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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DECODING LADY JAYA

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DECODING LADY JAYA : the self proclaimed First Lady of Bollywood 

So Jaya Bhaduri is back in the news, Bhaduri who? Okay for the ill informed millennials it’s Jaya Bachchan, hope that rings a bell. So true, Jaya ji is known more for her prestigious surname and being a mega superstars trophy wife today rather than her distinguished award winning performances in the early to mid 70’s. 

Trending in news 
Mrs. Bachchan created a storm in the Rajya sabha when she questioned the intent of Ravi Kishen (without naming him, wow diplomacy), by using filmy dialogues like “Jis Thali mein khaya’’ blah blah blah. So she’s back in the news, she was also in news some moths back for being the only member of the Bachchan family to have an enviable immunity to have been covid negative ! Inspiring for sure.

Bollywood career 
Jaya with a gold medal from the FTII, pune embarked on a Bollywood career as a leading lady with a smashing impressive debut in Guddi(1971), she continued playing strong women centric roles in Uphaar(1971), Ek Nazar(1972), Koshish(1972), Abhimaan(1973), Anamika(1973), Kora Kaagaz(1974), Mili(1975) and others, also appearing in the blockbuster Sholay(1975). She won three FilmFare best actress Awards during her active acting career. She was regarded as a powerhouse performer who achieved success in lead roles despite the odds, odds being her height, an average non bollywoodish face, no glamour or sex appeal. 


Marriage and subsequent sabbatical 
In 1973 she ‘gave up’ a ‘flourishing career’ to marry a rising star Amitabh who became the number one superstar the very next year. After a starring role in Silsila(1981) she stopped acting full time and by her own admission concentrated on raising her children Shweta(b. 1974) and Abhishek (b. 1976). 

Politics and comeback 
It is alleged the late Amar Singh helped Jaya begin her political journey, known for her frank views and ‘unbiased’ opinion she looked like the perfect catalyst to stabilise an unstable political party at that time. She also made a comeback to movies with hits like Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham(2001) and Kal Ho Na Ho(2003) but quickly withdrew when offers started diminishing. 

Complicated to be decoded 
Basically Jaya Bhaduri- Bachchan is an immensely complicated specimen to decipher. She has portrayed the quintessential girl next door in Bollywood during her heydays and has confessed in reality she’s far from that image, she has very consciously portrayed a defensive angry old aunty avatar in public and in front of media in particular. You’ll always find her frowning, shouting, complaining and sulking when asked for ‘bytes’ by media. Though called a great actor of her times the question is was she really versatile like say a Rekha or Mumtaz or even Reena Roy. The answer is a big NO. She had limitations as an actor, watch her movies and you’ll mostly see ‘Jaya Bhaduri’ and not the character, she played herself. What if she had not married the legend Bachchan, there are chances she would’ve been lost in anonymity like Radha Saluja, Vidya Sinha, Rehana Sultan or Rameshwari. Whoever agrees to disagree, currently it’s the heavyweight surname that has worked in Jaya’s favour, the arrogance, brutal attitude, one sided views she expresses fiercely and fearlessly is thanks to the iron strong surname she is tagged with. So ‘Bhaduri’ would’ve lost in oblivion but ‘Bachchan’ surely survives the tide !! 

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