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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A Suitable Boy (2020) Review

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A SUITABLE BOY (2020) 

Directed by: Mira Nair and Shimit Amin 

Cast: Tanya Maniktala, Ishaan Khatter, Ram Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey, Randeep Hooda, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Mahira Kakkar, Shahana Goswami, Rasika Dugal, Vivek Gomber, Shubham Saraf, Namit Das, Vinay Pathak, Vijay Varma, Sheeba Chadda, Vijay Raaz, Vivaan Shah, Danish, Geeta Aggarwal, Aamir Basheer and Tabu. 

Nair, a brilliantly talented face of modern India on the international circuit adapts the popular Vikram Seth novella (one of the longest) into a six episodic series, she does well in parts and falters embarrassingly in others making it a mixed review viewing. 

I fondly remember reading this beautifully woven novel in the summer of 2004, almost the entire summer considering it was a never ending reading experience( readers who’ve read this would agree), set in 1951-52 India it encapsulates the modern age Indian youth embracing new found independence, learning and discovering their political inclinations and battling the evil of communal divide fuelled unfortunately after the freedom struggle in 1947. 

The centre plot focuses on a hyper helicopter mother who is hell bent on finding a ‘suitable boy’ for her nineteen year old beautiful daughter. The girl embarks on a self discovery journey that encompasses politics, poems, romance, travel, dine and wine, drama, finally streamlining the search to three eligible suitors. So who does she select as ‘ a suitable boy’? 

Considering a big fat novel had to be fit into only six episodes there are many characters that get chopped off, my most favourite character Maan gets a stereotyped cinematic characterisation, it was more in-depth and likeable in the book, Khatter’s portrayal somehow lacks relatability though he’s good in parts. It’s perfect casting for Lata’s role, fresh and gorgeous Maniktala is brilliance personified, oozing femininity and blessed with an infectious smile she acts with gusto and consummate charm. 

The over dramatic and stereotype portrayal of elderly Indians (with over the top hinglish accent and amateurish mannerisms) is a strictly bbc Asian mandate, probably that image will never change. Still prefer the novel over this hurried and convoluted series, Sadly a blurred cinematic impression of a classic novel. ⭐️⭐️

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