Movie Review: Jawaani Jaaneman

Bollywood Movie - Jawaani Jaaneman
Bollywood Movie Jawaani Jaaneman starring Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Alaia Furniturewalla
Bollywood Movie - Jawaani Jaaneman
Bollywood Movie Jawaani Jaaneman starring Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Alaia Furniturewalla

Spoiler Alert

What happens when you step in a bar for a routine indulgence in drinks – women and hook-ups – but turns out the encounter holds much more value than just a casual sexual encounter. Remake of the Argentinean comedy Igualita A Mi which translates to Just Like Me (2010), Jawaani Jaaneman reconnoitre at the idea of marriage, kids and having a family but without being well fleshed out.

Directed by- Nitin Kakkar
Produced by- Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, Saif Ali Khan, Jay Shewakramani
Written by- Hussain Dalal, Abbas Dalal
Starring- Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Kubra Sait, Alaia Furniturewalla

Plot of Movie Jawaani Jaaneman

A middle-aged Jazz played by Saif Ali Khan is a philanderer who also happens to be a broker. His world is full of alcohol, women, and loads of money. But overnight, his hedonistic life takes a turn when he brings a girl home, Tia played by Alaia Furniturewalla with the intent to hook up but turns out to be his daughter who also happens to be pregnant.

Analysis

Nothing what is written so far should be considered as a spoiler because everything is given in the trailer already. And disappointingly so nothing more happens beyond the trailer as well.

Although, the film is said to be the remake of the Argentinean movie, the underlying concept has a lucid reflection with 2008 jukebox musical romantic comedy, Mamma Mia by Phyllida Lloyd, starring Meryl Streep where a bohemian mother would reveal to her daughter that there are three prospective men, one of them could be her father.

Coming back to the present day attuned version, the focus has been put on the father-daughter relationship where the 33.33% prospect worked in the first attempt in the DNA test and boom – she finds her father.

Somewhere deep down, it aspires to explore the deep and authentic meanings of the relationships between two friends, father-daughter, and families. But along with the intention, the film also gets lost in its compliance to flashiness, good life, good looks and everything glamorous.

As the title suggests, it is the Jawaani that the male protagonist is obsessed with. Hence, he goes to the salon to his friend Rhea played by Kubra Sait to dye his hair. But the reality comes to his face not only by becoming a father overnight but becoming a grandfather which along with the reading glasses is a subtle reminder of his age. But all of this somewhere remains desultory due to some really inadequate writing.

A playboy played by Khan, which feels like a tribute to the 90s film by the actor himself, has done a convincing job. Alaia Furniturewalla, a promising debutant is alluring to watch on screen. She is so alluring when you spot a Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami in her hand, you don’t question unlike Akshay Kumar holding ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in Good Newwz.

Kumud Mishra playing a progressive Punjabi brother and Kubra Sait an understanding, true friend. Tabu, a hippie mother who has done a cameo is fun to watch her as she aligns her chakras and clears the negative energy. In spite of this ensembled cast, and some earnest performances, the watch feels deficient which is nothing but bereft of a good script.

Also Tabu, one of the finest actors the Hindi film industry have, is nothing but a sheer waste in a caricature of a hippie role. Even in the few minutes of insufficient character sketch, she manages to have a pleasant screen presence though that won’t quench your thirst to see her more definitely.

All things considered, Jawaani Jaaneman is a fun one-time-watch which makes you focus more on the gorgeous bohemian clothes and the chik apartment but you tend to forget it the minute you step out of the theatre.