Is Bollywood badshah Shah Rukh Khan back to scorch the big screen once again with his larger than life image after Pathaan, which, incidentally, was a runaway hit? Jawan has all the elements of another blockbuster, one could safely assume.
The film starts off with an injured soldier being saved by locals in the scenic locales of Himachal Pradesh. Who is he and how did he land there? No, there's no flashback yet. There's more to unfold as the story progresses.
So, what's Jawan all about? The film has all the ingredients of commercial cinema, but can be categorised as a socio-political drama genre.
Kollywood director Atlee is known to elevate heroes to a new high by adding fresh dimensions to their characters and Jawan is no exception. To say that he has managed to successfully pull a cinematic rabbit out of the hat with a star like SRK, who's more often than not loved for his lover boy image, is a feat in itself. Fans will not mind taking lessons in love from him. But when he tries to preach about life, people tend to reject him, which was proved in the case of Dear Zindagi.
So, Atlee had to be sure of the roll of the dice here and he decided to take a huge risk, also because Jawan is a done-to-death subject. We have had several heroes seeking some sort of resolution to many fault lines and loopholes in the current system in India. Mahesh Babu in ‘Bharat Ane Nenu’, Anupam Kher in ‘A Wednesday’, Kamal Haasan in ‘Indian’ or even Thalapathy Vijay in ‘Sarkar’ also handled such roles with aplomb. But it must be said that it's the treatment of the subject which sets Jawan apart.
Atlee has showcased Shah Rukh Khan in a never before seen avatar on a scale seldom seen. SRK is not the quintessential romantic hero nor is he an action king, but there's more to his character in Jawan, which is a perfect blend of emotions, valour, sacrifice, action, drama and comedy.
Anirudh's score elevates each scene, while cinematography is undoubtedly mesmerising. The film is performance-driven and gives ample scope for each actor to stand out. For the fans of SRK, Sethupathi and Nayanthara, Jawan is a visual treat. All the songs, except Ramaiya Vastavaiya are forgettable though.
There is little doubt that Atlee has managed to pull off the biggest casting coup of sorts by roping in some of the best talent from across the industry. SRK apart, there's Vijay Sethupathi, who's known for playing the roles of baddies to perfection. Then there's Kollywood Lady Superstar who's known to command a remuneration on par with the top heroes and when you watch her match the acting chops of stalwarts like SRK and Sethupathi in this action drama, you know she deserves it every bit. Her performance in particularly action scenes are exemplary. Deepika Padukone shines in her brief role. Priyamani excels, while Sanya Malhotra's character is a welcome change from the goody image she has portrayed in all her previous movies. The supporting cast do justice to their roles. Sunil Grover, quite expectedly, is a revelation. Sanjay Dutt's cameo lends a relief to all that's happening in between.
SRK seems to have hit a purple patch after his last outing and keeps his superstar star status intact until next release, thanks to Jawan.
Rating: 3.5
