JAWAAN (2023) : review

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And finally the much hyped, much awaited Jawaan saw light of the day ! Big stars, big budget( humongous budget actually), big music composer, everything super large. But does it meet the expectations of the average viewer? No it goes not. Read on.  A decorated jawan locks horns with a criminal called Kaali, this is in 1986 ( the year movies like Aakhri Raasta released, just for reference). Kaali gets him eliminated and send the pregnant wife to jail. The baby born in jail grows up to become the hero (look alike of the father) and decides to avenge the misdeeds done to his innocent patriotic parents. Well, isn’t it a masaaledaar full on Bollywood- Tollywood drama subject ?  And then the director Atlee also borrows ideas and references from various retro movies, some idea from Sholay (1975) as the hero assembled a gang of jailed Qaidis in order to form a team to nab the villain, then there’s an entire episode borrowed from Dhartiputra (1993), and the basic theme is copy pasted ...
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Akira: Lot of not so Khamosh Action

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AKIRA [2016]

"Hell hath no fury like a Woman Scorned" and if that woman is a certain Sonakshi Sinha then the tormentors better be aware. AKIRA is a action thriller with a bad ass protagonist who kicks butt like playing a footie.

Directed by: A.R. Murugadoss

Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Anurag Kashyap, Nandu Madhav, Amit Sadh, Konkona Sen Sharma, Atul Kulkarni, Uday Sabnis, Lokesh Gupte, Smita Jayakar, Teena Singh, Raai Lakshmi, Urmila Mahanta, Chaitanya Chaudhary, Mishieka Arora.

Akira is a fast paced kick-ass action drama about a small town young girl [ Sinha] who has to relocate to Mumbai city due to family reasons. Apart from facing the sarcasm of her sister and law & constant ragging by her female batch mates in college she also has a rebellious past to live with. Some unfortunate chain of events drag Akira into the dangerous Web of crime & deceit. Her single handed fight against some notorious men in uniform forms the crux of this thriller.

Director Murugadoss who has the distinction of giving Bollywood it's first 100 crore blockbuster Ghajini[2008] has adapted Akira from the Tamil Hit "Mouna Guru". Direction is first rate backed with heavy duty action stunts but he gets passable support from a weak screenplay & one of the worst editing ever. Nevertheless his story telling technique is praiseworthy & he manages to narrate the concept without any stereotypes or clichés. He has presented the protagonist as a real human rather than glorifying her as a revenge seeking goddess. Murugadoss's biggest victory is his realistic portrayal adapted for Akira's character making her appear sensitive and humane & at the same time strikingly strong & determined.

Sonakshi Sinha gets a role of a lifetime as Akira, she breathes passion & energy in the role of a wronged young woman out to literally butcher the villains. Nandu Madhav as a corrupt police officer is fantastic, Konkona plays her investigating Officer's role with conviction.

Undoubtedly the real star of Akira is Anurag Kashyap as the dirty drug addicted chauvinistic corrupt ACP Govind Rane. His act is so believable as an antagonist that you would hate to love him and love to hate him playing the evil officer with so much finesse. His egoistic chauvinism is displayed in the way he looks down on his pregnant colleague or the way he treats the female lead. In an intense gruelling scene between Kashyap & a prostitute, his ruthless brutality is displayed no holds barred.

Music is a weak point but we are thankfully spared the routine item numbers or love songs, it's a pleasant change to listen to Sunidhi Chauhan's serene vocals in a song after ages.

Akira has its moments, rather than the direction or dialogues it relies heavily on Sinha & more dominantly on Kashyap for their able support, it's what can be termed as a performance driven movie. Murugadoss has used a tinge of emotional camaraderie to add sensitivity to an otherwise intense & violent plot, like the flashback scenes between Akira & her deaf & mute father or the unspoken yet poignant bond between Akira & her transgender friend from an asylum. The Director has also invaded the weak & corrupt practices prevailing in legal, educational and medical [ mental health] departments in the country.

Akira is a good attempt showcasing the grit & power of a young woman who takes on a male dominated system to fight the evil. Highly recommended for viewers yearning for something different & to be avoided by those who can't digest an overdose of violence & gore as there is plenty of bloodshed & torture displayed on screen.

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