What’s it about?
A vigilante (Shah Rukh Khan) and a posse of six women take over a Mumbai metro train. He requests that Narmada (Nayanthara), a police officer, handle his ransom demands. We quickly learn that he is going up against Kali, an arms dealer (Vijay Sethupathi).
But that’s not all. The vigilante is Azad, the son of Vikram Rathod (Shah Rukh Khan), the jawan who first got Kali into serious trouble.
Analysis
Atlee, as a director, has shown he can deliver even routine mass action dramas with flair. Films like “Police,” “Adirindi,” and “Whistle” (Vijay starred in all of them) demonstrate how he has developed his own approach to presenting commercial cinema. His guiding principle is to make everything as grand as possible, elevate the heroism to new heights, and give the old film scenes a new spin.
His first Bollywood film, “Jawan,” featured a heightened version of these styles performed by Bollywood’s biggest star, Shah Rukh Khan. We are reminded of numerous films and web series, some of which are “Vijayendra Varma,” “Khaidi Veta,” “Aparichutudu,” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” Additionally, the popular web series “Money Heist” is rehashed for an entire episode. There are also references to old Hindi songs.
The presence of prominent female characters (like Adirinidi and Whistle) is another signature of Atlee’s style, and this is also the case here. But the focus of “Jawan” is not on plot or originality. It’s an effort to introduce Hindi audiences to the full flavor of South Indian masala films. Atlee does very well in this regard.
He presents Shah Rukh Khan a new avatar, in fact in many avatars. Every getup of Shah Rukh Khan elevates the heroism and can elicit whistles from the fans.
Even though it was copied from “Money Heist,” the train hijacking episode is fantastic. There’s a balance of action thrills and heartfelt moments. This establishes the tone of the film. The film’s dramatic moments, while reminiscent of old cinema, still succeed. Grand visuals, slick action, an engrossing background score, and a terrific performance from Shah Rukh Khan elevate many otherwise mundane mass moments.
That is where Atlee’s success lies. Even in the romantic thread between Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara, Atlee adds a contemporary touch.
There are also social and political messages in the film. Cronyism, corporate loan forgiveness, farmer suicides, underfunded public hospitals, malfunctioning military weapons, rigged elections, and other issues are discussed. Thus, the film goes beyond regular mass movie elements.
As far as performances concerned, it’s Shah Rukh Khan show all the way. Sporting many avatars and looks, he provides many thrilling moments for his fans. His star charisma heightens the mood. Nayanthara nails her role well. Vijay Sethupathi makes a formidable villain. Other actors are okay. Deepika Padukone in her brief role is effective.
Cinematography, action choreography, visual effects and the production design are top-notch. Anirudh Ravichander’s background score is highlight.
Bottom line: “Jawan” is an out-and-out masala movie, but it’s told in a grand fashion. It’s Shah Rukh Khan’s show all the way. Atlee, the film’s director, adds new zing to familiar old and tired sequence. Though it is regular action drama, the film still provides plenty of thrills for the masses and action buffs and also makes political statements.
Rating: 3/5
Film: Jawan
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Deepika Padukone, Vijay Sethupathi, and others
Music: Anirudh Ravichander
DOP: GK Vishnu
Editing: Ruben
Producer: Gauri Khan
Written and Directed by: Atlee
Release Date: Sep 07, 2023
