jawan movie

Jawan Movie

"Jawan" was produced by the star and his wife Gauri Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment production company, so it is not surprising to see how well worn and carefully navigated the movie's contrived plot and conventional mood swings tend to be. This is a Shah Rukh Khan vehicle, and by now that conjures certain formulaic expectations. Still, the makers of  "Jawan" spend a little to much trying to convince viewers that we do not really know Khan's mysterious antihero, who after an overproduced but still rousing flashback action sequence, takes a train-ful of commuters hostage.

Khan's character soon revealed to be Azad, the warden of a women's prison, seemingly executes a woman in a burqa, all while wearing a goofy bald cap, which he soon rips foo. Khan, in character, rasps out his expectations flouting demands to the generically incensed negotiator Narmade (Nayanthara): get the Agriculture Minister to pay off starving farmer's extortionate loans, or more people will die.

"Jawan" careens from onetwist to the next fast enough that it almost doesn't matter how familiar and ultimately staid its story and set pieces often are. A few plot twists are also easy enough to anticipate. Azad romances Narmada and charms her impressionable ten-year-old daughter Suji (Seeza Saroj Mehta). He denounces various government officials and combats their corruption with a handful of bloody, media-amplified demonstrations. Azad speaks for the common people but behaves erratically, performing a little soft-shufflt dance surrounded by terrified commuters. He proudly and laboriously explains that he is actually a good guy fighting the real enemy: public servants who do not serve the republic.

There is an involed and agreeably goofy subplot that ties Narmada and Azad's story with the movie's opening scene, set 30 years prior in an unnamed village that may or may not be Tiben (some where near "India's border", terrorized by Asian soildiers in white star studded green caps). If you have seen Shah Rukh Khan movies before, you would not be especially surprised at how these two subplots tie together, though you may be delighted anyway. It is a major plot twist that predictably takes over the back half of the plot and re-orients Azad's plot so that viewers know that this time, unlike all the other times, it is personal.

This time there is a nefarious weapons dealer, Kalee (Vijay Stthupathi), who is as malicious as he is violent. There is also a surprise cameo from a big Bollywood star, whose presence is not really a spoiler if you pay attention during the opening credits. And be on the lookout for a duet dance number led by Khan and Deepika Padukone, who have great chemistry possibly because they know that by now they do not have to really compete for viewers' affection. Oh, and a couple of the fight scenes are maximalist show stoppers despite being over edited and under directed. Loud and rote, sure but never boring.

The main reason "Jawan" doesn't deliver more than what Khan has previously delivered it because its creators seemingly included every masala style subplot they could think of. Still, "Jawan" is unlike Jhan's last two comeback trail stops because its creators are better at navigating its many hairpin twists and turns. Kudos to director Atlee, a formet assistant director whose credits include the Rajinikant vehicle "Enthiran" and tis sequel and his creative team.

Most importantly in "Jawan" Khan looks more relaxed than in years past, toggling leisurely through his repertoire of tics and poses. He looks especially comfortable in undemanding musical numbers and he still gives great Blue Steel looks every time he turns on a slow-mo heel to pout at viewers' and or co-stars. Shah Rukh Khan is still a star, baby and "Jawan" uses his about as well as his fans might hope.

Khan even looks good delivering a corny but impassioned speech later in the movies. As Azad, Khan reminds us that he is just like you and me the apatheirc public who despite our best intentions have not always exercise good judgment when voting for government officials. There is general election in India next year and while the makers of "Jawan" could have otherwise taken bigger risks, their efforts are appreciated.