As Yash Chopra’s last directorial venture releasing just after his death, Jab Tak Hai Jaan has already made it to the milestone page in the history books. But where does it actually stand in the glittering array of films that he made over a career spanning more than fifty years? Has the legendary King of Romance managed to sweep the audiences off their feet one last time?
For anyone having even a semblance of sense of history, it is hard to miss the special significance attached to this film. So let’s see how this last Yash Chopra-SRK collaboration pans out.
What’s the plot?
A bubbly TV journalist (Anushka Sharma) stumbles across a diary, which tells the story of a small-time Indian expatriate worker (Shahrukh Khan) struggling to make ends meet in London. It is quite a story. While working as a waiter in a posh hotel, the man had come across a rich heiress (Katrina Kaif). An unlikely friendship had developed and had led to an even more unlikely romance! But then an accident and a pact with God had put paid to the romance.
The same man has now become India’s best bomb-squad expert, who diffuses bombs with nonchalance and cares little for things like smile, civility and even death! Intrigued by the man’s story, the journalist decides to make a documentary on his life. As the film-maker as she follows him and his team in their daredevil pursuits, she realizes that she has fallen for the man!
But will the man accept her love? Will he be able to get over his first romance? There are still more accidents to happen and many twists and turns to follow before we will get this answer.
What’s hot?
· Even in his last film, Yash Chopra shows us that he had lost none of his ability to make romance and mushy melodrama work on celluloid. He even shows that he was not afraid to try out new things including making SRK and Kat smooch!
· All three main protagonists deliver good performances. While watching Shahrukh enact his charming romantic hero and Anushka portray her effervescent modern Punjabi kudi, you get a déjà vu sensation, but Katrina Kaif shows that she has travelled a far distance from her early ‘wooden doll’ days. Her performance shows a lot of maturity and an improved ability to emote.
· As usual, like all Yash Raj films, this film, too boasts of beautiful locations captured through excellent cinematography.
What’s not?
· Aditya Chopra’s story is far-fetched and full of plot-holes. (But then logic was never a strong point of Yash Chopra’s movies!)
· The film is too lengthy and drags a lot in the second half.
· A. R. Rahman’s music is largely disappointing, except for the cheerful ‘Jiya Jiya Re Jiya Re’.
Verdict
It may not be his best ever film but Jab Tak Hai Jaan is in a way fitting tribute to Yash Chopra’s cinematic genius. It shows that a good romantic emotional drama always works in the hands of a creative director.
Shahrukh Khan, too deserves a special mention. I do not count myself among his fans but one has to give credit when it is due. Now past his mid-forties, the ageing superstar still proves that no one quite does romance on Bollywood silver screen like he does! His critics have had a field day panning his looks and mannerisms but without his powerful screen presence, the film would have fallen flat on its face.
Together, YRF and SRK have always spelt box-office magic. Jab Tak Hai Jaan is no exception. It may be escapist, it may be melodramatic but it is a film sure to appeal to the masses!
Kesariya Balam
