Jigra Review: Vedang Raina puts his best foot forward in the guise of the harried and tortured Ankur.
A jailbreak thriller riding on the shoulders of the waif-like Alia Bhatt is, owing to the very nature of the effort, no ordinary cinematic project. By placing the burden of the saviour act on a woman who will stop at nothing once she sets herself a goal, Jigra twists the traditional rescue drama tropes.
But that isn’t the only reason why Jigra, Vasan Bala’s fourth film as director, is noteworthy. Although it is far from flawless—for starters, it is twenty minutes too long and, as a result, a little slow at times—it does a good job of creating an engaging action drama.
Vasan Bala and Debashish Irengbam wrote Jigra, which stands out for its faultless technical aspects, nuanced performances, and minimal plotting. Without wasting any footage, the backgrounds of the main characters—including Satya and her brother—are taken into consideration.
Satyabhama Anand (Bhatt), a woman who has been wronged by fate and family, travels to a fictional Southeast Asian country with harsh laws after her brother Ankur (Vedang Raina), who was involved in a drug possession case, is placed on death row there. Satya has no time to waste because his execution is just a few months away.
She is aware of Ankur’s innocence and the fact that he is a victim of the awful hand life dealt the two siblings. No matter what, she is committed to freeing her younger brother. She makes common cause with a jovial ex-gangster Bhatia (Manoj Pahwa), who, too, has a good reason to help her.
Bhatia quickly assumes the role of father figure that Satya has never had because she was raised by distant relatives who treated her more like a factotum than a member of their family. Early in the movie, an engagement ceremony is taking place, and Satya is dressed in staff uniform until the patriarch of the family tells her to dress civilly, highlighting her precarious position in the society she lives in.
Muthu (Rahul Ravindran), a retired police officer of Indian descent who is well-versed in the jail, joins Satya and Bhatia. In order to free Ankur, Bhatia’s son Tony, and another erroneously convicted inmate from the high-security facility under the brutal command of Hans Raj Landa (Vivek Gomber), the three devise a bold scheme.
While there are some scenes in Jigra that could have been edited more skilfully, the film is not particularly interested in breathless action or fast-paced scenes. Early on, it moves swiftly to establish the scene for Satya’s journey into an unfamiliar world where she has no friends until she meets Bhatia and Muthu.
Jigra slows down considerably to follow Satya’s actions as she solidifies her plans to carry out a jailbreak with the assistance of people who are more familiar with the insides of the correctional facility after she settles in and locates a home near the prison.
Another obvious change in pace occurs in the last act of the movie. It offers a lengthy action block that challenges credulity a little but is executed with remarkable flair and flourish, marking a clear break from the more gradual buildup. It does not wear down the audience too much because it is brimming with energy.
Up until this point of Jigra, Manoj Pahwa and, to a markedly lesser extent, Rahul Ravindran, share screen time with Alia Bhatt. In the climax, however, it is the lead actress who hogs all the spotlight. She moves to the middle of the stage because it is her mission.
Satya’s actions are rooted in her past. She has always been protective of her kid brother. In the film’s first scene, she asks Ankur for the names of classmates who have bullied him. I will punish each of them, she asserts. However, she and Ankur experience a tragedy that permanently changes their lives as soon as they enter their house.
The power dynamic in the sister-brother relationship is reversed when Satya tells Ankur, “Tu meri rakhi pehenta hain na, tu meri protection mein hai (I tie a rakhi on our wrist; you are under my protection).”
She expresses this confidence when, unable to conceal her alarm, she first sees Ankur in prison and promises that nothing bad will happen to him as long as Big Sis is present. It is as much a declaration of intent to soothe her brother as it is a self-promise.
Satya’s resolve and derring-do are severely tested several times. That her jailbreak plan is questionable, both logistically and morally, is pointed out to her more than once. But she stands firm. She will never allow her brother to be put in an electric chair.
The Jigra sweep broadens to include gangsters, political rebels, prison rioters, and rapid-action police squads as Satya’s mission speeds towards its conclusion. As Satya storms the prison while the jail administrator does everything in his power to stop the three young men the protagonist is trying to save, the finale gains momentum.
Jigra, a visually striking thriller directed by Swapnil S. Sonawane, has an upbeat, restless beat that counterbalances the story’s sometimes purposeful pacing. The background music by Achint Thakkar adds to the film’s naturally compelling elements.
Alia Bhatt has better performances and more rounded characters behind her, but the role of Satyabhama Anand is unique. And not just in the context of her individual oeuvre. She gives a strong and compelling performance as a “hero” who challenges traditional gender norms and expectations.
As the stressed-out and tortured Ankur, a young man who perseveres because he is certain that his didi is hazaaron mein ek (one in many thousands), Vedang Raina puts his best foot forward.
The woman has no qualms about breaking bones—and the law—when her brother, the only family she has, is in danger, so it is easy to understand why he thinks the way he does.
As usual, Manoj Pahwa’s incredibly smooth and powerful performance brings life to the movie.
It goes without saying that Alia Bhatt does full justice to Jigra. The question is: does Jigra do justice to the quiet, measured flair that she brings to the role? Just about. And by all accounts, that is no small accomplishment.
- Cast:
- Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Rahul Ravindran
- Director:
- Vasan Bala