Janhit Mein Jaari Movie Review

Janhit Mein Jaari is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama film written and directed by Jai Basantu Singh. Nushrat Bharucha, Paritosh Tripathi, Vijay Raaz, and Sahiil Sagar play Friend Voice Dubbed in the film.

It was launched in theatres on June 10, 2022, and will be available on ZEE5 beginning July 15, 2022. It was well welcomed by critics and audiences alike, with praise for the message, humor, and performances.

Story

Manokamna Tripathi works as a sales agent for a local condom manufacturer in Orcha, Madhya Pradesh. A tragic sequence of events causes Manokamna to devote herself to her job more personally and responsibly than she has ever done before. Will she be able to kayak through with her family, who are immersed in traditional and orthodox values, or will she have to kayak alone? The answer to this question is important in the plot.

Review

Manokamna Tripathi (Nushrratt Bharuccha) is walking about with a ticking time bomb. She must either find work or accept a marriage proposal made by her parents. She accepts a position as a sales representative at Aadarniya's (Brijendra Kala) local condom manufacturer in her haste. The rest of the movie follows her as she overcomes the initial challenges of her job, promoting awareness among men and women in a tiny town in Madhya Pradesh and gaining the support of her conservative family.

What looks to be another novel set in India's heartland is actually a funny and punch-line-heavy narrative by writer Raaj Shandilyaa that addresses vital issues such as abortion and contraception, specifically the use of condoms for safe sex, among others. Raaj's trademark punchlines and smart one-liners are used liberally throughout the film to deliver the goods. His signature can be found on the lines. Throughout most of the 147-minute running duration, the screenplay is fast-paced. Though the lines are not memorable because they are one of a kind, they are amusing in most situations. The comic antics between the supporting performers in the film provide a lot of distraction from the subject matter. The cinematography and production design are also excellent. While already explored in a few earlier films set in Madhya Pradesh, the locales have been employed effectively.

Nushrratt Bharuccha proudly carries the film on her shoulders. Throughout the film, her performance is constant. In fact, she is the only character with a strong and apparent arc that develops throughout the course of the film. Could the arc have been more powerful? Yes. Could the obstacles in her character's journey have been more difficult to overcome? Yes. And this could have emphasized the message that the film is attempting to convey through her shoulders. It could only have helped to define the film's plot.

A special mention should be made of the supporting cast. Brijendra Kala, despite having less screen time, is flawlessly cast. Likewise, Vijay Raaz, who represents the patriarchal voice in a strict family setting. He chooses the lehenga properly and clings to the character throughout his voyage. Tinnu Anand and a few other supporting artists also did an outstanding job, and I would have liked to see a little more of them. Their conversation, particularly that of Manokamna's co-sisters on the terrace, breaks up the story's monotony. The punchlines are delivered with precision and flare.

Manokamna's attire and overall appearance are two elements that stick out for no apparent reason. It does not suit with the novel's setting. The romantic track between Ranjan (debutant Anud Singh Dhaka) and Manokamna is rushed and could have used more emotional pull. In fact, Ranjan's character needs a unique and well-defined path to follow. He only has a few punch lines, making the persona hollow.

Paritosh Pati Tripathi, who plays Devi, Manokamna's best friend, might have been used more effectively in the story than as a mere sidekick who appears to be in love with her. The equipment was present but needed to be in use in the writing room. Also, phrases like unbreakable and scratch are employed in contexts where the persons being addressed are unlikely to understand them. There doesn't appear to have been much change in the way our films show small-town India in the last five years, a conservative backdrop that the protagonist needs to combat, the presence of a hip sidekick, and a path of reinventing our society's thinking. In that regard, some of the aspects in this picture are predictable. Also, the film may have been tighter, which would have allowed it to maintain its perspective.

The soundtrack of the film has the potential to shine as well. Though there is ample opportunity for it during the film, the songs on the album do not drive you to hit the replay button. Overall, Jai Basantu Singh makes a strong Bollywood debut as a filmmaker, but he still has a long way to go as the ship's captain. This is a colourful image with a strong message that could have been better packaged and conveyed. However, we get to watch a lighthearted and amusing film with its heart in the right place.