2023 is shaping up to be the year of Shah Rukh Khan. First, there was Pathaan, a slick spy-thriller set in the YRF Spy Universe. And now Jawan, directed by Atlee is set to be one of SRK’s biggest hits ever.
Jawan starring Shah Rukh Khan as a vigilante fighting against the injustices of the system is proper “mass cinema”. There are larger-than-life set pieces, hero shots, catchy songs, zingy one-liners, and a plethora of talented actors.
Atlee Kumar who made a name for himself directing Tamil movies, usually with Vijay as the hero, shows us why he’s one of the few directors in Indian cinema who knows how to do “mass” properly.
The introduction shots of SRK’s character are something that Bollywood may have never seen before, and the impact that one shot creates is felt throughout the theatre. And Shah Rukh Khan revels in his new role.
The CGI used throughout the movie to augment some of the action scenes blend seamlessly with the rest of the environment, serving only to elevate the scene. Combine that with the phenomenal set design, and the amazing cinematography, and Jawan is a joy to sit through.
The background score by Anirudh Ravichander enhances the emotion in every scene. And like most Indian movies, there are a couple of songs in this flick too.
Jawan is on no counts a perfect movie, however. One of the signature aspects of Atlee’s movie is the inclusion of some social issues into the script. Whether it be medical fraud, women’s empowerment, or corruption. And he’s tried to do the same with Jawan. The problem is that he’s taken on too much this time around. It seems like instead of focusing on one social issue to tackle, Atlee and SRK’s Jawan is intent on tackling all the issues affecting India. And this muddies the story of the movie. Granted that some issues presented in the movie are heart-rending, but when the issues come up one after the other, the audience isn’t left with enough time to feel the weight of what is being presented to them.
The second issue is with certain action scenes. The huge set-pieces and the hero introduction shots in the movie are a true sight to behold. But when we get to some of the more extended action and fight sequences, the overuse of shaky cam (physically shaking the camera to produce the illusion of excitement) ruins the experience. The shaky cam is especially noticeable when the characters take part in hand-to-hand fight sequences.
The final issue is with the antagonist of the movie. Vijay Sethupathi as the villainous Kalee Gaikwad, isn’t really villainous. He comes across more as a parody of a villain than a true bad guy. Everything from the white hair and beard, to how he interacts with his henchmen seems gimmicky, and this pulls you out of the experience of being truly immersed in the movie.
That’s not to say that he’s done a bad job in his role. Vijay Sethupathi has done wonders with what he’s been given; the problem is with the character itself.
The rest of the supporting cast does a phenomenal job. Nayanthara and Deepika Padukone as the heroines of the movie are brilliant. Each actress also gets their own ‘hero-shot’ moment, with Nayanthara truly shining in hers.
The star of the show will always be Shah Rukh Khan though. His signature swagger, iconic dialogue delivery, and witty one-liners are turned up to 11 in this movie, and the effect is extraordinary.
Despite the flaws, Jawan is a true entertainer in every sense of the word.
Verdict: The perfect weekend movie if you’re in the mood for some masala fun.
- Deviprasad Nair
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