JAGGA JASOOS – REVIEW & MY TAKE ON CRITICS

At the outset, I would like to make it very clear that I do not have any vested interest in the project titled JAGGA JASOOS. Through this blog I provide my understanding of the said film.

First things first. I loved JAGGA JASOOS.

Is it the perfect candidate to be a part of any quintessential Indian Film movie list? I would reserve my verdict. Though, in the same breadth, I do feel that any follow-ups in the same genre by the same team may result in a well-rounded and refined product making it a strong preposition for any such lists.

STORY (NON-SPOILER)

Jagga Jasoos is a journey, both inner and outer, of a young man yearning to be one again with his father.  For any set of eyes which give attention to detail, it wouldn’t take long to realize how beautifully the director captures the undying love that the young man develops for the foster father as a child. Giving company to JAGGA, in this journey, is a lady reporter. Together they travel across eastern part of India and different continents to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of  his father. Through this journey the director and writer very cleverly bring to the fore a relevant & burning issue which troubles India ,in particular, and world in general.

Terrorism and unhindered access to arms destroy humanity, hinders development and divides world. Add politics and corruption to the list and the recipe of disaster is ready.

No point emphasizing on the fact that it is a musical in the true sense.

WHAT WORKS FOR ME

• The actors have done their job as per the guidelines dished out to them by the director. Ranbir is an actor par excellence and it is proved yet again. Katrina did her part convincingly. She was supposed to play “disaster in waiting” and she didn’t disappoint. Saswata Chatterjee is A grade. Ditto Saurabh Shukla. Rajatava Dutta, Denzil Smith and Mir Sarwar have rather inconsequential roles but have done justice. Seems like Sayani gupta's role has been the big loser on the editing table.
• Anurag Basu as director is excellent & has done justice to the genre he chose.
• Cinematography rocks. Hats off to Ravi Varman
• Locales are awesome.
• Anurag Basu the concept designer is A grade. He deserves a pat on his back for weaving his story the way he did.
• Amitabh Bhattacharya as lyricist has been good.
• Pritam’s Music is good. His talent comes to fore in few songs. Though it does seem that some others were crying for his undivided attention.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME

• This musical needed a tighter screenplay. It seems Anurag the screenplay writer has slightly underestimated this aspect. He forgot to tighten some screws in this department. Mind you the movie worked big time for me as a viewer. It is just that few tweaks here and there (in screenplay) would have aided in gaining universal appreciation and acceptance.
• Editing too missed its mark. The film needed to be a little shorter. 2 hrs 15 minutes should have been ideal. Undue time was given to building up the emotional bond between the father and son. This aspect required attention to set the tone of the movie but then some scenes could have been done away with for an even crisper end product.
• The other candidate for the chopping scissors is easily the narration. The narration is unique and hats off to Anurag for pulling it off. Shows his talent. But the problem here is that this was the wrong film to use this technique/concept. It is but obvious that the treatment of the movie is very children centric. Hence there wasn’t any need to over emphasize the same through narration. This type of narration unfortunately accentuated redundancy. A toned down approach in this regard was the order of the day.
• Couple of graphics (measuring few seconds each) looked unreal and should not have been used in the first place.

MY RATINGS ---- 3.5 Stars

MY ADVISE TO MOVIE GOERS

Please see this movie in theaters. Go without any expectations. And yes please do not carry the “over analyzing” part of your brain to the theater.

Entertainment should never be judged from the prism of a very narrow vision. It is the totality of the package that should help us firm our liking and/or disliking. This movie needs that level of maturity. If undue attention is given to the negatives the movie would become unbearable ( as some put it).

But then this is true for other aspects of life as well. Over emphasis to negativity can result in unbearable pain. Hence elders and wise men advise all to stick to positives.

When people go out on vacations there is every chance that somethings may go wrong. Even the most memorable trips may have some horrible aspects attached to them. But trips become long lasting in our memories because positives far outweighs negatives.

We go to restaurants. Some aspects of the food on table may not be to our liking. But still we may have the best of time. And this becomes possible because positives ( ambience, company etc.) would have outweighed negatives.

Hope the gist is clear. So go and watch Jagga Jasoos.  There are negatives. But then don’t harp on it because ,for a pleasurable experience, positives should outweigh negatives. And this movie is loaded with many positives.

But then each to himself/herself. Just my two bits.

MY ISSUE WITH THE SO CALLED CRITICS

At the outset, I would like to make it very clear that my issue is not with the movie going audience. I strongly believe that not all will be on the same page. There will be difference of opinions and I respect such opposing views.

However it is a completely different ball games when it comes to the MOVIE CRITICS. They are duty bound by the nature of their job to give honest feedback. Accountability , governed by the rules of ethics, should be given paramount importance by such individuals. After all their success stories ride on the back of analysis on movies and movie making.

But sadly many of the so called respected Critics have failed miserably on this count. Either they have lost it or they are playing with people’s emotion to further their ulterior motives.

NOT ALL RESPECTED CRITICS ARE BAD. HAVE HIGH REGARDS FOR FEW !!!

It is surprising to see the way they have reacted to JAGAA JASOOS. Reading their observations and analysis, it becomes obvious to a layman ( oblivious to the reality ) that Anurag Basu has committed a cardinal sin and should be punished for the same.  And all this while I was thinking that Basu should be congratulated for reposing his faith in the never before attempted genre.

Some have called it unbearable. They have also labelled it EPIC DISAPPOINTMENT.

MY ADVICE TO THEM:  Please get back to the drawing board again, flush your dirt and start meditation. Pray to god that he relieves you from the realms of concise mindset. Pray to God that he corrects the disease called “ PAUCITY OF THOUGHTS”.  What is so unbearable about JAGGA JASOOS? I could appreciate the fact you find it disappointing. But is there really a need to add adjectives ( EPIC and all) ?  And these  are the same critics who have given such high ratings to such pathetic movies which have had no connection to the art of movie making. Such rubbish, crap had been decorated with 4-4.5* by these so called intellectuals and experts.

Some have asked Anurag to retire. They too have called JAGGA the crappiest movie of all time. They have used the choicest of words in Hindi to degrade movie, director and principle actor.

MY ADVICE TO THEM: Why do you do it? Again why is there a need to go to such extremes in showing your dislikes? Do business with decency. Convey your disappoint in a manner which raises your stature both as a human-being and as a critic. Not liking anything is not a crime but barking to display this dislike reduces such critics to the levels that turn them into the instrumental source of nuisance value of the worst kind.

Some had a broken heart. They were devastated.

My ADVICE TO THEM: I have high regard for one of the critic in question. But am a bit surprised on his take. He had gone ga ga over la la . But when a similar genre is tried in our own country he roams around with a broken heart.  Why ? Because such a genre should not have been attempted by a third world country ? He forgot the fact that la la land was a non-starter in India even though it earned moolah all over. Such genres will find resistance as our Indian mindset is not completely tuned to this. Hence when someone tries to change the monotony you have a broken heart ? You should have been more supportive ( on the contrary). You could have been a little more accommodating. Didn’t it cross your mind that shortcomings could have been due to the many firsts this movie was creating. Didn’t it cross your mind that there were no reference points which conforms to the dynamics that exist in India ?  I expected a little maturity . You may have disliked it but broken heart was nothing but going a bit overboard ( for me).

Some have even pointed fingers at Ranbir’s acting. Katrina too has got her share of brickbats. For some stammering is an issue.

MY ADVICE TO THEM: Show some maturity. Find proper reasons. And yes please read through my observations above. They apply to you as well.  Stop looking for excuses at any cost to pull movie down. Come out of your negativity and enjoy life.

Grow up guys. Show some objectivity. Don’t get blinded by the lure of glamour, finance and power.   

LASTLY, FOR ME THE MOVIE WORKED. BUT I COMPLETELY RESPECT AND SALUTE ANY VIEW WHICH IS CONTRARY. JUST THAT IT SHOULD BE COMING STRAIGHT FROM HEART. FINALLY ENJOY JAGGA JASOOS.