A good children’s movie is one which not only makes the children happy but which also appeals to the adults! Yes, that’s the real test for the films in this genre and Chillar Party passes that with flying colours. Warm, funny and touching – this movie almost immediately manages to strike a chord with the audiences of all ages.

‘Chillar Party’ is a gang of children residing in a middle-class housing society. Ranging from 6- 12 years in age, having diverse family backgrounds and sporting crazy nicknames (Panvati, Chaddi, Ghatotkach, Akram and the likes) these children hate their society-dweller aunty’s pampered dog, who keeps spoiling their game of cricket. So when a street-kid, employed by the society-secretary to clean the residents’ cars, walks in with another dog in tow, ‘Chillar Party’ loses its cool. The kids try all the tricks in their bag to make the cleaner-boy and his dog go away but instead they end up being friends with their perceived foes. But this friendship and that dog will finally make the Chillar Party come to a head-on clash with their parents and the adult world in general. Will they show the guts and gumption to stand up and be counted?

A simple plot, interesting directorial narrative and enjoyable performances (by all the kids) are the strengths of the film. Of course, the flashpoint conflict in the plot could have been written much better. But in spite of that flaw, Chillar Party makes its mark as a clean family-entertainer. It just proves that to make a good film one doesn’t need big names, jazzy sets or eye-popping special effects. A good story, a set of good actors and a good director who knows how to present them well; that for me is the real recipe for the good film and Chillar Party certainly makes that grade!