi starrer Chehre to release on August 27 in theatres|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/amitabh-bachchan-emraan-hashmi-starrer-chehre-release-august-27-theatres/|date=12 August 2021|work=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Sameer Mehra ([[Emraan Hashmi]]), a business tycoon takes shelter at an old man's home in the mountains amidst a dangerous snow storm. He is introduced to Jagdish Acharya ([[Dhritiman Chatterjee]]), a retired judge, Paramjeet Singh Bhullar ([[Annu Kapoor]]), a renowned defence counsel, Anna Matthews ([[Rhea Chakraborty]]), a house help and one Hariya Jadhav ([[Raghubir Yadav]]). They are later joined by Lateef Zaidi ([[Amitabh Bachchan]]), a renowned public prosecutor who has a sharp wit and an eye for detail.

Lateef initiates a conversation with Sameer to check if he is the right subject for a practical game they play amongst themselves. Sameer introduces himself as a successful and ambitious executive of an ad agency who achieved everything on his own since he was orphaned from the age of 15. When Sameer takes a break, Lateef remarks to his friends that he is absolutely sure that Sameer is the right subject for their game, and as everyone values his opinion, they agree to this.

Everyone coerces Sameer to play the game, and he agrees. Later, Joe Matthews ([[Siddhanth Kapoor]]), an ex-convict accused of murder, joins them. Jagdish tells Sameer that he had pronounced judgement in Joe's case as he was caught killing the person who sexually assaulted his sister, and now that he has served his sentence, they are all on good terms with him.

The game is basically a mock trial wherein they setup a court and argue about some famous cases. Sameer agrees to be their defendant as Anna has not prepared for a famous case Lateef had earlier asked her for. Jagdish tells Sameer his rights and tells him that he can meet his defence counsel, Bhullar, to discuss his case before the court starts. When they both meet in private, Sameer tells Bhullar that he has committed no crime so his case won't stand in court, but Bhullar opposes this, saying that going without any criminal charge in the mock court is dangerous since the prosecutor would then have complete freedom to charge him with anything. Sameer rejects this idea and says that he would go without any charge.

As the court starts, Lateef is able to extract intimate details of Sameer's professional life, to which Sameer naively answers all questions honestly in the beginning, but Lateef is able to correctly point that he had an affair with his boss's wife. On further inquisition, he concludes that Sameer colluded with his boss' wife to kill him and later advance to the position of the CEO. At this point, the mock trial becomes real and the judge notifies that charges are to be framed and the trial started. He then gives time to the defence to prepare for the trial.

During this break, Sameer learns that Hariya is a retired hangman and Joe is, in fact, Anna's brother. Scared, he tries to escape from the house, but Joe prevents that from happening. Sameer now realises he is completely trapped. As the trial starts, Lateef presents a video from Sameer's phone as evidence of his illicit relationship with Natasha ([[Krystle D'Souza]]), his late boss G.S. Oswal ([[Samir Soni]])'s wife and their conspiracy to kill him. Bhullar and Lateef passionately argue in the court & finally a guilty verdict is pronounced & given capital punishment. Now everyone insist Sameer to go upstairs with Hariya, presumably to be hanged to his death. Sameer mocks them saying that they are real criminals who hang people for their petty game. Lateef replies that entire trial has been recorded by CCTV, and that either way, he would be punished in this court or a real court. Fearing dear life, Sameer pulls out a gun & threatens everyone at gunpoint, takes the DVR of the CCTV and runs out of the house with everyone else in pursuit. Sameer manages to destroy the DVR, but in a hasty move, accidentally falls off the cliff to his death, thus serving poetic justice to his crime.

A few days later, Natasha visits their place, telling them that she is here to collect Sameer's phone which is her company's property. The film ends with everyone convincing Natasha to play their game.

== Cast ==

* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] as Adv. Lateef Zaidi, a renowned public prosecutor
* [[Emraan Hashmi]] as Sameer Mehra, a business tycoon
* [[Annu Kapoor]] as Adv. Paramjeet Singh Bhullar, a retired defence counsel
* [[Dhritiman Chatterjee]] as Justice (Retd.) Jagdish Acharya
* [[Raghubir Yadav]] as Hariya Jadhav, a retired hangman
* [[Krystle D'Souza]] as Natasha Oswal, Sameer's love interest and later partner
* [[Samir Soni]] as G. S. Oswal, Natasha's husband
* [[Rhea Chakraborty]] as Anna Mathews<ref>{{cite news |title=Rhea Chakraborty to return to silver screen with Chehre co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, Emraan Hashmi; director says 'she will bounce back' |url=https://english.jagran.com/entertainment/rhea-chakraborty-to-return-to-silver-screen-with-chehre-costarring-amitabh-bachchan-emraan-hashmi-director-says-she-will-bounce-back-10021989 |access-date=6 March 2021 |work=Jagran English |date=6 January 2021}}</ref>
* [[Siddhanth Kapoor]] as Joe Costa, an ex-convict accused of murder who is actually Anna's brother
* [[Alexx O'Nell]] as Richard Alexander

==Production==
[[Filming]] began on 10 May 2019.<ref name="asian">{{cite news|url=https://www.asianage.com/entertainment/bollywood/100519/amitabh-bachchan-and-emraan-hashmi-starrer-finally-gets-its-title-find-out-here.html|title=Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi starrer finally gets its title; find out here|newspaper=[[The Asian Age]]|date=10 May 2019|access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref> First schedule ended on 16 June with a fourteen minute long shot by Bachchan in one go.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/amitabh-bachchan-films-14-minute-scene-in-single-take-thunderous-applause-follows-2055910|title=Amitabh Bachchan Films 14-Minute Scene In Single Take; 'Thunderous Applause' Follows|date=19 June 2019|access-date=22 June 2019|website=NDTV}}</ref> [[Kriti Kharbanda]] was initially selected to star in the film but left due to a fallout with the makers.<ref name="BH">{{cite news |title=Kriti Kharbanda dropped out of Amitabh Bachchan, Emraan Hashmi starrer Chehre? |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/kriti-kharbanda-dropped-amitabh-bachchan-emraan-hashmi-starrer-chehre/ |access-date=20 November 2019 |work=Bollywood Hungama |date=19 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref> She was replaced by [[Krystle D'Souza]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Not Krystle D'souza to replace Kriti Kharbanda in 'Chehre'; read details |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/not-mouni-roy-and-ankita-lokhande-but-krystle-dsouza-to-replace-kriti-kharbanda-in-chehre-read-details/articleshow/72151530.cms |access-date=23 November 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=21 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Chehre
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Vishal–Shekhar]] and Gourov Dasgupta
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 24 August 2021<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/chehre/USRnr,OQGZw_|title=Chehre – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |date=18 August 2021 |publisher=Jiosaavn}}</ref>
| recorded = 2020
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 16:03
| language = Hindi
| label = [[Zee Music Company]]
| producer =
| misc = {{external music video| header = Official audio
|{{YouTube|yn-Y9kfP_ME|Chehre - Full Album}}
}}
}}

The music of film was composed by [[Vishal–Shekhar]] and Gourov Dasgupta while lyrics written by Farhan Memon and Rumy Jafry.

{{Tracklist
| headline = Track listing
| total_length = 16:03
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Rang Dariya
| extra1 = [[Yasser Desai]]
| music1 = Gourov Dasgupta
| lyrics1 = Farhan Memon
| length1 = 4:56
| title2 = Chehre - Title Track
| extra2 = [[Amitabh Bachchan]]
| music2 = [[Vishal–Shekhar]]
| lyrics2 = Rumy Jafry
| length2 = 3:07
| title3 = Rang Dariya
| note3 = Reprise
| extra3 = Raj Barman
| music3 = Gourov Dasgupta
| lyrics3 = Farhan Memon
| length3 = 4:57
| title4 = Chehre - Title Track
| note4 = Reprise
| extra4 = [[Shekhar Ravjiani]]
| music4 = Vishal–Shekhar
| lyrics4 = Rumy Jafry
| length4 = 3:03
}}

==Reception==
Upon release, ''Chehre'' received mixed to positive reviews from the film critics.<ref>{{cite web|date=28 August 2021|title=Chehre Movie Review - Critics|url=https://www.addatoday.com/2021/08/chehre-movie-review-critics.html|url-status=live|access-date=24 October 2021|website=Adda Today|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827075205/https://www.addatoday.com/2021/08/chehre-movie-review-critics.html |archive-date=27 August 2021 }}</ref>
[[Taran Adarsh]] of ''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5 calling ''Chehre'' "Engrossing" and wrote, "Captivating screenplay + wonderful performances by the principal cast makes ''chehre'' an interesting watch."<ref>{{cite web|last=Adarsh|first=Taran|author-link=Taran Adarsh|title=Tweet|url=https://twitter.com/taran_adarsh/status/1430875465854582785|url-status=live|access-date=24 October 2021|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826125827/https://twitter.com/taran_adarsh/status/1430875465854582785 |archive-date=26 August 2021 }}</ref>
Shubhra Gupta of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' gave the film 1.5 stars out of 5 saying that "the film stodgy plot spoils the cast performance".<ref>{{cite web|title=Chehre review: An undercooked, stodgy plot spoils the Emraan Hashmi, Amitabh Bachchan starrer|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/chehre-movie-review-an-undercooked-stodgy-plot-7473196/|access-date=24 October 2021|website=The Indian Express|date=28 August 2021|language=en}}</ref>

Renuka Vyavahare of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave 2.5(out of 5) stars and said: "''Chehre'' aims to make a social commentary on the state of criminal justice in India. The idea at the outset is interesting, but it stops at just that".<ref>{{cite news|title=Movie Review: A Courtroom Drama that feels longer than any longest-running lawsuit|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/chehre/movie-review/85641147.cms|access-date=24 October 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

Archita Kashyap of ''[[Firstpost]]'' gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote,"''Chehre'' aims to cock a snook at the present-day fast-paced chasing of ambitions, money, and success but becomes too preachy at times".<ref>{{cite web|title=Chehre movie review: Heavy on conversations, light on story|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/chehre-movie-review-heavy-on-conversations-light-on-story-9916491.html|url-status=live|access-date=24 October 2021|first=Archita|last=Kashyap|date=27 August 2021|website=Firstpost|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827042343/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/chehre-movie-review-heavy-on-conversations-light-on-story-9916491.html |archive-date=27 August 2021 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|10309902}}
* {{Bollywood Hungama movie|chehre}}

[[Category:2021 films]]
[[Category:2021 thriller films]]
[[Category:2020s mystery thriller films]]
[[Category:2020s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian mystery thriller films]]
[[Category:Films postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Friedrich Dürrenmatt]]

Chehre - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 05:55, 20 August 2023