Jawan. Naam toh suna hee hoga. It is not every day that a movie debuts at 6 in the morning and the theater is packed with people. Following the explosive Pathaan, directed by Siddharth Anand, Khan’s Jawan is even more massive and plugged with high-octane action. In this new incarnation, writer-director Atlee portrays Shah Rukh Khan as rugged, tough, and gritty without losing any of his trademark wit.
It is all about the masses. The chants and roars in the film’s background score highlight Shah Rukh Khan and Atlee’s first collaboration as actor-director. Large-scale because Jawan is a classic Atlee film, complete with his brand of big action sequences, trumpeting, an over-the-top score, heartbreaking drama, and songs featuring 100 extra dancers. Working with a superstar who personifies the feeling of “mass” like no one else is uncharted territory for him. But apart from being massy, the film also serves as a reminder of Khan’s stardom.
Jawan Is A Perfect Ode To Khan’s Stardom
Without a doubt, Shah Rukh Khan’s performance in Jawan steals the spotlight. From beginning to end, Khan pulls off everything and, predictably, stands on it. Not to mention his ambiguity. It is twice as enjoyable to watch him perform in two roles. Whether it is the rousing introduction scene, the fight scenes, or the musical numbers, he will make you believe anything is possible. At the age of 57 (he will be 58 in November), SRK still stuns with his world-class performances.
Pathaan appears to have been nothing more than an appetizer compared to the amount of action he has displayed in Jawan. In his first Hindi film as a director, Atlee blends all the elements of commercial cinema to create a mass entertainer, ensuring that he does not disappoint the Hindi-speaking audience.
An Immaculate Storytelling Blended With Tropes Which Is Gripping
To offer its viewers something new and exciting, Jawan departs from tried-and-true methods and clichés. Mention fanfares, masala potboilers featuring action, drama, romance, song, and whatever else you want to throw in there. Jawan provides it in spades. The nearly compelling three-hour film details how systemic corruption permeates all levels of government and has devastating effects on average citizens. Despite entering social commentary territory, thanks in large part to a protracted monologue by SRK near the film’s conclusion, it never descends into moralistic territory.
Jawan Offers A Seamless Timeline Of Past And Present
The story of Jawan is non-linear; it begins in the present, skips ahead 30 years, and then uses flashbacks to explain the why and how. Azad (Shah Rukh Khan) is a police officer at a women’s prison, and the film follows his dual role as both a law enforcement official and the heroic Robin Hood figure Vikram Rathore. Azad and his gal pals plan to use their power to make the government do things for the public good that it has not been able to do in years—and they will do it all in a matter of minutes.
The primary goal here is to dismantle the criminal empire of a weapons dealer named Kaali (Vijay Sethupathi). Kaali is rumored to have killed Azad’s father due to an old grudge between the two. The plot twist, though obvious, is still surprising. Husband and wife are put in an awkward position when Azad falls for Narmada (Nayanthara), the police officer tasked with apprehending Vikram Rathore and his girl gang. The story culminates in a revenge drama with a dash of stereotypical socialism and some touching family drama.
Extraordinary Action Scores
Consistently delivering a thrilling and well-choreographed action sequence, Jawan is a cinematic masterpiece. When you see all the South ka mirch masala, like slow-motion shots, defying gravity action where men fly, and a deified hero, you realize why everyone is talking about how Bollywood is going South.
A high-octane thriller, it addresses the urgent problem of farmers killing themselves because they cannot afford to repay even the smallest bank loans. Given the country’s recent history of mass farmer protests, the topic immediately hits close to home and provokes deep thought. There is this one scene where a farmer commits suicide by hanging himself from a tree, and it gives you the chills.
A Rollercoaster Ride Filled With Stellar Performances
Vijay Sethupathi’s charisma and gravitas complement SRK’s fame while also adding some rumble and boom to the mix. Those bites are dangerously potent and substantial. Both younger and older Sethupathis exude the same sense of foreboding terror. The scene where he confronts Vikram just before the climax is wonderfully written and shot with a touch of humor.
Every time Nayanthara appears on screen, a slow-motion shot is played in response to the breath of fresh air she brings. On the other hand, Deepika Padukone’s guest appearance as Vikram Rathore’s wife, Aishwarya, is a joy to behold. You can relive your Chennai Express glory days with a dance number starring the two of them.
Overall Impact
Khan adopts a new persona for each of his planned stunts, and, to the delight of his followers, he always succeeds spectacularly. Particularly eye-catching is the metro hijacking scene in which Khan can be seen sporting a bald look, which generated sufficient buzz after the teaser was released.
Whether he is young Azad, with his lover-boy image, or old Vikram, with his grey hair and cigarette in his mouth, he exudes an unrivaled air of confidence. The dialogues by Sumit Arora are quite gripping and powerful, and the screenplay by Atlee and S. Ramanagirivasan is engaging and absorbing for a film of this magnitude. When SRK says, ‘Bete ko haath lagane se pehle baap se baat kar’, it hits hard.
Nonetheless, Jawan is a great pick for a night of clean entertainment that will not leave you bored. Do not let your attention wander; a lot is happening on the screen, and you should not miss it if you want to understand what is going on. You will want to keep an eye out for the Paisa Vasool-level climax.
