A Massy and Thrilling Action-Drama with a Heart
Jawan is a 2023 Hindi-language action thriller film co-written and directed by Atlee, in his first Hindi film. It is produced by Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma under Red Chillies Entertainment. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan in a dual role, alongside Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone (in a special appearance), Priyamani and Sanya Malhotra. The film released on 7 September 2023 in standard, IMAX, 4DX and other premium formats, coinciding with Janmashtami.
Jawan Plot
The film follows the story of Azad Khan, a prison officer at a women’s prison who has a purpose to clear the name of his soldier-father Vikram Rathore and keeping a promise made to his mother Aishwarya to become a vigilante and bring justice to the oppressed. Azad and his gang of women consisting of Lakshmi, Eeram, Ishkra, Kalki, Helena and Janhvi; continuously works towards justice for the nation’s citizens, where they face challenges from senior cop and Azad’s love interest Narmada Rai and a global weapons dealer Kaali Gaikwad.
The film begins with a flashback of Vikram Rathore, an army officer who is accused of treason and killed by Kaali Gaikwad, who is also responsible for the death of Aishwarya. Azad grows up with a hatred for Kaali and vows to avenge his parents. He joins the prison service and forms a bond with the female inmates who have been wronged by the system. He trains them to be his allies in his mission of justice.
Azad’s activities catch the attention of Narmada Rai, an honest and brave police officer who is assigned to investigate the mysterious deaths of several corrupt politicians and businessmen. She falls in love with Azad without knowing his true identity. She also has a rivalry with Kaali Gaikwad, who is planning to launch a nuclear attack on India with the help of his brother Manish Gaikwad and Naazir Ahmed, a terrorist leader. Will Azad be able to save the nation and clear his father’s name? Or will he lose everything he loves in the process? As the clock ticks down to the missile launch, Azad must make a choice between his love and his duty. What will he choose?
Performances
Shah Rukh Khan delivers a stellar performance in a dual role as Vikram Rathore and Azad Khan. He showcases his versatility as an actor by playing two contrasting characters with ease. He brings out the emotions, charisma and intensity of both the roles convincingly. Shah Rukh also impresses with his action scenes and dialogue delivery.
Nayanthara is equally impressive as Narmada Rai, the female lead of the film. She portrays a strong, independent and fearless cop who is also vulnerable and romantic at times. Nayan has a great chemistry with Shah Rukh Khan and matches him in every scene. She also proves her mettle as an action heroine with some stunning stunts.
Vijay Sethupathi is menacing as Kaali Gaikwad, the main antagonist of the film. He plays a ruthless, cunning and powerful villain who has no remorse for his actions. He gives a chilling performance that makes him one of the most memorable villains in recent times.
Deepika Padukone makes a special appearance as Aishwarya, the mother of Azad Khan and the wife of Vikram Rathore. She has a brief but impactful role that establishes the emotional core of the film. She shares a beautiful bond with Shah Rukh Khan and their scenes are heart-warming.
Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra and the other female actors who play Azad’s gang members are also commendable in their respective roles. They add humour, drama and action to the film with their performances. They also share a good rapport with Shah Rukh Khan and each other.
Technicalities
The film is technically brilliant in every aspect. The cinematography by G.K.Vishnu is stunning and captures the different locations and moods of the film effectively. The editing by Antony L. Ruben is crisp and smooth, keeping the pace of the film engaging throughout. The music by Anirudh Ravichander is catchy and energetic, enhancing the mood of the film. The songs are well-picturised and choreographed, especially the title track Jawan which features cameos by Thalapathy Vijay and Allu Arjun. The background score is also apt and elevates the scenes.
The action sequences are one of the highlights of the film. They are well-designed and executed, with a mix of realism and style. The film has some jaw-dropping stunts and fights that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The climax scene is especially thrilling and spectacular, with a high-octane showdown between Shah Rukh Khan and Vijay Sethupathi.
The direction by Atlee is commendable, as he makes his debut in Hindi cinema with a bang. He handles the complex and layered script with skill and confidence, balancing the action, emotion and entertainment elements of the film. Atlee also extracts the best performances from his star cast and makes them shine on the screen. He proves his talent as a filmmaker who can cater to both the masses and the classes.
Positives
- A strong story that is relevant and inspiring, with a message of patriotism and justice
- A stellar star cast that delivers outstanding performances, especially Shah Rukh Khan who makes a comeback with a bang
- Amazing action scenes that are thrilling and exciting, with some stunning stunts and visuals
- Catchy music that adds to the mood and energy of the film, with some memorable songs and dances
- A good dose of humour, romance and drama that keeps the audience entertained throughout
Negatives
- A long runtime of 169 minutes that could have been trimmed a bit to make it more crisp and tight
- Some clichés and stereotypes that are common in masala films, such as the hero’s introduction scene, the villain’s backstory, the heroine’s dilemma, etc.
- Some logical loopholes and flaws that can be questioned by the nitpickers, such as the ease with which Azad escapes from prison, the lack of security at Kaali’s base, the coincidence of Madhavan Naik’s presence, etc.
Jawan Analysis
Jawan is a film that celebrates the spirit of being a soldier, not just in uniform but in every walk of life. It is a film that pays tribute to the brave men and women who sacrifice their lives for the nation. Jawan is a film that inspires the audience to stand up for what is right and fight against what is wrong. It is a film that entertains the audience with its mass appeal and commercial elements.
Jawan is a film that showcases Shah Rukh Khan’s star power and charisma in full glory. Jawan is a film that marks his comeback to the big screen after a gap of four years. It is a film that proves his versatility and talent as an actor who can play any role with ease. It is a film that reaffirms his position as one of the biggest superstars of Indian cinema.
Jawan is a film that establishes Atlee as one of the most promising directors of Hindi cinema. It is a film that reflects his vision and style as a filmmaker who can blend action, emotion and entertainment in a perfect manner. Jawan is a film that demonstrates his ability to handle a big-budget and star-studded project with skill and confidence. It is a film that sets him apart from his contemporaries.
Verdict
Jawan is a massy and thrilling action-drama with a heart. It is a film that delivers on its promise of being an entertainer for all sections of the audience.
Jawan Rating
3.5/5
*This is an Artificial Intelligence-generated movie evaluation. These reviews are written by a large language model, trained on a massive dataset of text and code. This means that our reviews are more comprehensive, insightful, and unbiased than anything you’ll find on other platforms.