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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VEERE DI WEDDING- review

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VEERE DI WEDDING [2018]

Director- Shashanka Ghosh 

The queen of Indian Tele soaps Ekta Kapoor & Star Daughter Rhea Kapoor join hands to produce this “Sex and the City” inspired chick flick even though the posters scream that it is not a chick flick, it certainly is one. 

The story ( or the lack of it) is about an Australia based woman Kalindi (Kareena Kapoor) who has a commitment phobia and does not want to get married because of her parent’s broken marriage and a disturbed childhood, when her long time beau Rishabh (Sumeet Vyas) pops up the ring she gets into an imaginative ( over imaginative actually) frenzy and obliges only to please him. Her friends join in to attend the wedding leading it some hilarious and emotional situations. 

Ghosh is terribly confused about what kind of a movie he’s directing, from a female bonding concept it suddenly slips into comedy and within no time into a tear jerk family drama, maybe a case of producer’s unwanted interference. Too many cooks (nearly five producers here) have unapologetically spoilt this broth. There is zilch connect with the characters on screen, the director’s idea of feminism and women liberation is diving into chain smoking and gulping alcohol ! He could’ve drawn some inspiration from movies like Monsoon Wedding (2001) or Dil Chahta Hai (2001) which had impressive story telling. 

Besides story the editing and screenplay are disastrous to say the least. Music is forgettable and the only saving grace is an fantastic cinematography. 

Kareena Kapoor is a complete disappointment as Kalindi, she gets the best author backed role and the entire movie revolves around her but all she does is roll her beautiful eyes or look confused, a complete failure of such a seasoned artiste. Sonam looks pretty and fits her role of a divorce lawyer who’s turned 30 and is constantly bugged by her mother to get married. Shikha Talsania is typecast and lacks screen appeal and fails to gain neither sympathy nor appraise for her role. Sumeet Vyas is passable and Manoj Pahwa overacts as always, Vivek Mushran’s portrayal of the gay uncle is streotyped. 

Among the cast it is Swara Bhaskar who performs with aplomb totally overshadowing the more popular leading ladies. As a young woman who is heading for a divorce she’s performed with bravura confidence and her uninhibited brutally frank on screen portrayal is praiseworthy. Along with her Vishwas Kini as a stereotypical Delhi brat who’s besotted with Sonam plays his part sincerely, these are the only two cast members who manage to make an impression. 

Certainly not targeted at family audience ( multiple cuss words and even an explicit masturbation scene) this chick flick is like an headless chicken trying to find the right direction, unfortunately the director is as confused as Kareena Kapoor’s onscreen character. Best avoided like the dreadful flu. 
⭐️

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