Rajeev Masand Reviews Jaane tu ..Ya Jaane Na
Cast: Imran Khan, Genelia D’souza, Ratna Pathak Shah
Director: Abbas Tyrewala
Even before I’m ready to share my views with you on Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, I have A question to ask: Is it unfair to go into a film with a certain level of expectation, especially when the film’s been made by someone whose work you have always admired? If it is indeed unfair, then forgive me Abbas, for I have sinned.
But if I’m allowed to expect clever writing, an original screenplay, fleshed-out characters and a fresh plot from the writer of such gems as Maqbool, Munnabhai MBBS and Main Hoon Na, then perhaps you will understand why Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na was a letdown for me.
Don’t get me wrong; I wasn’t expecting another Maqbool or a Munnabhai from Jaane Tu. It promised to be a light-hearted romance and that’s exactly what I went in to see. But a light-hearted romance from Abbas Tyrewala — the original, imaginative, inspired writer of those afore-mentioned films.
Tired of everyone misunderstanding their strictly platonic friendship for love, 20-year-olds Jai and Aditi (that’s Imran Khan and Genelia D’souza) decide they must find each other suitable romantic partners who aren’t threatened by the closeness the two of them share. Little do they realise however, that what they feel for each other is indeed love — it’s a reality that dawns upon them later when they’re with other partners.
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na plays out as a predictable Bollywood love story, sticking faithfully to old formulas, even culminating in that now obligatory airport climax. As far as the film’s plot is concerned, there’s very little that’s original. Jaane Tu is not your traditional plot-driven film.
It is, in fact, a film propelled by its characters and their motivations, much like Dil Chahta Hai in a sense, but without the emotional depth of that film.
The characters in Jaane Tu are all cool, light and easy. So cool in fact, that they sometimes come off looking silly. Am I really being unreasonable if I can’t understand why Abbas would give us such stereotypes as the gujju in the group — Jignes(h), or the fat sulky one who can’t stop whining? Is it really my fault if I’m surprised a writer of Abbas’ calibre wrote that ridiculous opening scene in which a group of 20-year-olds sit around in white and deliver sentimental soliloquies for their friend’s dead cat? Is it really my fault if I expected a fresh take on love, if I was hoping Jai and Aditi would realise their love for each other, but not because they realized their previous partners were such idiots? Did it have to be so simplistic; did it have to be so clichéd? Indeed it’s the silliness in the writing that is my biggest grouse against this film.
Silliness aside, at its heart, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na is a refreshing film. Refreshing because of its spectacular performances. Refreshing because of A R Rahman’s outstanding soundtrack. Refreshing because the film’s actors look like they actually enjoyed making this film. And refreshing because sitting there watching the film, you can’t help feeling very old.
For every Jayant Kriplani, Anooradha Patel, Rajat Kapur and Kitu Gidwani that Abbas has wasted in this film as mere caricatures, he’s given us the spirited and feisty Ratna Pathak-Shah, the brooding and brilliant Prateik Babbar, the luminous Manjari Phadnis, and then those three cameos.
The dead parent in the photo-frame may be an old plot-device (as old as Hum Paanch on TV), but it’s a stroke of genius on Abbas’ part how he ties it up so smartly in this film. Also the horsemen — at first such a harebrained and pointless idea, but so cleverly incorporated in the narrative.
So there, that’s the Abbas I was looking for from the start of the film, but truth is, these masterstrokes are few and far between. The film battles between cutesy and clever. And cutesy wins over clever.
The only good thing that comes out of that is the electrifying chemistry we get between Imran and Genelia who literally bounce off each other and keep you spellbound when they’re on screen, even in the film’s dullest scenes.
Genelia is what I’d call a pathaka — she’s spontaneous and sparkling. And Imran is the best young actor we’ve seen on screen for months. He’s unconventional and vulnerable and he knows how to use both to make a lasting impression.
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na is not one of my favourite films this year, far from it. But it’s a respectable first film for any director. Even if one expects more from this one. It is, then, at best an above-average film, but since you won’t find any half-stars from me, I’m going to go with an average rating — that’s two out of five for Abbas Tyrewala’s Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na.
But make sure you watch it. Watch it for some sparkling dialogue, some fantastic music, but most of all, watch it for Imran and Genelia who conceal the film’s many flaws.
Rating: 2 / 5 (Average)
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Comment by kashif on 4 July 2008:
rajeev ur bad man,
u cant give 2 marks for such a beautiful movie
Comment by jtippu on 5 July 2008:
Rajeev shut up and get lost, I had no other choice! you are the worst reviewer out there. when the whole world is praising JTYJN, here you come again with this stupidest review. you are done, stop reviewing movies.
Comment by Rizwan on 5 July 2008:
jtippu I love you. Will you marry me.
Comment by preethi on 5 July 2008:
hi rajeev i love ur reviews…and i am a big fan of u….i agree it was a nice film but didnt reach my expectations…!!!!
Comment by AksFilmi on 6 July 2008:
I thnk he has given an honest Review,cant rate Jaane tu 5/5
& he has praised the movie & appericated the peformnaces & also the Director on his master strokes
Comment by Raman Shukla on 6 July 2008:
Hi Rajiv
I respect the emotion and expectation you carry while going to watch a movie but just look an another side of coin and i.e. Love story 2050 . If you will try to experiment much then be ready for a bitter taste. Dear Rajiv always remember a restaurant which offer you tasty and better quality food that never experiment much instead they keep original flavor and if you forgot the meaning of original then please refer dictionary
Comment by kashif on 6 July 2008:
i agree with raman,
i love JTYJN & its very tasty
Comment by shailesh on 6 July 2008:
Well, Rajeev, good work should always be admired and praised. This is a really good movie and the character in the movie has done his/her job with perfection, let it be Ratna Shah or Paresh Rawal, good work should always be praised, movie is not a masala, a very nice presentation of teen friendship turned love, this can happen to anyone’s life and it sounds quite real isnt it?
So people do watch it? it is this year’s best movie.
Comment by kshitip on 6 July 2008:
Hi Rajiv..
I watched jaane tu move..I felt that it was a cool move i think u could have given a extra star for the movie..I agree with u that both the lead actors were awesome..It was a good debut for imran and Raja babar’s son(amit), and all friends of imran and genelia they were superb in the movie.. Mr.A.R.Rahaman’s music, it rocks..
Comment by BKN on 7 July 2008:
Even songs are good, and all actors and actress are too cute for their roles, but it did not reach my average rating as the way. With more expectation from the story, will definitely let you down as the ending was predictable and unnecessarily getting stretched. Acting are good considering new comers, but somewhere reality was missing in this romantic soft love story. If you want to just relax yourself and spent 3 hours, definitely a good movie to watch as you don’t have any other options for this week to watch :).
But personally I am agree with Rajeev ratings. It’s just an average movie.
Comment by sanket mande on 8 July 2008:
Hey Rajeev,
i think u were not tat fair with these guys they have done a brilliant job, lok at the simplicity of the movie i mean rather tan feeling old i felt fresh while watching the movie, i found movie to be brilliantly made to suit our generation. when u give OS0 a 3 i think dis does deserve more than it.
Respect others efforts.
Comment by jai on 9 July 2008:
janne tu ya janne na is a boring movie
bad movie
total waste of money
very bad movie ,
Comment by AksFilmi on 9 July 2008:
Jai i dont think its a bad movie bt certainly not excellent
Comment by jai on 9 July 2008:
aks i cant wait to watch the movie for more than 30 minutes
sorry not up to the mark
its my feelings,
on wat the story was based??
not typical hindi movie
Comment by AksFilmi on 9 July 2008:
Jai u on SB?
Comment by AksFilmi on 9 July 2008:
Jai i dont think it was bad,it was decent sweet movie.May be u dint liked it,ur choice
Comment by jai on 9 July 2008:
spend 180 rupees in a multiplex ticket, went with my GF, but turned out to be total waste. People were yawning, i felt like time was so slow and felt very heavy. As soon as movie ended, it was big relief. I watched JOhny gaddar on DVD at home, feeling much better now.
Comment by jtippu on 9 July 2008:
dont belive you jai. how can someone dislike JTYJN. strange. it was throughly enjoyable and fun movie. loved it totally. everyone Imran, Genelia, Naseer-u-din Shah, Manjari, the two Khans, Aditi’s brother Prateik Babbar, Jai’s mother Ratna Phatak Shah, Paresh Rawal, A.R.Rahman, everyone literally rocked!
Comment by shruti on 12 July 2008:
i partly agree with mr masand.
the movie was good….i mean really nice…bt could have been much better…wasnt in accordance with abbas tyrewala’s potential.
bt again the movie was good fun and a complete entertainer…wat more do we want…rite guys?
sm scenes…like the airport one n the narration if the story was very much like wat we saw in chalte chalte.
Comment by Sominya on 13 July 2008:
Fantastic review..I think Imran’s cute and all is fine..but when he delivers his dialouges (Jab woh apna muuh kholta hai) , the overacting is quite apparent.The whole gaddamn movie is so predictable..I wonder why aamir accepted such an ordinary script ,May be he didn’t want to experiment on Imran. For Imran I would like to say ,there are hundreds like him in India ..if it was not for aamir he wouldn’t have made to the film industry, he is just an ordinary actor and his face is quiet expressionless for an actor.
Comment by Ronaq on 15 July 2008:
Hey Rajeev…!
I always warn people not to read your reviews first & then watch the movie.
Considering Jaane tu… I think the over all text was framed in a negative aspect.. You did mention some positive points but got over shadow due to whole negatives dialogue tone..
Though Jaane tu ya jaane was not a social awekaning film..But it has changed the definitions of friendship in youngsters.. I have come across people who are trying to make such bonds amongst them.. The difference between Aditi’s parents & Meghna’s parents was an eye opener to some married couples who watched film hand in hand.. So, In a way this film does contribute to the society.. It was an attempt to bring joy with light humour to troubled minds.. Indeed any price for the ticket was a good investment..
Considering the films simplicity, show by Imran (Debut) & Genelia, Genelia’s 10/10 performance i.e. all the expressions, gestures & lovely looks (Guys were literally in love with her for those three hours ), Witty script, Naseeruddin Shah’s role, College Gang, PJ & Pumpkin chemistry, Amit’s cheeky character, Insp Waghmare’s dialouges, Sohail & Arbaaz - The Ranjhor Ke Rathods, A R Rehman’s melodious tracks, Perfect dress up, Light humour,… ….
I suggest 3/5 would be appropriate for Abbas Tyrewala’s attempt….
Comment by mikhil on 20 August 2008:
The review is extremely true …
but u shud hav given 2.5/5….!!