Jagga Jasoos

Jagga Jasoos is many things, both good and not-so-good, but 'typical Bollywood' is a tag even the most die-hard detractors will not be able to bestow upon it. In fact, it is the opposite of that tag for the most part. It is a beautifully crafted, melodiously tuned and exquisitely shot story of Jagga that is essentially a comic book brought to life.

Watch it for director Anurag Basu's sheer audacity of attempting a film that is mounted on a scale so lavish and so large that it seems to lose its way here and there for short periods. Make no mistake, it will demand your attention, failing which you might lose track of what's going on. In return, it will reward you with breathtaking cinematography, rich music, a fantastic supporting cast and typical-of-Anurag-Basu-comic-moments. Katrina Kaif's Shruti does enough to carry off the role, but you can't help but wonder 'what-if' and think of other actresses who could have portrayed the role better.

The same can't be said of Ranbir Kapoor. His endearing Jagga has Kapoor in top form and leaves you convinced that no other current actor could have played this part.

On the whole, Jagga Jasoos is a must-watch. It is a film that deserves the large screen, and it is an attempt that, I think, will age very well. As a sometimes-flawed movie that's full of heart, I would take it any day over synthetic, formulaic 'Bollywood' fare that we are served week after week. This is a good sign of the things to come for the Hindi film industry.

9/10 for me.

Let me put this out there - this movie is inconsistent, to the point that you can easily spot technical inconsistencies in the editing, narrative, etc. Let me also put this out there - I have never seen a Bollywood film as ambitious as this one. Bollywood usually gives us a certain kind of cinema - romance, drama, tragedy and exaggerated action are the common ingredients. And so, I expected the same from Jagga Jasoos, with added music of course. And what did I get? Adventure. Pure adventure. The plot could be written in one line - a clever boy with a stutter seeks to find his missing father. That is all there is. But the treatment is incredible! This is a genius - who goes by the name of Anurag Basu - letting his imagination run wild. He loses the plot, often loses his grip, and eventually serves a half-baked dish. But then again, a half- baked dish by Basu is better than a lot of the other movies Bollywood has to offer. Jagga Jasoos is poetry without a message; it has little meaning to offer, but it flows beautifully. Let me also put this out there - if you subscribe to Salman Khan school of Bollywood (no judgements here, just a disclaimer), avoid the movie. You will never find a movie so diametrically opposite to the likes of Kick and Jai Ho. That said, the movie has several issues that are overshadowed by two brilliant performers. The first is Saswata Chatterjee. It is a pity that little is known about him (this is only the second time I have seen him in a film). Every second that he spends on screen tugs the viewer's heart. And the second - no prizes for guessing - is Ranbir Kapoor. I am yet to see a star who can take as many risks and act as well. I look forward to watching him excel in a movie with a better-developed script. Give Jagga Jasoos a shot if you can. It might try your patience, but there is always something to marvel at when it plays out in front of you. Hopefully, if the producers feel secure enough, we will get a movie without as many faults as this one. A Jagga Jasoos 2.

JaggaJasoos in all sense is a Disney magic movie. You'll find all in it. You'll need open mind and heart to like it.Watch it for Ranbir Kapoor! This has to be one of the toughest films to be made in India.It's a brave attempt in film making, specially in India. Visually stunning, its an alright musical movie. Overall a good treat watching with family and friends!

I really don't understand what the celebrity critics were smoking when they trashed this gem of a film.

I agree, it's not perfect. It's flawed.

But even then, it's fantastic! Be it the lavish camera, the winding narrative, the incorporation of metafiction, numerous nods to Satyajit Ray, and there's so much more to appreciate in this film.

Saswata Chatterjee and Ranbir Kapoor are at the top of their game. A full fledged musical tossed with a Tintin flavour and grave undertones, sprinkled with elements of espionage, adventure, some hilarious lyrics.. JJ has a lot to offer. Including the beautiful track, Musafir.

Please give it a watch folks.

I have a feeling that it'll become a cult classic in the later years.

In an age of masala garbage and propagandist films, JJ was uniquely wonderful. We as an audience couldn't do justice to this film.

Hurray, it finally released! There has been a lot of debate about whether Jagga Jasoos would see the light of day. It was in the making for 3.5 years surrounded by countless controversies: the infamous Ranbir/Katrina breakup, production setbacks, endless delays, and rumors of the movie being shelved. Regardless of its fate getting here was no easy feat. Jagga Jasoos is a quirky film, no two words on that. It's highly unusual and targets the child in all of us. I'm impressed that such a high-concept and risky film was okayed in the first place and that Ranbir chose it as his debut production. Well done to the team on that front. And I'm happy to say I found joy in Jagga's peculiar world.

Young Jagga, played by Ranbir Kapoor, is a novice detective whose sharp mind allows him to question everything and search for answers where there are none. When his father mysteriously disappears one day Jagga, with the help of a journalist (Katrina Kaif), begins a quest to track him down. But this is only part of the story. Much of the first half is made up of understanding Jagga's world and watching him solve mysteries. There is fun to be had here if you can embrace the madness.

Jagga constantly stutters. To deal with his communication woes the young jasoos sings his thoughts. Hence, the musical nature of the film. And mind you, this is a musical in the truest sense. Much of the dialogue is conveyed through song. Ranbir says very little out of tune. I found myself getting used to and enjoying this interesting approach to storytelling about 20 minutes into the film. After which I didn't expect anything else. The movie is packaged as a children's story. The canvas is colorful and you'll be tapping your feet to most of the songs especially Dil Ulu Ka Patha Hai.

Anurag Basu, of Barfi fame, has creatively conceived a film that couldn't have been easy to imagine. His mind like Jagga's is one of a kind. But his execution, also like Jagga's, has its share of flaws. The first half needs trimming and the script should've matched the intellect. Also, the slight dubbing issues (probably) caused by production delays bothered me. But you can overlook these mishaps if you're invested in the plot. What works wonders for the film is the humor. It's gentle and graciously sprinkled throughout the narrative. You will laugh yourself silly at several points. Jagga trying to fly a plane is not something I'll easily forget.

Ranbir Kapoor's talent should be studied. He's miles ahead of his contemporaries. He hardly speaks in the movie yet every emotion and thought going through Jagga's mind is conveyed in such a poetic manner that you're left in awe. The 34 year old star is playing a teenager here and not once can you imagine anyone else in his place. I continue to be a fan, Mr. Kapoor. Katrina Kaif fits the character to a tee. You can't say she is a particularly good actor but she's a charmer and impresses once more with the innocent act she's managed to own over the years. The chemistry between the leads is also one for the books especially since it's not based in romance. I'm not sure if we'll see them together again but it was delightful while it lasted.

All said and done Jagga Jasoos is unlike anything you've seen before. I'm running out of ways to say unique but that's what it is. Many people in the theatre, myself included, clapped and cheered at the end of the film while the gentleman next to me woke up from his nap. Cleary the audience is divided so have a look for yourself and see where you fall. While that delicious ending deserves a sequel, I'm certain we won't see another movie (or a more natural actor) like this anytime soon.

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