MapsofIndia.com/MyIndia.in Rating: 3/5
Director: Sujoy Singh
Plot
Jaane Jaan is an Indian adaptation of the acclaimed mystery thriller novel The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino. The film follows Maya D’Souza, played by Kareena Kapoor, a single mother and cafe owner in Kalimpong, West Bengal. Next door lives Naren Jaideep Ahlawat, a genius math teacher and jiu-jitsu pro. Maya is a ray of sunshine in Naren’s dark world, and he loves her deeply and is willing to go to any lengths for her. However, Maya is unaware of his devotion.
Maya D’Souza’s happy and simple life is shattered when her long-gone husband, Ajit Mhatre, played by Saurabh Sachdeva, returns after 14 years. A malevolent presence, Ajit had forced Maya into a life of misery as a bar dancer, and now he has his sights set on their daughter. In a desperate attempt to protect her child, Maya kills Ajit. Panicking, the mother and daughter duo is interrupted by none other than the teacher, Naren.
Using the basic equition of ‘A=B=C,’ Naren finds out that a murder has occurred, and for his love for Maya, he takes it to hide the truth. However, he will need to act fast, as detective Karan Anand, played by Vijay Verma, is coming to Kalimpong to find Ajit. The rest of the film follows Naren, the brilliant mathematician, as he uses every possible formula to complicate the murder mystery, and Karan Anand’s relentless pursuit of the truth.
Performances
Jaideep Ahlawat delivers the best performance in the film as a sad yet brilliant mathematician teacher who is deeply in love with his subject. His aura in the film is captivating, and his genius intellect is awe-inspiring and intimidating. Despite appearing dull, disciplined, and depressed at first, he proves to be the most surprising and deadly character in the murder mystery, especially with his performance during the film’s final minutes.
Kareena Kapoor performs fine as Maya, a scared but determined mother who has just killed her husband. Kapoor perfectly captures Maya’s vulnerability and strength, making her a character that the audience can empathize with and root for. While Vijay Verma is undoubtedly a talented actor, his portrayal of a police detective in the film is average. Compared to Ahlawat and Kapoor’s characters, his role takes a backseat.
Analysis
Jaane Jaan takes the devotion of suspect X, cuts the 500-page-long novel into 2 hours, and adds an Indian twist to it. Saying that it is a faithful adaptation will be a long shot. However, it is still a great mystery thriller one can watch, especially considering Jaideep’s and Kareena’s performances. The cinematography, while occasionally too dark, effectively captures the story’s darker themes. The music, like any murder mystery, keeps the tension as high as possible. The writing of dialogues, especially for Jaideep’s character, is amazing. Including mathematical terms in his monologues makes his character and the story much more enjoyable.
Verdict
Jaane Jaan tries its best to be a great adaptation of a murder mystery novel loved by many worldwide. The film attempts to capture the book’s essence in just 2 hours, which is challenging given how deep and complex the original work is.
Despite its brevity, Jaane Jaan remains a gripping, thrilling film that will keep audiences glued to their seats as the mystery unfolds. If you don’t have the time to read a nearly 500-page book, Jaane Jaan is a great way to experience the original work’s essence in a more condensed form.
