China Town (2011 film)

2021-07-01T08:32:26Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = China Town
| image = Chinatown (2011).jpg
| alt = 
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Rafi Mecartin]]
| producer = [[Antony Perumbavoor]]
| writer = Rafi Mecartin
| narrator = [[Jagathy Sreekumar]]
| starring = [[Mohanlal]]<br>[[Jayaram]]<br>[[Dileep]]<br>[[Suraj Venjaramoodu]]
| music = [[Jassie Gift]]
| cinematography = [[Alagappan N.]]
| editing = [[Don Max (film editor)|Don Max]]
| studio = [[Aashirvad Cinemas]]
| distributor = [[Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2011|4|14}}
| runtime = 150 minutes
| country = India
| language = [[Malayalam]]
| budget = {{INR Convert|6|c}}<ref name="week"/><ref name="budget" />
| gross = ₹25.2 crore
}}

'''''China Town''''' is a 2011 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[action comedy film]] written and directed by the [[Rafi Mecartin]] duo and produced by [[Antony Perumbavoor]] under the company [[Aashirvad Cinemas]]. The film stars [[Mohanlal]], [[Jayaram]], [[Dileep]] and [[Suraj Venjaramoodu]]. The film also features [[Kavya Madhavan]], [[Poonam Bajwa]], [[Dipa Shah]], [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]], [[Captain Raju]] and [[Shankar (actor)|Shankar]] in supporting roles. [[Jagathi Sreekumar]] makes a cameo appearance. [[Jassie Gift]] provided the film's music. The film is loosely based on ''[[The Hangover]]''.

The plot follows Mathukutty, Zachariah, and Binoy from [[Kerala]], who reached [[Chinatown]] in [[Goa]] to claim the ownership of a [[Casino]] but inadvertently there they get embroiled with local mafia and drug dealers. The film was released on 14 April 2011 in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thatsmalayalam.oneindia.in/movies/news/2011/03/09-china-town-on-april-15-aid0032.html |title=വിഷു ചിരിയുടെ വെടിക്കെട്ടായി ചൈനാ ടൗണ|date=9 March 2011|publisher=[[Oneindia.in]]|accessdate=10 March 2011|language=Malayalam}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blivenews.com/entertainment/1058-chinatown-developing-in-hyderabad|title=ചൈനാടൗണ് ഒരുങ്ങുന്നു|publisher=Blivenews.com|accessdate=10 March 2011|language=Malayalam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209114947/http://blivenews.com/entertainment/1058-chinatown-developing-in-hyderabad|archive-date=9 February 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film performed well at the box office, becoming the second highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year and also completed 100 days theatrical run.<ref name="BO" />

==Plot==
{{more plot|date=June 2020}}
Four friends, Xavier ([[Mohanlal]]), Wilson Gomez ([[Captain Raju]]), Jayakrishnan ([[Shankar (actor)]]) and David ([[Shanawas]]) bought a casino and were celebrating the profit with their family when an underworld don, Gowda ([[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]]) , who used to have a monopoly on the casinos in Goa, intrudes. Xavier held out against the don. Although he was killed, he managed to hold off the gang long enough for all of their wives to escape with the children. Wilson Gomez is the only of the friends to survive and he settled in Goa with his daughter, Emily ([[Poonam Bajwa]]).

Xavier's son, Mathukutty ([[Mohanlal]]) became a local goon. His brother had eloped with a girl from the medical college and he lives with Rosamma ([[Kavya Madhavan]]). He was attending a retreat to get rid of his thuggish ways. Another son of one of the friends was Zachariah ([[Jayaram]]), a man thirsty for money. Another was Binoy ([[Dileep]]) a lovesick youth who was the victim of six failed loves. Gomez sends each of them a letter stating that he had bought a Casino and wanted to share the profit between the sons of his friends.

The three meet Gowda, who places them in prison under a false case. They get out by selling their casino. They meet again on several occasions and finally Gowda is arrested.

==Cast==
* [[Mohanlal]] as Mathukutty / Xavier (dual role)
* [[Jayaram]] as Zachariah
* [[Dileep]] as Binoy
* [[Suraj Venjaramoodu]] as Chandran Valanjavazhi / CV
* [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]] as Gowda, a politician
* [[Kavya Madhavan]] as Rosamma (voice dubbed by [[Devi S.]])
* [[Poonam Bajwa]] as Emily
* [[Dipa Shah]] as Chandini (voice by Vimmy Mariam George)
* [[Captain Raju]] as Wilson Gomez
* [[Shankar (actor)|Shankar]] as Jayakrishnan
* [[Shanavas (actor)|Shanavas]] as David
* [[Jagathy Sreekumar]] as Jaggu Bhai
* Bharat Dabholkar as Home Minister, Chandini's father
* [[Nandhu]] as Priest
* Appa Haja as ACP Sheethal Kumar
* [[Manoj Kumar]] as Advocate Daniel
* Indulekha as Binoy's lover
* [[Deepu Karunakaran]]
* Priya Roy as Sreedevi, Gowda's daughter
* D'Souza Libor as [[Sumo]] wrestler
* [[Ranjini Haridas]] as herself (cameo appearance)
* [[Wahab Seebu]] as Sumo Wrestler Joongha

==Production==
In August 2010, it was reported that [[Mohanlal]], [[Jayaram]], and [[Dileep]] will come together with [[Suraj Venjaramoodu]] in a film titled ''China Town'' to be directed by the [[Rafi Mecartin]] duo and produced by [[Antony Perumbavoor]] for the company [[Aashirvad Cinemas]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Pyarilal|first=Vasanth|title=Mohanlal, Jayaram and Dileep join hands for China Town |url=http://southscope.in/mohanlal-jayaram-and-dileep-join-hands-china-town/|publisher=[[South Scope]]|accessdate=9 June 2020|date=10 August 2010}}</ref> The duo themselves wrote the screenplay, which was initially meant for Mohanlal alone, but as the plot developed it required two more actors in the lead roles and Dileep and Jayaram was approached.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nair |first1=Unni R. |title=Mohanlal, Jayaram, Dileep team again - Indian Express |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/mohanlal-jayaram-dileep-team-again/659045/ |accessdate=9 June 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=13 August 2010}}</ref> ''China Town'' began production on 20 December 2010.<ref>[http://nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=37107 "Mohanlal's ''Chinatown'' to start on Dec 16"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816034740/http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=37107 |date=16 August 2011 }}. Nowrunning.com. Retrieved 3 March 2011.</ref> Filming began in [[Ooty]], [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mohanlal's next is the multi-starrer China Town|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/mohanlal-s-next-is-the-multi-starrer-china-town-imagegallery-2-malayalam-lbmpmMjbeajsi.html|publisher=[[Sify]]|accessdate=9 June 2020|date=2011}}</ref> [[Principal photography]] took place mainly at the [[Ramoji Film City]], [[Hyderabad]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Salvadore|first=Sarah|title=Actor Mohanlal is in Hyderabad. The actor is shooting for the Malayalam film "China Town"|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Actor-Mohanlal-is-in-Hyderabad-The-actor-is-shooting-for-the-Malayalam-film-China-Town-/articleshow/7304201.cms|accessdate=9 June 2020|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=17 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Jayaram gets his own website|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2011/jan/30/jayaram-gets-his-own-website-223221.html|accessdate=9 June 2020|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=16 May 2011}}</ref> The set was made by art director Boban. Some parts were filmed in [[Goa]] and [[Ernakulam]].<ref>{{cite web|last=George|first=Meghna|title=First Look: Mohanlal's China Town|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/south-first-look-mohanlals-china-town/20110408.htm |work=[[Rediff.com]]|accessdate=9 June 2020}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical reception===
Veeyen of Nowrunning.com rated the film 2/5 and said "Despite the spectacular star cast ''Chinatown'', is yet another comedy from Rafi Mecartin. It's a mishmash of second hand ideas that have long had their run in movies."<ref name="Veeyen review">{{cite web|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/8327/malayalam/china-town/3045/review.htm|title=''Chinatown Review''|date=15 April 2011|publisher=Nowrunning.com|accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref> Paresh C. Pallicha of [[Rediff.com]] also gave the film a 2/5 rating and said, "The film virtually piggybacks on the stars to get the momentum as there is no script to speak of. The duo [[Rafi Mecartin]] that was known for their comical writing in the nineties has now reached a stage where they borrow dialogues from email forwards. That's the sorry state of the film. It will be futile to dwell on the performance of the actors as there is no solid material to back them. This one's a no-brainer and can be watched if you are not looking for thought-provoking stuff."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/china-town-movie-review/20110414.htm|title=Review: ''Chinatown'' has no substance|date=15 April 2011|work=[[Rediff.com]]|accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref> The reviewer of [[Sify|Sify.com]] said, "''Chinatown'' works fine, if you leave your brains back home. It belongs to the 'don't think too much about what is happening' kind, which defies logic but leaves you in splits at times.".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140226003445/http://www.sify.com/movies/china-town-review-malayalam-14967532.html "Movie Review: ''Chinatown''"]. [[Sify|Sify.com]]. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.</ref> ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' wrote that "The movie has a good sense of pacing in the first half, but fails to up the ante" and that Mohanlal is "quite impressive", Jayaram is okay, Dileep with his comedy numbers, is "the live element in the movie", and concluded that "Overall, ''Chinatown'', which could have been a lot more, in absence of genuineness, ends up being a 'fan' carnival than a fun carnival".<ref>{{cite news|title=Chinatown|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2011/apr/17/chinatown-245233.html|accessdate=9 June 2020|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=17 April 2011}}</ref>

===Box office===
The film was made at a budget of {{INR Convert|7|c}}.<ref name="week"/><ref name="budget">{{cite web|title=2011 was troublesome for Malayalam films
|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/2011-was-troublesome-for-malayalam-films-434144.html|publisher=[[IBN Live]]|date=4 January 2012}}</ref> The film which had 500 shows per day, covered its production cost in just two weeks run.<ref name="week">{{cite news|title=Multistarrer era comes to Mollywood|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2011/jun/05/multistarrer-era-comes-to-mollywood-259784.html|accessdate=29 October 2016|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=5 June 2011}}</ref> It got a distributor's share over {{INRConvert|5.5|c}}.<ref>{{cite news|author=Express News Service|title=Mollywood Progress Report 2011|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article481563.ece|agency=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=9 August 2011|location=[[Kochi]]}}</ref> And grossed {{INRConvert|9.2|c}} within one month. ''[[The Economic Times]]'' called it a "blockbuster film".<ref name="BO">{{cite news|author=Manoj Nair|title=Malayalam movies: Non-linear narratives are making the box-office ring louder|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/business-of-bollywood/malayalam-movies-non-linear-narratives-are-making-the-box-office-ring-louder/articleshow/8478136.cms|work=[[India Times]]|agency=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]]|date=21 May 2011}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = China Town
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[Jassie Gift]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|df=y|2011|03|11}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack]]
| length = 20:45
| label = Mathrubhumi Music<br />[[Satyam Audios]]
| producer = Jassie Gift
| prev_title = [[Sanju Weds Geetha]]
| prev_year = 2011
| next_title = [[Shyloo]]
| next_year = 2011
}}

[[Rahul Raj]] was initially approached to do the music. But he declined due to scheduling conflicts. The film's music was then composed by [[Jassie Gift]]. The lyrics were by [[Anil Panachooran]] and Santhosh Varma. The audio release function was held at Kadavu Resorts, [[Kozhikode]], on 2 March 2011. Jassie reused his tune "Gaganave Baagi" from the [[Kannada]] film ''[[Sanju Weds Geetha]]'' for the song "Arike Ninnalum".<ref>[http://entertainment.oneindia.in/kannada/top-stories/2010/puneet-release-sanju-weds-geetha-audio-191110.html "Sanju Weds Geetha audio released on 17-Nov-2010 by Puneet Rajkumar"]. Sanju Weds Geetha audio released on 17-Nov-2010 by Puneet Rajkumar</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline =
| extra_column = Singer(s)

| title1 = Innu Penninu
| extra1 = [[Jassie Gift]], [[Manjari (Indian singer)|Manjari]], Rajalakshmi
| length1 = 5:26

| title2 = Arike Ninnalum
| extra2 = [[M. G. Sreekumar]], [[K. S. Chithra]]
| length2 = 4:41

| title3 = Aaraanu Koottu
| extra3 = [[Afsal]], [[Pradeep Palluruthy]], [[Jassie Gift]]
| length3 = 4:21

| title4 = Mohapattam
| extra4 = [[Afsal]], [[Jassie Gift]], Ranjith, Rijiya
| length4 = 4:56

| title5 = Aaraanu
| extra5 = Kavalam Sreekumar
| length5 = 1:46
}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|1904861}}

{{Aashirvad Cinemas}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chinatown}}
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian comedy thriller films]]
[[Category:2011 films]]
[[Category:2010s Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Indian black comedy films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Jassie Gift]]
[[Category:Aashirvad Cinemas films]]
[[Category:Films shot at Ramoji Film City]]

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China Town (2011 film)