'Jawan', produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, was released in theatres today (September 7). In this section, we are going to talk about the latest BO release.
Plot:
A masked vigilante claiming to be Vikram Rathore (Shah Rukh Khan) hijacks a metro train and demands that an evil billionaire named Kaalie Gaikwad (Vijay Sethupathi) transfer Rs 40,000 Cr to his bank account. The hijacker reasons that a bank had previously waived off that much amount loaned by Kaalie. In comes a special officer named Narmada Rai (Nayanthara), tasked with negotiating and nabbing Vikram Rathore and his gang of six female warriors.
The twist comes when it is revealed that there is a Vikram Rathore-lookalike waiting to nail his unfinished mission.
Performances:
SRK brings a certain honesty to his larger-than-life roles. His physicality suits event films, something that 'Pathaan' already proved in January this year. In his second release of the year, the Badshah of Bollywood leaves a lasting impression in two semi-intense roles, as a father-son duo.
Nayanthara finds her footing in a romantic role that lets other female characters attain the spotlight after a while. Vijay Sethupathi is not so formidable, especially because his character is a caricature. No female sidekick has been sexualized in the name of glamour and that's a merit.
Deepika Padukone, who plays SRK's wife in the flashback, gets to lead some important scenes. Her role was advertised as a cameo. It is commendable that the makers managed to keep her role under wraps.
Technical aspects:
Action directors Anl Arasu and Yannick Ben were expected to deliver spectacle upon spectacle. That's what they do. The action scenes are the biggest merit of the film. The alpha male action hero deserved this sort of heavy-duty, illogical, insane action.
Anirudh Ravichander's background music comes with panache, making the film appear all the more masculine with its soundscape. The songs, however, are a disappointment if you expect a certain rhythm. GK Vishnu's cinematography is ravishing. Anthony L Ruben's editing scores marks.m ipsum
Analysis:
This is a Shankar-meets-Surender Reddy potboiler minus the magic of the 1990s vigilante actioners. There are elements drawn from two classics (read 'Bharateeyudu' and 'Aparichitudu). But, in the absence of memorable songs and original themes, 'Jawan' feels like an incomplete meal. Bad debts, farmer suicides, and the issue of EVMs have been touched upon in a hackneyed fashion.
Even though some scenes are far-fetched and the story is broadly predictable, the grandeur leaves the audience with a smile. The production values are amazing. The army backdrop may not be innovative or novel but director Atlee uses it for emotional impact.
The lack of ambiguous characters is glaring. If you compare this one with some recent Bollywood blockbusters like 'War' and 'Pathaan', you might tend to see the writing as quite formulaic. The ways of the villain are straightforward, with nothing surprising from his end.
The hero and the villain go head to head, giving us a whistle-worthy moment in the second half. Even though a battle of wits is absent, the film is still enjoyable.
Closing Remarks:
'Jawan' is over-the-top yet fun to watch. The gravity-defying action, the impeccable SRK, and the extravaganza on display are the saving grace.
