Of guns, ostriches and quirky antics:Jagga Jasoos,an uncanny mix and a delectable rendition of the unconventional
Jagga Jasoos is a feast for the eyes. Anurag Basu's second collaboration with the acting powerhouse that is Ranbir Kapoor(after Barfi! in 2012) is as engaging as it is inventive. Ranbir is undoubtedly the best actor of his generation and he has only reaffirmed that he is the king of quirky roles through this long overdue film - it has been in the works for three and a half years.
While Barfi! evocatively dealt with the life of the differently abled, Jagga Jasoos, as the name suggests, is a detective story. But more than the sleuths, it is the musicality of the film that is its most striking quality. Jagga finds it easier to converse using the 'creative' side of his brain since he was born with a stutter. Pay attention to the lines penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya and you will find yourselves alternatively cracking up (no, I'm not talking about 'Galti se mistake' or 'Ullu ka pattha'. Try listening to 'Khaana Khaake' instead, or better, watch the movie)and introspecting on the director's philosophy of life (the dinosaur analogy, for instance, and our how we are quick to dismiss tragedy that befalls others).
The film combines delightful comic characters, an emotional strain, musical dialogues (which act as social criticisms and comic relief) and connects it to relevant issues such as arms smuggling. Apart from stellar acting by Ranbir Kapoor, Saswata Chatterjee, Saurabh Shukla and the rest of the supporting cast, the dramatic location shifts ranging from Bengal to Kenya keeps the viewer hooked.Katrina Kaif delivers a tolerable performance, though it is sadly lacking compared to the rest of the cast. The director's vision and its execution - especially the physical comedy and the production design - are incredible.
The first half follows a storytelling session to introduce Jagga (played by Ranbir) and Sruthi(Katrina) and ends with Sruthi asking the children to take a break (with the screen blanking out, instead of the typical illusion-breaker: 'Intermission'). The second half of the film gains in pace, what with Jagga embarking on an extraordinary journey to find the whereabouts of his father, which leads him and Sruthi into the hands of terrorists, from whom they manage a hair's breadth escape, further revealing Jagga's ingenuity.The movie ends with a heartwarming reunion of father and son, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui is revealed as the elusive arms dealer, Bashir Alexander, hinting at a possible sequel.
If you enjoy the filmmaking of Anurag Basu, or are a fan or Ranbir Kapoor, or just an admirer of inventive narratives, do not miss this film. It would be an ideal watch for children too.Just be sure to switch off your phones and pay close attention!
I know it is unfair to compare, but Barfi! was better executed than Jagga Jasoos, which does not at all mean that the latter is not a rewarding watch. Jagga works on a grander scale, aspiring to be a Broadway musical, and as many claim, the film's many parts are more memorable than the whole.Perhaps the linking to Subhash Chandra Bose and cases of smuggling and militants seem out-of-context and did not work in the film's favour.
Neverthless, Anurag Basu's film is entertaining, touching and thought-provoking in its own right.
While Barfi! evocatively dealt with the life of the differently abled, Jagga Jasoos, as the name suggests, is a detective story. But more than the sleuths, it is the musicality of the film that is its most striking quality. Jagga finds it easier to converse using the 'creative' side of his brain since he was born with a stutter. Pay attention to the lines penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya and you will find yourselves alternatively cracking up (no, I'm not talking about 'Galti se mistake' or 'Ullu ka pattha'. Try listening to 'Khaana Khaake' instead, or better, watch the movie)and introspecting on the director's philosophy of life (the dinosaur analogy, for instance, and our how we are quick to dismiss tragedy that befalls others).
The film combines delightful comic characters, an emotional strain, musical dialogues (which act as social criticisms and comic relief) and connects it to relevant issues such as arms smuggling. Apart from stellar acting by Ranbir Kapoor, Saswata Chatterjee, Saurabh Shukla and the rest of the supporting cast, the dramatic location shifts ranging from Bengal to Kenya keeps the viewer hooked.Katrina Kaif delivers a tolerable performance, though it is sadly lacking compared to the rest of the cast. The director's vision and its execution - especially the physical comedy and the production design - are incredible.
The first half follows a storytelling session to introduce Jagga (played by Ranbir) and Sruthi(Katrina) and ends with Sruthi asking the children to take a break (with the screen blanking out, instead of the typical illusion-breaker: 'Intermission'). The second half of the film gains in pace, what with Jagga embarking on an extraordinary journey to find the whereabouts of his father, which leads him and Sruthi into the hands of terrorists, from whom they manage a hair's breadth escape, further revealing Jagga's ingenuity.The movie ends with a heartwarming reunion of father and son, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui is revealed as the elusive arms dealer, Bashir Alexander, hinting at a possible sequel.
If you enjoy the filmmaking of Anurag Basu, or are a fan or Ranbir Kapoor, or just an admirer of inventive narratives, do not miss this film. It would be an ideal watch for children too.Just be sure to switch off your phones and pay close attention!
I know it is unfair to compare, but Barfi! was better executed than Jagga Jasoos, which does not at all mean that the latter is not a rewarding watch. Jagga works on a grander scale, aspiring to be a Broadway musical, and as many claim, the film's many parts are more memorable than the whole.Perhaps the linking to Subhash Chandra Bose and cases of smuggling and militants seem out-of-context and did not work in the film's favour.
Neverthless, Anurag Basu's film is entertaining, touching and thought-provoking in its own right.
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