Cheeni Kum directed by R Balki is a quiet endeavor to create a love story which is not only hatke but also deconstructs the normal notions about love and courtship. And it does so in a very engaging manner. In fact, the kum cheeni in it makes for a delightful concoction.

The first half of the film is very well thought out and very well executed indeed. The introduction of the main characters, 'the encounter', the subsequent encounters, and finally, love. There is a very natural progression of events in the first half of the film. It could not have been otherwise. But it is in the second half that Cheeni Kum kind of slips and falters. But mercifully, the lead actors manage to keep it afloat. When we say it falters, we mean that the director changes the tone of the film in this half and that fails to gel with the earlier one.

The earlier, irreverent, tongue-in-cheek sarcastic humour kind of undergoes a change in the second half. One would have thought that the entry of Paresh Rawal, would have seen a continuation in the same vein but it doesn't. There's just a sense of an opportunity lost with an actor like Rawal in hand and a potentially dynamic situation on the other (the father-in-law is younger than his son-in-law). Balki could have created a mini riot one feels.

But to come back to the beginning, the film is about this crusty, sarcastic, rude 64-year-old chef Buddhadeb Gupta (Amitabh Bachchan) and this 34-year old Indian tourist Neena (Tabu), and how they fall in love and subsequently get her 58-year old father's blessings as well for their marriage. Amitabh just is the character. His natural dead pan style of biting sarcasm makes him ideal for the character of Buddhadeb. Tabu is a perfect foil for him, and together they engage in some delightful pointed repartees. Zohra Sehgal as Amitabh's equally sharp tongued mother is a real treat to watch. The scenes between Zohra and Amitabh sizzle.

The entire romance between Buddhadeb and Neena is treated in a frothy manner. It is a world in which you can accept anything. There are no eyebrows raised over the age difference between the protagonists, at least not until Paresh Rawal makes an entry. Even death is not spared in this amoral world. So we have the terminally ill child Sexy (Swine Khar), talking nonchalantly about her impending death. There are no explanations offered and neither do we bother to ask why this old man didn't get married and why does this woman choose to fall in love with him? It just happens and it is such a change from the laboured, saccharine sweet love stories of yore.

Except for the part where Paresh Rawal, the reluctant father of the bride, goes on a hunger strike to protest against the wedding, the rest of the film breezes past. Actually, there are other bits when the film doesn't actually breeze past, but still does something funny to your insides, are the scenes between the child Sexy and Buddhadeb. Balki also manages to create some priceless situations of the other kind as well, for instance the scene when his buddies come over to meet Paresh Rawal, as he lies in bed, staunch in his vow to fast unto death. (he is a Gandhian who loves his whisky, soda and chicken). The friends are treated to tea and biscuits and it is hilarious to see them eating and drinking, oblivious to his condition.

All in all, a film, which should have you chuckling most of the time. An intelligently handled script, well written dialogues backed by some good acting, Balki dashes up a marvelous soufflé. And one can only say, enjoy.