So, I just came from my show of Jawan, and this was an exhilarating three hours, and I have tons to discuss.
Since all my theatre viewings have incorporated a different review format (detracting from my analytical perspective), I will make no exception here. I will put forth the positives and negatives like I did on all occasions.
Without further ado, let's begin and let me first start with what did I like.
Positives:-
Technicalities - I cannot stress enough how rich and gorgeous the film looks. Each and every shot was infused with fitting colours and contrast.
Shah Rukh Khan - We have never seen Shah Rukh Khan in such a massy avatar before. What Atlee Kumar had done with him here is exceptional, and Bollywood directors should take notes seriously. Kudos to SRK, too, as he had completely surrendered himself to the director, putting faith in his vision.
Emotional Core - Those who have seen Atlee's earlier works know how much importance he generally gives to the emotional aspects of his stories, and "Jawan" is nothing different. You will shed some tears.
Background Music - Anirudh had yet again shown his true worth. What a terrific composition. It had uplifted and exacerbated every sequence! It's one of his best, for sure.
Yeah, that's about it. Now, I am moving on to the things I did not like or had qualms about.
Negatives:-
Third Act and its mishaps - The concluding Act, or the last thirty minutes to be precise, came off as volatile and incoherent compared to the rest of the script. It seems like Atlee had made some last-minute changes or was in a great hurry to finish off the screenplay and, in doing so, ineluctably messed up the inherent flow of the narrative.
Tonal Misbalance - It might sound nitpicky, and maybe I'm doing just that, but embedding comedy in serious moments didn't come across as a wise call. It took away the intensity and made the situations less intimidating.
Lack of Material for the Supporting Cast - I knew the supporting actors would have little to do here, and my assumptions were proved correct. Nayanthara, Sunil Grover, The Six Girls: Although they did whatever was demanded of them, their characters leave a whole lot to be desired. There were opportunities to make them shine and come out of their shells, but Atlee didn't; it was deliberate from his end.
Now, it's time for those things I have mixed feelings on.
Mixed:-
Cameos / Guest Appearances - There are two special appearances in the movie (No, Thalapathy Vijay is not there if you are wondering); one from Deepika and the other one comes from a Veteran in the business (not going to name him though, you will see it for yourself).
Now, I absolutely adored Deepika here. She was given about twenty minutes of screen time, and she gave it all and made her part so impactful that you'll remember her after the film finishes. Sadly, I cannot say the same for the "other" cameo, which felt more like a last-minute touch-up or an input from the Producers' end rather than an indispensable part of Atlee's pre-planned vision.
Messaging - Each and Every message in the film bears significance and the topics they speak about need to be brought up in our day-to-day conversations. Having said that, I did not like the way those messages were delivered, especially towards the end when SRK breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience. It was fine at the beginning but became so preachy by the end!
To summarise my train of thought, I had a very good experience overall, and the community viewing aspect definitely played its part. Despite a couple of issues, I suggest everybody go and witness this spectacle of a feature on the biggest screen you could afford to go to. If you love SRK, it's a must-watch no-brainer; even if you do not consider yourself a fan, go for the exhilaration. Trust me, you won't have much to complain about.
Since all my theatre viewings have incorporated a different review format (detracting from my analytical perspective), I will make no exception here. I will put forth the positives and negatives like I did on all occasions.
Without further ado, let's begin and let me first start with what did I like.
Positives:-
Technicalities - I cannot stress enough how rich and gorgeous the film looks. Each and every shot was infused with fitting colours and contrast.
Shah Rukh Khan - We have never seen Shah Rukh Khan in such a massy avatar before. What Atlee Kumar had done with him here is exceptional, and Bollywood directors should take notes seriously. Kudos to SRK, too, as he had completely surrendered himself to the director, putting faith in his vision.
Emotional Core - Those who have seen Atlee's earlier works know how much importance he generally gives to the emotional aspects of his stories, and "Jawan" is nothing different. You will shed some tears.
Background Music - Anirudh had yet again shown his true worth. What a terrific composition. It had uplifted and exacerbated every sequence! It's one of his best, for sure.
Yeah, that's about it. Now, I am moving on to the things I did not like or had qualms about.
Negatives:-
Third Act and its mishaps - The concluding Act, or the last thirty minutes to be precise, came off as volatile and incoherent compared to the rest of the script. It seems like Atlee had made some last-minute changes or was in a great hurry to finish off the screenplay and, in doing so, ineluctably messed up the inherent flow of the narrative.
Tonal Misbalance - It might sound nitpicky, and maybe I'm doing just that, but embedding comedy in serious moments didn't come across as a wise call. It took away the intensity and made the situations less intimidating.
Lack of Material for the Supporting Cast - I knew the supporting actors would have little to do here, and my assumptions were proved correct. Nayanthara, Sunil Grover, The Six Girls: Although they did whatever was demanded of them, their characters leave a whole lot to be desired. There were opportunities to make them shine and come out of their shells, but Atlee didn't; it was deliberate from his end.
Now, it's time for those things I have mixed feelings on.
Mixed:-
Cameos / Guest Appearances - There are two special appearances in the movie (No, Thalapathy Vijay is not there if you are wondering); one from Deepika and the other one comes from a Veteran in the business (not going to name him though, you will see it for yourself).
Now, I absolutely adored Deepika here. She was given about twenty minutes of screen time, and she gave it all and made her part so impactful that you'll remember her after the film finishes. Sadly, I cannot say the same for the "other" cameo, which felt more like a last-minute touch-up or an input from the Producers' end rather than an indispensable part of Atlee's pre-planned vision.
Messaging - Each and Every message in the film bears significance and the topics they speak about need to be brought up in our day-to-day conversations. Having said that, I did not like the way those messages were delivered, especially towards the end when SRK breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience. It was fine at the beginning but became so preachy by the end!
To summarise my train of thought, I had a very good experience overall, and the community viewing aspect definitely played its part. Despite a couple of issues, I suggest everybody go and witness this spectacle of a feature on the biggest screen you could afford to go to. If you love SRK, it's a must-watch no-brainer; even if you do not consider yourself a fan, go for the exhilaration. Trust me, you won't have much to complain about.