Jagga Jasoos review: Refreshing approach to mainstream cinema

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Jagga Jasoos review: Refreshing approach to mainstream cinema

For the laid back fun of a comic-book read, Jagga Jasoos is a bit long-drawn but is a breezy fantasy that marks a genre-first for Indian cinema

By Deepa Gauri

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Published: Fri 14 Jul 2017, 2:36 PM

Last updated: Fri 14 Jul 2017, 6:30 PM

It takes guts to go against the wind; so irrespective of the box office verdict of Jagga Jasoos, let us give a round of applause to actor Ranbir Kapoor for putting his money into one of India's first films that integrates many genres in one.
Directed by the talented Anurag Basu, Jagga Jasoos is many things: it is a breezy musical, a fantasy, and a road movie. But let us also spell it out upfront: At about three hours, it is a stretch - and with a narrative approach that is laid-back, at times repetitive, it can test your patience.
A trifle self-indulgent, Jagga Jasoos brings a refreshing approach to mainstream cinema. It doesn't go by formula and it doesn't have the conventional villain versus hero clash or whipped up melodrama.
Much like an endearing comic book (and concluding with enough room for a sequel, if this one works), Jagga Jasoos has plenty of straight-to-the-heart moments, especially in the first 15 odd minutes when we see one marvellous actor stride the screen: Kolkata's own Saswata Chatterjee.
As Bad Luck Bagchi, whose real identity unravels post-interval, he brings tremendous feel-goodness and gravitas to the film. And while on Kolkata, it could not be coincidental that the film has its vintage Kolkata-esque moments - especially the song Khaana Khaake; you can't but smile at the quirkiness of director Basu.
For once, unlike the pretentious and patronising Rock On 2, the North East of India gets a fantastic visual representation in the film, which travels one full arc from West Bengal to West Africa, with Ravi Varman's camera capturing the journey in one spectacular show of colours and textures.
Jagga Jasoos a could be described as an anthology - three stories from the life of Jagga, an orphaned boy, who grows up in a hospital and comes under the care of Bad Luck Bagchi. Ranbir Kapoor effortlessly transforms into Jagga, leaving aside all his Bollywood trappings (except perhaps for that posterior shake, which seems to stay with him from Saawariya).
Katrina Kaif is the narrator of Jagga's story before becoming one of the key characters in his 'investigations.' We are told of how Jagga solves crimes at his school, then in his neighbourhood, and finally venturing into the big bad world of illegal arms sale.
There is an incredible detailing in the film, and much thought has gone into scripting and writing the lyrical dialogues with Jagga, by virtue of his stammer, literally singing every dialogue.
But while the intentions are great and the film's narrative-style cannot be faulted for its genre, Jagga Jasoos might miss the box office crores because it is atypical. There aren't loud, roar-out fun scenes; there isn't cheap slapstick; there isn't mind-numbing action. Instead, you get one sweet folk tale kind of a movie.
Ranbir takes you through the Jagga journey with admirable honesty, and while a better performer could have taken the narrator's role to the next level, Katrina Kaif makes her role work. But the best of the performers are Saswata Chatterjee and Saurabh Shukla (as a mystery man chasing Bagchi). And this film also belongs to Pritam, the music composer, and he does a marvellous job.
Jagga Jasoos is not for all, but if you are in the mood for some cinema indulgence, here is a weekend getaway for you.
Jagga Jasoos
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif
Directed by Anurag Basu
Now playing at theatres in the UAE
Rating: 3/5


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