Once in a while, Bollywood produces a satire that tickles our funny bone and makes an unapologetic statement about the society we live in. Ranveer Singh’s Jayeshbhai Jordaar is one such film. Presented by Yash Raj Films, and produced by Maneesh Sharma, the film is directed by debutant director Divyang Thakkar.
In the sketchy village of Gujarat, meek Jayeshbhai’s wife Mudra is pregnant for the seventh time. Their firstborn is a 9-year-old girl Siddhi, who is well aware that all of her six younger sisters, were killed in her mother’s womb itself. It’s a brazen and sardonic world out there, where giving birth to a girl child is a ‘pannauti’ and she should be done away with at any cost.
Jayeshbhai, who is a humble soul, has no option but to become enough ‘Jordaar’ and take on his unreasonable patriarch father (Boman Irani) and mother (Ratna Pathak) to save his unborn child.
In a runtime of 2hrs-1 min, the film touches on many social issues like domestic violence, gender disparity, superstition & age-old customary rituals. In a film like this, the biggest dilemma, for any writer-director, can be how to decide on the treatment of the film? If handled too seriously, the film rides the risk of becoming a documentary. If handled too carelessly, it can end up mocking the issue itself. Jayeshbhai Jordaar scores on that account. With a crips storyline, powerful performances and appropriate punches, the film does justice to the ticket bought and the time spared for it.
Now comes the star of the film – Ranveer Singh. He is an actor who possesses a unique talent of teleporting himself in the universe of the character he plays. Ranveer shines as a timid-chivalrous-Gujju boy, who has no qualms in shedding tears with oppressed ladies of his village, neither is he shy of talking about the magic of a ‘pappi’ – much like Munnabhai’s jaadu ki jhappi. The beauty of seeing Ranveer Singh on screen is, the way he metamorphoses his demeanour to match the character he plays. From a brawny Baajiro to nasty Khilji to a lean Gujju boy as Jayesh, he always pulls a very sincere effort to make the film work.
So does this film work or not? I’d say yes it works… but not in totality. It may not send the Box Office buzzing like a RRR or a Gangubai…, but it will definitely make you laugh, and feel good about the climax of the film. While watching the film, you might be reminded of the cult satire of 1980 – Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron. A cinematic blend of the screenplay with an important social issue punched with humour and some make-belief characters.
It’s a humble family entertainer which definitely deserves its due at the theatre.
Rating – 3.5/5