Jawan is another blockbuster Hindi language film from the world of SRK aka Shah Rukh Khan, which was released recently. Mind you, this film comes from the Tamil film writer and director Atlee, nee Arun Kumar.
This is Atlee’s foray into the bigger Hindi movie world. SRK continues to play an action hero in his second film of the year. Not so long ago, we welcomed SRK as he donned the crown of action hero in the Pathaan film.
You know, apart from the lead Shah Rukh Khan, the entire cast and crew of this film belongs to Tamil film industry - writing, direction, cinematography, music, editing, art department, etc.
For those, who are unfamiliar with Hindi films, it is worth mentioning that SRK is primarily famous for playing the roles of romantic heroes. His signature charming styles have been initiated many times by his ardent fans.
No doubt, in a new avatar, SRK is breaking new ground and re-branding himself as the popular action hero in the movies. But with age and maturity, comes a responsibility that SRK’s Jawan film has tried to live up to.
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Jawan (IND/2023) Movie:- details
| Genre | Action, Thriller, Mystery |
| Original language | Hindi (Jawan (जवान) in Hindi language means a soldier in the armed forces.) This film is also released in Tamil and Telugu languages in its dubbed versions. |
| Duration | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Age-restrictions | UA (13+) |
| Writers | Sumit Arora (dialogue), Ramanagirivasan (written by) Atlee (story and screenplay) |
| Director | Atlee |
| Music Director | Anirudh Ravichander |
| Cast | Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Lehar Khan, Girija Oak, Riddhi Dogra, Sanjay Dutt, etc. |
| Taglines | Now good to go chief… Ready? |
Jawan (IND/2023) Movie:- synopsis
Jawan is a high-octane action thriller which outlines the emotional journey of a man (SRK) who is set to rectify the wrongs in society.
An emotional journey of a man Azaad/Vikram Rathod (Shah Rukh Khan) who is set to rectify the wrongs in the society, in an attempt to get even with his past, driven by a personal vendetta while keeping up to a promise made years ago. A high-octane action thriller where he is up against a dreadful monstrous outlaw Kaalie Gaikwad (Vijay Sethupathi) who knows no fear and has caused extreme suffering to many.
In the journey he will cross paths with a high-minded seasoned lady officer Narmada Rai (Nayanthara) whose emotions might get the better of her as she gets involved in this battle. As his (Azaad) past catches up with him, to overcome the challenges and restore the harmony in their world, he will need all the firepower and intelligence to do so.
Synopsis / Red Chillies Entertainment.
Jawan (IND/2023) Movie:- {Spoilers Free} review
Jawan is a typical Indian film which brings together the masala (spices) from two different parts of India – the Hindi movie world as well as the Tamil movie world to give us a highly entertaining pan-Indian film.
With this action-packed and emotional-revenge-thriller movie, SRK (as vigilante Azaad) raises a bunch of apt and bold issues in New India. However, given the personal appeal of SRK that goes beyond the borders of India, it is going to be a big hit not only in India but also in the overseas territories. His film has already earned Rs 350 crore gross at the worldwide box office, as per the latest news report in HT, since its release on 7th September 2023.
This film has indeed made some of the most bold personal, social, economic and political statements as the lead protagonist in this film. He and his four alive army buddies from the secretive special forces Agni regiment, belong to different religions (Hindu, Christian/ईसाई, Sikh, Muslim) and come from different corners (from Chennai, Pune, Guwahati, Chandigarh) of India. Perhaps, again underlying the Unity in Diversity theme.
Wasloon par jahan aa jaye, takrana jarrori hai. (When you priciples are being challenged then you must fight.)
The above lines from this film, maybe, loudly call out the ongoing politics of hate and the politics in the name of religion in India. Given the current undemocratic fate and lowly uninspiring status of the mainstream news media (especially in new India) under the current dispensation, a mainstream Hindi masala movie (instead of the plethora of TV News channels) raises some of the most pertinent issues that really matter in the lives of common citizens of India/Bharat in today’s time. Sometimes, I wish that India had an honest TV news media.
Anyway, the magic happens when two superstars SRK (Hindi film world) and Nayantara (Tamil film world) get together for the first time as a lead pair in a pan-Indian movie. I loved the Chaleya song filmed on them in it. As the leading lady Narmada Rai (Nayantara) said in this film, the Indian Robinhood Azaad (SRK) and his women gang wanted to make a clear statement about the sorry state of affairs in our nation.
They also urge the viewers of their movies, to say something, stay alive, do something, and stay Azaad (independent and free-minded) in today’s New India.
Banda jinda hai, toh jinda nazar aana jaroori hai. (If you are truly alive, you must prove it.) And Zinda Banda song in this film probably references that fact only.
The ensemble cast is led by Shah Rukh Khan (Vikram Rathod/Azaad) and ably supported by his female lead Nayanthara (Narmada Rai Rathod), and the antagonist villain Vijay Sethupathi (Kaalie Gaikwad). Then there are other important actors – Deepika Padukone (Aishwarya Rathod), Priyamani (Lakshmi), Sanya Malhotra (Dr Eeram), Sanjeeta Bhattacharya (Helena), Lehar Khan (Kalki), Girija Oak (Ishkra), Riddhi Dogra (Kaveri), Sanjay Dutt (Madhavan Nayak), etc., all of them do a good job to make this film a mass-entertainment.
I also loved the music and song of this film, the details of the some have been shared along with the spoilers from the movie in this article.
I loved and enjoyed this SRK movie, so I recommend it to you all too.
Jawan (IND/2023) Movie:- {Spoilers Alert} a few more details
Double role-double maza in this Jawan film.
This is Shah Rukh Khan’s seventh movie in his career where he plays a double role, viz., “English Babu Desi Mem”, “Duplicate”, “Paheli”, “Don”, “Om Shanti Om”, “Ra. One” and “Fan.”
In the Jawan film, SRK plays the double role of father and son.
This Jawan film’s references to popular dialogues, series, movies, songs, etc.
Maybe, in reference to the 007 James Bond character, Vikram Rathod introduces himself as, “Vikram. Vikram Rathod. Naam Toh Suna Hoga.”
V for Vendetta film (freedom fighter uses terrorist tactics to fight the government), A Wednesday film (about a bomb scare in Mumbai), Money Heist series (creating hostage situations and emerging as people’s hero after asking the government to do specific people-friendly tasks), Squid Game series (female prisoners reference several traumatising collective experiences), The Dark Knight Rises film (foreign financier villain in a similar get-up), The Lion King film (Mufasa – father & Simba- son) and old classic Hindi movies hit songs like Beqarar Karke Hume Yun Na Jaiye, Ramaiya Vastavaiya, etc.
Highlighting the Girls’ and Women’s power in this Jawan film
SRK (Chief Azaad) is actively assisted by these women jail inmates who resorted to vigilantism due to systemic oppression in their lives – Priyamani (Lakshmi), Sanya Malhotra (Dr Eeram – missing in the pic. shared below), Sanjeeta Bhattacharya (Helena), Lehar Khan (Kalki), and Girija Oak (Ishkra). Also, check their hit song – Zinda Banda from the Jawan film which showcases the female members of team SRK in this film.
SRK senior (Vikram) and Deepika (Aishwarya), are shown as strong and equal partners. Also, Nayantara (Narmada) is a single working mother and Riddhi Dogra (Kaveri Ma) is a silent and strong mother who raises the junior SRK as her own child. The name Kaveri Ma reminds me of another SRK character’s mother with the same name in the Swadesh film.
Some of the apt and burning real-life issues raised in this Jawan film
Some of these burning concerns mentioned in this film are, namely, the issues of the farmers’ suicides, the poor health (and educational) facilities provided by the Government for commoners, the widespread corruption (and percentage commission) in various government departments, supply of faulty guns to the army personnel, the corporate greed leading to the blind pursuit of profits, election funding, voting in the name of caste/religion/region/language, etc.
Some of these issues are most probably inspired by real-life incidents, for instance, the acute shortage of oxygen cylinders in hospitals. The case of Dr. Kafeel Khan (Dr. Eeram in the film) comes to mind.
And then on a more personal note, in a harsh real-life incident, SRK’s son Aryan Khan spent four weeks in jail, on some flimsy charges, as the authorities could not prove it in the court of law. Hence this line?
Bete ko haat lagane se pehle Baap se baat kar. (Before you touch my son, talk to the father.)
Also, the reigning corporate greed and the blind pursuit of profit at all costs, even at the cost of pollution, the forcible land grab, the mass displacement of people, etc.
Where the businessman always says:
Let's make a deal...
Besides, when a bunch of businessmen fund the election expenditure of a political party so that at a later date they can reap huge benefits after their funded party comes to power.
Why did some people choose to become a vigilante in it?
Well, perhaps, in an indirect address to the viewers, the protagonist army man Vikram Rathod (SRK) delivers the following lines, as he confronts Kaalie Gaikwad (Vijay), the person responsible for supplying faulty guns to the army. That incident led to the death of many soldiers while they were fighting a gun battle with the dangerous terrorists.
Hum Jawan hain, apni jaan hazcitizens of India, aar baar daon par laga sakte hain, lekin sirf desh ke liye. (We are soldiers, we can sacrfice our lives thousands times, but only for our country.) Tumhare jaise desh bechne walon ke liye nahin, hargiz nahin. (Not for people who sell our country.)
Later on, the vindictive Kaalie exacts cruel revenge for the loss of face, his reputation and business; by wiping out their family completely, or so he thought.
Rathod (SRK) and his son Azaad (SRK)
This incident is probably inspired by the real-life case of the INSAS (Indian National Small Arms Systems) scandal, wherein faulty guns were supplied to the soldiers.
In the closing scenes, we hear a monologue about elections from SRK’s character in the film.
In his address to his fellow Indians, he asks why they vote for religion, money, fear, etc.
Puchho usse ki mere liye agle 5 saal mein kya karoge?, (Ask the politicians, what will you do for me in the next five years?) Agar parivaar mein koi bimar ho jaaye to uske ilaaj ke liye kya karoge?, (If some from family falls ill, then what will you do for his medical-treatment?) Mujhe naukri dilaane ke liye kya karoge?, (What will you do to get me a job?) Desh ko aage badhaane ke liye kya karoge?... (What will you do for the development of country)...
He humbly asks everyone to think and ponder about these, before voting.
Jawan (IND/2023) Movie:- posters
Jawan (IND/2023) Movie:- ratings
| FM’s rating | 4.05/5 Extra marks were given to film writers of this film for daring to raise burning socio-political issues pertinent to India/Bharat in today’s time and era. |
| IMDb rating as of the date | 7.90/10 Once again, like the Pathaan film, the #BoycottGang is active on IMDb to bring down its ratings, and they are up against the SRK’s fans there. |
| Rotten Tomatoes ratings as of the date | 93% Tomatometer & 91% Audience Score |
| Rotten Tomatoes/Critics’ Consensus | Beyond its comic-book entertainment chronicling the age-old war between good and evil, Jawan springs a real surprise when it boldly and directly points fingers at the ineffective government and appeals to recognise the power of the finger and vote. (~ Sukanya Verma) |
Jawan (IND/2023) Movie:- trailer
Links: Its official Trailer in Tamil langauge - Jawan. Its offiicial Trailer in Telugu language - Jawan.
Featured & Other Images courtesy of Jawan (2023) film | Red Red Chillies Entertainment.