Saturday, September 09, 2023

Jawan: The North-South Spectacle



The hype that has surrounded the movie pre-release has been phenomenal. Even the reviews and reactions after its release two days ago have been nothing short of a positive tsunami. Jawan has opened to the biggest opening ever, and no negative publicity appears to affect the cine-goers. Having missed watching Pathan in the theatres, I chose to watch this movie before the staple turned stale. 


Jawan can be best described as the North and South coming together to make the biggest of all masala movies. One which has every ingredient needed for a mass entertainer. A never-say-die hero (or make it two), a bevy of beautiful females who also are capable (hmm hmm), some love for nation, some foot tapping music, a bit of comic relief, and loads of villainy and anti national stuff. Mounted on a modest scale, it tries to portray Shah Rukh as an one-man destruction army that can survive anything and everything thrown at him - from bombs to bullets, bikes to babes, nothing fazes him.  It is directed by the Tamil-Telugu film director Attlee, has Nayanthara as the female lead, and Vijay Sethupathi plays the antagonist. Deepika Padukone appears in a rather long guest appearance. Throw in some more actors and actresses for good measure - Santa Malhotra, Priyamani, and more. 


Attlee borrows heavily from topical incidents to create his movie. You have farmers suicides, waiver of bank loans of large industries, polluting industries (Bhopal tragedy too), corruption in elections, tragic deaths of children at hospital for want of oxygen, corrupt arms suppliers. Each of the incidents is used to create a montage of sequences that further the movie to its climax. These set pieces also happen to be the highlights of the movie - excellently written and exceedingly beautifully choreographed. He also brings in token women’s empowerment by creating a group of fighting femme fatales that are behind SRK’s plans and successes. 


Jawan tells the story of a son out to avenge his parents’ honour. The senior SRK has been branded a ‘desh drohi’ though he was an upright army officer. In the bargain he also delivers vigilante justice. SRK acts as both father and son. Deepika is paired with the elder SRK, and Nayanthara makes her debut in Hindi as a police officer out to nab the vigilante. 


The movie has one of the best ever opening sequences and introduction of hero. It also keeps the pace all through the first half, not letting off the accelerator. It entertains, makes the audience cry, laugh, and seethe in good measures all through. The set pieces are well mounted - be it the one on the metro or in the hospital or the barren cotton fields. Everything moves like a well-oiled machine. Everyone plays the part superbly too. And, you expect things to get bigger and better. 


It’s in the second half that the movie begins to unravel - both its plot and the hold over the audience. It gets bigger but not better. Sequences get clunky and villainy becomes parody, failing to instil fear or revulsion. Logic - which shouldn’t be looked for in mass masala movies - becomes even more scarce. Hitherto empowered women suddenly become bystanders, with nothing to do. A lot of characters that are added to the milieu too become just cardboard cutouts as the climax looms. But, all that thankfully gets saved by SRK in his senior avatar - cigar smoking, weapon-wielding, deadpan and yet absolutely charismatic.  


The movie has stuffed in a lot of socially relevant messages. Farmers’ plight, corruption in all spheres, medical care woes, and so on. They all reach the audience because they’re relatable thanks to the recent happenings. It is also being commented that it’s SRK’s way of getting back at his detractors during his  son’s arrest on drug charges. The dialogue ‘bete ko haath lagaane se pahle baap se baat kar’ has gone viral. Usually Hindi movies with political messages do not do well at the box office. Unlike in the South, where audiences love them. Even ‘Nayak’, did below average business. The last time a political movie was a hit was possibly in the 80s. ‘Jawan’ appears to break that jinx.  


While SRK is a scene stealer as the dad, he looks terribly jaded as the son. Time for him to look for roles that suit his age than play a young protagonist. But, his fans will neither notice nor agree. Nayanthara looks gorgeous and matches SRK step for step in a duel. Sadly there’s little scope for SRK-Nayanthara chemistry. And her screen time suddenly vanishes as the movie hurtles towards climax. Ditto others - Sanya Malhotra, and company have little to do after the beginning bright spots. Deepika has an extended cameo. She looks ethereal in every frame, and her acting is competent as usual, but half the time could easily have been chopped off on the editing table - just adds to the bloat. The biggest disappointment of the movie is Vijay Sethupathi. As the antagonist, he’s rather tepid. It surely is one of the portrayals he would soon wish to forget.  Background score works well and so does the photography. Not much good can be said about the songs by the Tamil sensation Anirudh Ravichander - mostly needless, and certainly no ear worms. 


The final verdict? It begins with a bang, and goes out with a whimper. A roaring start ends in a tame meow. Should you watch? Go for it to be entertained. You’ll not be disappointed there. Just leave your sense of logic behind and do not look for plot-holes; you’ll find ones the size of the craters on the moon. Enjoy the wild ride. 

1 Comments:

At 6:06 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks - will plan to see the movie soon with Doc.

 

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