Atlee is one of the most renowned filmmakers of South Indian cinema and his most recent collaboration is the highly anticipated film Jawan with Bollywood’s biggest star – Shah Rukh Khan. The prevue and trailers for the film hyped it up to be one of the best films of the year and the film is projected to break every record of Hindi cinema. Well, it may break a few box office records, for me personally, it has broken the will to even try any Indian mass action film ever again in my life. What really bugs me is the fact that the film is being hailed as the one of the best of 2023 by the same critics who bashed films like Thugs of Hindostaan and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. There is absolutely no difference between all these mass films, and if you want to bash one, you need to bash all but due to SRK’s sheer stardom Jawan is getting unearned and unworthy praise. Read to to find HOC’s completely non-spoiler verdict for Atlee’s Jawan.
Jawan Review: A Mass Film That Has Nothing to Do With Cinema As An Art
HOC Rating – ★★★★★
Jawan is a film where Shah Rukh Khan is presented to the audience in the most massy avatar we’ve ever seen of him, even more than his previous venture Pathaan. So, if you enjoy typical South Indian masala films or are a huge SRK fan, only then can you enjoy this film. Otherwise, it could turn out to be the most disastrous and horrible experience of your life which would make you feel like peeling your skin off. Jawan is a mix of the pathetic angry youth era of 70’s Bollywood and every South Indian action film cliche you are aware of.
It heavily borrows its plot elements from the tales of Robin Hood and films like Ramana (2002) only to merge it with ridiculous action sequences and over the top performances, dialogues, and BGM. The film is so loud with its narrative as well as choreography and sound, that you just can’t take it seriously. If you aren’t a fan of mass cinema, there would be several moments throughout the film where you’ll feel like just walking out and be done with torturing your eyes and ears. It is very disappointing to see modern audiences as well as critics praising such an atrocious film, while expecting Indian Cinema to grow at the same time. As long as we keep appreciating films with just sluggish concepts, and hyperbolic action sequences with pathetic editing, how can we expect the industry to match the international standards of filmmaking?
It saddens me to see actually decent films like Ghoomer and OMG 2 being ignored in favor of massy films like Gadar 2 and Jawan. Sure, films like Pathaan and Jawan have helped in reviving the theatres but that doesn’t mean we start appreciating them as cinema as well, just because they feature the King of Bollywood. Talking about SRK, he delivered a mediocre and uneven performance as usual. However, credit where credit is due – he nailed the looks and persona department, specially as Vikram Rathore. But as Azaad Rathore, he once again looked too old to play a clean shaven young man. As for other performances, all of them were either disappointing or bad, especially Vijay Sethupathi who played a cliche villain and lacked the aura of some of his previous films.
There were a few cameos in the film which a few fans might enjoy alongside a special appearance from Deepika Padukone. Padukone sure did a fine job with whatever little role she was offered but had a much superior on screen presence in Pathaan. Let us talk about the technicalities for a moment. The action as expected was highly over the top, although some sequences did involve some genuine martial arts prowess. The score and sound effect were overly loud which tried to cover the numerous shortcomings of the film and provide an illusion that you were watching a masterpiece. The cinematography was pretty good for the most part but was ruined by typical South-film-like jerky and hard to follow editing. Finally, the make-up and production design departments deserve the bulk of the praise and are the only reasons, we rated Jawan as much as we did.
Final Verdict – Jawan is the massiest of mass films which is meant to be viewed on a single screen along with the strata of audience which just comes in for mindless entertainment. So, if you are a cinephile, who expects to see something substantial, artistic, logical, or worthwhile, then do not be fooled by the glorious reviews. But in case you are ready to leave your brain at home and just cheer along for numerous over-the-top entrances, action, and dialogues, then go ahead and watch Jawan.
If you have any questions regarding Jawan, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!
Stop trying to criticize things unnecessarily. Everything does not need to be ‘art’. If I am spending some bucks to go relax at a theatre, I am just okay with anything that makes me happy at whatever’s going on the screen. Appreciate the good things going on with Bollywood at this point instead of being a behind the computer rebel critique.
Thanks for your feedback but it’s simply a matter of taste.
Completely Agree…The most rubbish movie after Bhola…
Please watch the original tamil version of Bhola
The movie is not good only because of the South Indian Director? In the recent past most of the hit movies are directed by South Film makers. No one can disagree that these Directors have fresh ideas. That’s why they create PAN India movies.
Couldn’t agree more with this review. You penned down so articulately what the movie is all about. A no-brainer film made to target a certain section of the population, mostly the ones that chews tobacco and dances shirtless like some brats inside theatres.
Veteran filmmaker Martin Scorsese once said, contents that gets audience in theatres to cheer and applause like some frenzy mob aren’t movies, they are circus.
Its so sad to learn youths are looking for cheap entertainment when they goes and buys movie tickets. Its kind of a way for them to forget all their worries for those two and a half hours time.
These youths are supposed to be the torch bearer of our nation! The fact that a film entertainer is being hailed as some kind of an icon is disastrous. No wonder we are a nation with the highest number of illiteracy.
Some argues that rich and wealthy are also rating the movie five out five but i think a person becomes rich with his/her outlook on life not how much money he or she has saved in their banks.
Cinema is an art that conveys a profound message to its audience. Unlike the West ,Indian films are made in order to earn money only. We should learn from the Oscar winners, they have such meaningful contents the kind that stirs your imagination, the kind that makes one think about the meaning of life.
Easy access to Porn and cheap entertainments has ruined Indians youths.
Thanks for your feedback
I have a question. How do I get my time back that I wasted behind this movie?
It was like I was tortured for some information but I dint know what it was!
The worst possible movie I have ever seen in my life.
So superficial and Crass! Utter non sensical dialogues.. such poor editing.. no continuity and fluidity in storyline.. loud cheap songs with no substance.. and Monster movie. Such a negative and dark and pathetic movie,I feel like throwing a shoe at the makers!
You’ll get your time back by not watching such movies in future, no matter how glorious the reviews might be.
I totally agree with your review. Yet to watch a film as crass as jawan. I rue the time and money wasted. Walked out during the interval. Really wonder what the hype is about. Awfully put together, no storyline, rubbish music. What is there to watch. I was so happy to read your honest opinion, l would give it a quarter star
Thanks for sharing your insights!