SEP 19, 2023
RishabhBhaumik
I had the privilege to catch Jawan yesterday in the wee hours at Nexus, Koramangala in Bengaluru.
Point to mention: jam packed!
Even at 10:15 PM on a Monday, there was barely any empty seat . Amazing audience to watch the film.
My favourite part with them was when this Akshay Kumar Anti-Smoking ad played. Everyone started clapping and cheering sarcastically once it ended.
Absolutely bonkers crowd.
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First off, the standard of visual effects in films has gone through the roof. Gone are the days when we used to have substandard or passable simply because film royalty is in the movie. Each frame is so well crafted and well composed. The most badass interval screen of all time. SRK's first arial leap in the film is done better than most Hollywood films.
The shots look like they're out of a Zach Snyder film. Speaking of which...
Zach Snyder is one of the most influencial filmmakers when it comes to the look and feel of this film. Hyper masculine, extremely inventive use of FPS shooting. Atlee is a fanboy of Wong Kar Wai as well, and it shows in many sequences.
This film makes Pathaan look like some cheap indie short film.
Secondly; Shah Rukh is completely immune to criticisms of the film being brainless, dumb, or incoherent. Is it because, unlike Salman, he can carry an entire project's storyline with his wit, humour, sensitivity, and charm?
I had this thought in the shower today: Despite so much boot-liking and being labelled Bollywood's "perfectionist", Aamir chose a film as horrendous as Thugs of Hindustaan.
Shah Rukh may not be considered a perfectionist, but he will never choose to make a film like this. He would rather take the L on doing something truly experimental and unique.
❤️
Anyway, back to Jawan.
My God, SRK has been resurrected and this 3.0 version of him is something we never saw coming.
There is a particular sequence with him, a cigar, a motorbike, and an explosion. In most cases, this would come across as unintentionally hilarious but somehow...SRK can seemingly pull anything off.
King Khan has found his Midas Touch, again.
The Film is terribly fast paced, giving no time to digest and let us sink our teeth in the topics it is talking about. It also has extremely incoherent plot points and ridiculous convenient turn of events. But it's almost self aware, and knows how stupid and over the top it is. This is South Indian Sensibility seeping in.
Nayanthara is an absolute gangster! Strong, endearing, and in many places you'd actually root for her. This film stands on the shoulders of it's female cast as much as it does on it's men. Speaking of the female cast...
Almost Each member of this girl gang is an absolute boss in their own right. They each have (sort of) convincing back stories that prevent them from being props in the film, a criticism Atlee has recieved many times. But there's one supporting charecter that thumps them all.
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Look at that beard!! Vijay Sethupathi takes the role of a typical, pompous, 80s villain. Almost teething on self-aware, he is almost comedic in his motives and behaviours. Vintage Villain quirks are sprinkled throughout his performance but his stoic and restricted facial control keeps him terrifying. Every time he says "let me explain" i would think shit is going to go down. It usually did.
So why is Jawan making so much money?
Here's my theory:
1. SRK has risen from the ashes. He is once again, the people's champion.
2. It is a true, real, and honest mould of North Indian Stardum being shaped by South Indian sensibility. Imagine RRR x Swades
3. Everyone wanted this film to succeed. No one understood what the film would be in the trailers and the idea of SRK playing an anti-hero had us salivating.
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Lastly:
It's the second coming of the Commercial Film Genre. This is the standard. This is what it's going to take from now.
What's your favourite thing about Jawan?
cyberjunkie
Want to know what you mean by over the top South Indian sensibilities
him
Rishabh Bhaumik
First off, the standard of visual effects in films has gone through the roof. Gone are the days when we used to have substandard or passable simply because film royalty is in the movie. Each frame is so well crafted and well composed. The most badass interval screen of all time. SRK's first arial leap in the film is done better than most Hollywood films.
The shots look like they're out of a Zach Snyder film. Speaking of which...
Red Chillies 🌶️
FTW
❤️
Rishabh Bhaumik
Anyway, back to Jawan.
My God, SRK has been resurrected and this 3.0 version of him is something we never saw coming.
There is a particular sequence with him, a cigar, a motorbike, and an explosion. In most cases, this would come across as unintentionally hilarious but somehow...SRK can seemingly pull anything off.
King Khan has found his Midas Touch, again.
Never ever expected SRK to be like this, did we?
And it works!!
❤️
Rishabh Bhaumik
What's your favourite thing about Jawan?
How SRK is not worried about breaking out of his cliches while he manages to use all possible creative cliches to entertain!
❤️
RishabhBhaumik
Sneha Das
Want to know what you mean by over the top South Indian sensibilities
If you have a look at RRR, Maanadu, or even some of Atlee's previous works, you'll notice there is a air of maximalism.
Everything is dialled to 11. Nuance & Restraint is not something we should expect our of contemporary South Indian commercial Cinema. Not all though, my favourite South Indian Film, Churuli works due to it's restraint. But it isn't as commercial as let's say KGB.
Himanshu Khanna
How SRK is not worried about breaking out of his cliches while he manages to use all possible creative cliches to entertain!
Ra.One
In retrospect I feel SRK is one of the most daring, experimental actors who is not shy from taking Ls at the cost of pushing Cinema forward in India. It also helps that he's got the complete package: He's sensitive, he can do action movies, he's go wit, charm, he's comedic timing is very underrated.
Not to mention, he's already done Projects like Swades, Baazigar, http://Ra.One, Zero, Billu, Dil Se, Devdas, and many other risks, weather you like them or not!
him
Rishabh Bhaumik
In retrospect I feel SRK is one of the most daring, experimental actors who is not shy from taking Ls at the cost of pushing Cinema forward in India. It also helps that he's got the complete package: He's sensitive, he can do action movies, he's go wit, charm, he's comedic timing is very underrated.
Not to mention, he's already done Projects like Swades, Baazigar, Ra.One, Zero, Billu, Dil Se, Devdas, and many other risks, weather you like them or not!
One of the first ones in my generation to embrace and ace the anti-hero
cyberjunkie
Himanshu Khanna
One of the first ones in my generation to embrace and ace the anti-hero
Do you mean Baazigar and Darr?
him
Sneha Das
Do you mean Baazigar and Darr?
Don’t forget Anjaam
❤️
RishabhBhaumik
Himanshu Khanna
One of the first ones in my generation to embrace and ace the anti-hero
It is more impactful than a generational aspect, if you ask me. He's the first and last of a dying breed. A one of one.
Rajesh Khanna milked the lover roles, and Amitabh Bachchan milked the action roles.
He can do both. And so, so much more.
❤️
him
Himanshu Khanna
One of the first ones in my generation to embrace and ace the anti-hero
Also the first to step up from being a basic TV actor in a non-cable era
❤️
RishabhBhaumik
SRK is the iPhone of India's actors.
People buy an android because of a specific feature (cheaper, better camera, bigger battery, folds, whatever). People buy an iPhone because... it's an iPhone.
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SEP 20, 2023
diya
Himanshu Khanna
One of the first ones in my generation to embrace and ace the anti-hero
He once said in an interview that he has refused to play real life evil kind of characters because people will start stanning horrible real life people because how charming he is