Jannat: In Search of Heaven...

The Bhatts always are the first on making movies on the most controversial and current topics. With the IPL fever on, they now return with a movie based on the plot of betting and match fixing in cricket along with an elaborate angle of an intense love affair.

The film starts promisingly and ends brilliantly but in the mid it loses pace and interest as the narration stresses more on the love angle than on the interesting betting plot. The first one hour of the movie is exciting and highly enjoyable. Watching it you feel like seeing something new and an unexplored plot. The betting & match fixing scenes in the first half are brilliantly directed by the debutant director Kunal Deshmukh. And when you are expecting more of similar stuff coming later the director changes tracks and takes on the love angle as his main theme.

If the film would have been strictly on the betting and fixing plot then it was a confirm bigger Hit. But unfortunately there is more of sacrifice and love story angle which is quite expected and becomes tiring after a certain point. Though director shows promise in his first movie but he should have stuck to one plot only.

Imraan Hashmi is competent and gives a good performance. It can be counted as one of his finest. Sonal Chauhan looks fresh and ravishing. She has got the talent which will become polished with more of her movies. Jawed Sheikh as the DON shows class and he shines bright in his role. A very unexpected act is given by Samir Kochhar as the police officer. He is excellent in his small part and is an actor to watch for.

Bhatts definitely have a good ear for music and lyrics. Their movies always have some good numbers with meaningful lyrics. Jannat also has got hit music by Pritam. The songs don't interrupt the narration and have got the soothing melodies. That's the reason audio companies fought with each other for the music rights of this movie.

If you are a cricket fan and expecting a lot of cricket, betting and match fixing in the movie then you might be taken back. The movie has the main plot of betting but the story revolves more around the match fixer and his girlfriend. That's the main drawback of the movie. The other weak point is that the background of Imraan Hashmi and Sonal are not explained in details. Sonal just leaves India for a live in relation with Imraan and there is no one in her family who has to be informed. Thought the love proposal scenes are highly enjoyable but after the intermission you feel the overdose of the affair angle.

As per their tradition Bhatts this time follow a similar plot as in "Two For The Money" (2005) featuring Al Pacino. But this time its only an inspiration and not a version. The script also gets inspired by the real life "Coach Murder" incident in the last world cup.

One of the highlight of "Jannat" is its climax, which is unexpected and has a shock for the viewers. After witnessing the climax sequence you feel that the film is good enough for a one time watch. As it has a new plot, good performances and soothing music.

Emraan – In terms of the shades, the role had immense potential to unleash the true talent in an actor and do what "Naam" did for Sanjay Dutt. Having said that, a confident performance here.

Sonal Chauhan –Barring a few plastic moments, her performance is not too bad for a first-timer. The svelte figurine, if chooses wisely can survive in Bollywood. And very addictive smile.

Sameer Kochhar – This actor is too handsome hunk to be a police officer. And why was he munching all the time?

Vishal Malhotra – there was no value addition of this role to the movie per se'. When the apartment is raided, why does it scare the living daylights of him? And later he jumps in to be a partner in major crime? Bad characterisation!

Vipin Sharma –Probably owing to lack of screen time, the character seems unwarranted. Perhaps hangover of TPZ.

Jawaid Shaikh - I wonder if it is the actor or the writing department who should take blame here for turning it into a character role. Have we forgotten Paresh Rawal in "Naam"? BTW even the one-way street dialogue from "Naam" is reprised here. Perhaps the weakest villain from Bhatt's camp.

Songs as usual from the house of Bhatt's do bear the trademark stamp over it and posses repeat value.

Kunal holds the reigns well for the first timer. By another couple of rounds, time will tell.

The promos set a different expectation bar altogether in the audience's mind. Cricket though infused into the storyline is not integral to it and hence it would be safe to say that justice was "not" done to the subject.

The last 30-minutes could have been easily trimmed to give it a slick finish. The climax was definitely long-winded and practically even the blind can see it coming.

PS: The dig at Sidhu.. I agree too!

Amazing Movie

This is a story of a man name Arjun (Emraan Hashmi) who want to make quick money and wants to live a luxurious life. He loves a woman name Zoya

He is a gambler who turns into a cricket bookie banking on his sixth sense for the game. But his urge to make quick money pushes him into match fixing and he loses control of his life and love. In the end he kill by the Police

With an unexpected start, and a rather unexpected-but-touchy end, this movie was one great ride.

I rushed to the cinema hoping to buy the evening Bhootnath show, which was "house full"...so "i had no choice and in desperation of not wanting to waste my journey i decided to pass my time with Jannat"...I wish I could take my words back...because it proved ironical! Mahesh Bhatt showed us again that like the movie, he can be unexpected himself. With a brilliant and soothing soundtrack, a little-off-the-track acting, a different storyline, and a BRILLIANT TOUCHY ENDING, this movie just has it all.

Critically speaking, there's nothing but the fact that it "did some Hindi-movie-ones" if u know what i mean...? i don't want to spoil the movie for first timers, but for those who've already seen it, i hope you understand...

Otherwise, BRILLIANT! and unexpected from sum1 not-so-professional as Emraan...great work!!! Bhootnath can go later...

8/10.

Worth it.

I watched Jannat yesterday evening. I have to say that it was quite an intense movie with good performances except from the female lead (débutant Sonal). A powerful actress could have enacted it with more power and punch. Emraan is very impressive and first rate in this movie. The story is quite novel and good. The twist at the interval was quite shocking to me, I did not expected that. Overall the support cast was also good. South Africa locales are good and cinematography is good. I liked the end a lot even though others may have different opinion. Th movie does not look like that it has been directed by a débutant. I will be looking forward for further movies from the director. Go for it guys..