'Jail - Movie review'

My first audio-clip-accompanied movie review


'Jail' - the movie opens with Neil Nitin Mukesh's entry in the jail. When the flashback to happier times begins, you just hope it doesn't go on till the interval like Karan Johar movies. Thankfully, it doesn't. Approximately fifteen minutes later, Neil is in the jail again sleeping in a huge group of half naked bearded men huddled together in one big room.

The movie is VERY Good - because it does not try to be over-the-top or a 'life-changing experience' for its viewers. The movie is, like Page 3 and Fashion and Traffic Signal, a drive in somebody else's car. The movie is good not because it brings before you a world you've never seen or imagined but because it highlights continously the hope and the spirit of people in jails.

Like all Madhur Bhandarkar movies, there are characters and their subplots linked to the story of the main character. AND like all Madhur Bhandarkar movies, these subplots grow as stories with a soul and all these characters gain an identity for themselves.

As a small note, this movie, like Fashion and Page 3, has a character by the name Mukesh Tyagi - played by the same person who played Mukesh Tyagi in Fashion AND Page 3. Madhur Bhandarkar has some obsession with the name, man!

And like all Madhur Bhandarkar movies, the actors have given a fine performance. Mugdha Godse is very good - you do not forget her as a glam-doll. Aarya Babbar is very nice.Neil is amazing as he conveys the choked emotions of this man whose world has turned upside down all of a sudden. I think he has emoted very well. Atul Kulkarni comes in a good surprise appearance.

The song 'Saiya ve' was unnecessary but ok to set the mood of the film. The other 'Bareily ke bazar mein' was VERY unnecessary but then it didn't go on for like more than three minutes, so I don't mind. The movie is slow - so I did catch a nap for like three-five minutes like I always do. :-p


Madhur Bhandarkar has been accused of playing it by the formula - but I surely defend him because if anything, he has a formula of excellence and success!

Each of his movies has come out with a definite human virtue. Like the lyrics of Lata Mangeshkar's song in this movie, this movie is about hope - the hope to get back to a normal life that all of them long for...


Note: I also saw 'Azab Gazab Prem Kahani' (or whatever that name is) and would prefer Neil Nitin Mukesh over Ranbir any day!