Spoiler Alert
A Shah Rukh Khan movie release is essentially a fiesta after kicking off the year with the hugely successful Pathaan. In terms of overt drama and action-packed scenes, SRK’s Jawan takes things to the next level.
Jawan’s opening scene is legendary. Somewhere along the northern borders of India, a battered soldier recovers. The kindly and idyllic village he’s resuscitated in is set upon; people are shot, stabbed, and drowned in a creek. The soldier rises like a messiah, swooping with a spear against a thundering sky. We don’t see his face yet, wrapped in gauze, though his eyes fill us in. The staging is spectacular, mythic, and rimmed with darkness. There’s also a flaming horse darting across the screen. As weird as it may sound, Jawan is, after all, the most Metal Gear-ish Shah Rukh Khan film.
This movie packs a punch tackling issues starting from farmer suicides due to nonpayment of the smallest of bank loans. Given the country’s experience with major farmer protests over the last year, the subject immediately strikes a chord and makes you think hard. There’s this one scene when a farmer hangs himself from a tree, and it’s a spine-chilling scene that breaks your heart.
Jawan also discusses healthcare system corruption and the deplorable conditions of public hospitals.
The movie quickly shifts from being action-driven to a lighthearted narrative. Two parallel tales are active at once. In one, Vikram Rathore (SRK), who executed a flawless hijack that placed the lives of 376 passengers in danger, is being sought out by Narmada (Nayanthara), the leader of Force Once. The second tale depicts the romance between Narmada and Azad Rathore (also SRK). Azad progressively becomes involved in their plot as the antagonist Kalee (Vijay Sethupathi), an arms dealer, has a history with Vikram Rathore.
The core of Jawan is made up of SRK’s army of women, and it’s encouraging to see that each one of them receives sufficient screen time to shine and contribute significantly to the plot and script.
While Kalki (Lehar Khan), a farmer’s daughter who was falsely accused of killing 57 innocent children, seeks to exact revenge on her father, Doctor Eram (Sanya Malhotra) is wrongfully imprisoned. Both Lakshmi (Priyamani), the girl next door, and Helena (Sanjeeta Bhattacharya), the ethical hacker, have intriguing character journeys. All of these females, including their leader, exhibit tenacity, conviction, and grit.
It’s a ride that sees too many elements stuffed in too small a box — a hectic, inexplicable romance between Shah Rukh and Nayanthara (playing a glamorous cop), a precocious child, father and son moments, an extended flashback and a mean villain who is the epitome of all evil.
For each stunt , SRK dons a new look, and much to the delight of his fans, he aces them all. Especially the metro hijack sequence where Khan sported a bald look that created buzz after the teaser dropped, shows him like never before. As a young Azad, he wooed the audience with his lover-boy image and as Vikram with gray hair and a cigarette in his mouth, he carries unmatched swag.
Matching SRK’s stardom, Vijay Sethupathi brings his own charm and gravitas. His portions are powerful and menacing. In his young as well as aged avatar, Sethupathi doesn’t let go of the fear he evokes with his presence.
His confrontation scene with Vikram ahead of the climax is brilliantly written and shot with a tinge of humor. Nayanthara brings freshness and is greeted with a slo-mo shot each time she comes on screen. Sadly though, her chemistry with Khan fails to ignite any sparks and it’s quite bland. Deepika Padukone, on the other hand, as Vikram Rathore’s wife Aishwarya, in a special appearance, is a treat to watch.
Tamil director Atlee has studied extensively and knows precisely how to play with the nerves of the Indian audience. With Jawan, he serves precisely what would be lapped up by an Indian audience with some additional masala.
Anirudh Ravichander loses out on songs but wins big on the background score. You won’t listen to the routine ‘speed-breaking’ songs, but surely vibe to the orchestral magic he has created with the instruments.
Jawan mixed everything that makes for an engaging and entertaining watch. Mention commercial, masala potboiler with action, drama, song, and romance; Jawan has it all in abundance. I won’t say you don’t apply brains, and please do because it highlights some important topics. The nearly 3-hour film tells a compelling tale of corruption at various levels in the system that affects the commoner in the most brutal ways.