Rating – **** (4/5)
Jigra
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa & more
Directed by: Vasan Bala
Alia Bhatt – there’s nothing this woman can’t do. It might be unsettling for the masses to fathom that after doing two commercial potboilers in the form of Gangubai Kathiawadi and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Bhatt is here taking a drastically different route with Jigra – but that’s yet another reminder of the actor’s terrific knack of gulping down the script and rooting herself into the character at the expense of the commercial aspect attached to a movie.
That isn’t to say that Jigra is the stereotypically used term ‘massy film’ or won’t cater to everyone but it doesn’t have the same whistle-worthy, hooting moments that people are used to.
With Jigra, chaos is present in the somber proceedings; there’s a distinct and consistent sadness and grimness throughout the film, which is intentional and impactful.
Bhatt’s Satya is extremely protective of her younger brother, Ankur (Vedang Raina). Still, there are reasons for it: having witnessed their father commit suicide right in front of their eyes has Satya suffer from PTSD even though that isn’t spelt out at any moment. As a grown-up, she lives under the upbringing and favor of her extended family, which she is always cognizant of. She is unabashed, brave, fierce and her world revolves around her younger brother, who she can literally do anything for. On the other hand, Raina’s Ankur is a talented youngster who travels to the fictional place of Hanshi Dao for his future with his paternal cousin. One incident entirely flips the script and thus enters Satya, who has to now fight incredibly impossible odds to save her brother.
Director Vasan Bala already has a reputation for working with detailing and referencing so much so that both his films, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota and Monica O My Darling were a pop culture fanatic’s paradise – here with Jigra, he decided to sprinkle some moments here and there because how can it be a Bala film without that but barring that – entirely focus on the script and the emotional core of the film. Even then, Bhatt is a grump almost all the time until she is with her younger brother when her face lights up, the sharp transitioning with the edits, symbolism in an array of films and much more – is Bala showing his intellect and craft while making a mark with the storytelling. The background score and songs by Achint Thakkar and lyricist, Varun Grover are an absolute treat and elevate the scenes to multiple folds.
Bala does get perhaps a little too indulgent with the entire jailbreak situation and a blowout in a foreign country being a little too easy than you would imagine but he catches hold of the nerve of the emotions and never lets go of it. It isn’t just Satya and Ankur’s sibling bond but the unlikely bond that Satya establishes with Bhatia Saab (Manoj Pahwa), initially a total stranger is perhaps the most heartening part of the film. It adds another layer to Bhatt’s Satya – who somehow detests the fact that her biological father left them alone and to have a father-like figure in her journey to rescue his brother becomes an important development in her life.
Jigra almost has no room for humor and amassing a runtime of 2 hours 30 minutes, which can be a task to power through but Bala and Debashish Irengbam’s sharp and crisp writing keeps you glued throughout the runtime.
We have praised Bhatt already but there can never be enough praise for her. To get better and better with every film is the toughest task for a still-young actor like her but here she is – headlining a film on her name and her appeal where she also displays some of the finest acting you’ll ever see. Bhatt immerses herself into being Satya and has you rooting for her even when she is morally incorrect.
On the other hand, Vedang Raina is a bright spark. The young lad understands the assignment well and brings a certain sense of innocence and naivete to Ankur which is essential and lends apt support to Bhatt. Apart from them, Manoj Pahwa is the soul of this film and the little chuckles he brings along are gold; lesser-known actors Rahul Ravindran and Vivek Gomber as Muthu and Cop Ladle respectively also do their job well in Satya’s world.
Jigra suffers from an occasionally dipping tempo that takes a while to get back into gear and a few choices might seem convenient – but it is still enough to be a compelling, heartfelt, wholesome, gripping and adorable rescue thriller.