Saif Ali Khan finally gets to play his age and a role that suits him in Chef – Raja Krishna Menon’s latest flick that takes you on the road to happiness. Saif plays a three-star Michelin chef Roshan Kalra who loses his job in an American restaurant due to his temper. He returns to India to visit his son who lives with his ex-wife Radha in Kochi. When she learns about his jobless status, she refers him to a friend Biju who has a business proposition that includes starting a food truck that serves something exclusive. How Roshan and his son Armaan (Svar Kamble) bond over this food business is what makes this film one of the better flicks of the year.

Based on Jon Favreau’s Chef where he played a similar role, this Indian version is closer to how things happen in this part of the region. Instead of fighting with a renowned food critic, he lives the life of an estranged son in America and doesn’t meet his father since running away from home when young. Similarly, his wife doesn’t get married again but lives alone in Kochi where she teaches dance to young girls. Their son is of the same age as the character in the Hollywood version who loves the time he gets to spend with his father and learn the tricks of the trade he excels in. Kochi food replaces Cuban food while the truck makes a trip to Delhi instead of Miami, as shown in the original film.

Acting wise Chef is a good film where each actor plays a character rather than being themselves. Even Saif Ali Khan plays a character that is closer to his age and comes out as a winner, especially, in the scenes where he meets his father and tells his story to his son and where he rejects Biju’s offer without realising his good intentions. Padmapriya Janakiraman comes out as a sexy ex-wife while Milind Soman plays a cameo as her handsome rich friend. Svar Kamble, the son, also does well for a debut with the supporting cast that keeps you engrossed in the film. This is director Raja Krishna Menon’s first film since Airlift and proves to be the one for the future. •