Movie Review: Jai Gangaajal
Movie Review: ‘Jai Gangaajal’
Rating: 2/5
Director: Prakash Jha
Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Prakash Jha, Manav Kaul
Poor villagers running around and open gypsies trailing them has become a trademark of Prakash Jha’s filmmaking.
So, it doesn’t come as a jolt when the Priyanka Chopra starrer Jai Gangaajal opens on a similar note. In fact, it would have been surprising if Jai Gangaajal would have begun on a different track. And, of course, there would be a double-meaning song disguised as a folk song playing in the background. Well, this is what it takes to be Prakash Jha. You need to be commercial as well as niche in your approach. The reason why we are so excited about Jai Gangaajal is because it has Priyanka in the leading role. The lady is on a roll these days, thanks to her international sojourn. Jai Gangaajal is the sequel to the hard hitting cop drama, Gangaajal, where Priyanka replaces Ajay Devgn. Prakash Jha makes his acting debut.
The film’s biggest failure is that it doesn’t offer anything new in terms of plot. In fact, it uses the same narrative as the original Gangaajal – a honest cop wanting to cleanse the system, a malicious villain, a rogue cop turned good and public becoming lynchers. Though the film is promoted in Priyanka’s name, she is saddled with bad characterisation and scenes that don’t make much of an impact. The film looks more like Prakash Jha’s acting vanity project, as his character is the only rounded one here, and he walks away with the best scenes and dialogues. After the aforementioned lynching scene, the film just meanders on and on, testing our patience and also turning unintentionally funny at times. The climax, for lack of better words, is horrible, especially when Prakash Jha suddenly turns Superman! Unlike the original film, there is a lack of sense of realism here even when topical subjects are discussed. The film also has glaring loopholes like Prakash Jha’s car having an MP registration though the film is set in Bihar, a child killing a hefty man etc. Actors like Kiran Karmarkar and Rahul Bhatt are wasted in miniscule roles.
What works in the favor of the film is the age old theme of the good versus bad, which still has a hold over the public. The film is at its most powerful when it veers towards scenes that are inspired from real life incidents. The Delhi bus rape, the mass lynching, land grabbing and farmer suicides – all find a mention here. The mass lynching scene of a villain that comes post interval particularly stands strong. The cast is terrific in their roles. Priyanka has a good screen presence and is admirable in her role, however it is Prakash Jha who makes more of an impact and has a better character arc. Manav Kaul is natural as the main antagonist, though he is getting typecast in such roles. Ninad Kamat, seen after a long time, also makes an impact as his rapist brother, and so does Murli Sharma as the effeminate right hand man. The quirky songs that are played in the background give the film an Anurag Kashyap vibe.
The storyline of Jai Gangaajal doesn’t offer anything that you haven’t seen before. This holds true even if you have watched only Prakash Jha’s films. But, it has tear-inducing moments and Priyanka Chopra ensures they keep coming at regular intervals. Once again, the dark underbelly of the Hindi heart land has been explored with explosive dialogues and superficial sensibilities.
Jai Gangaajal is just another attempt at making a blockbuster, but it lacks the depth of Gangaajal and Apharan. Still, there’s enough for the audience to keep whistling and clapping. Priyanka Chopra is the new ‘Dabangg’.
