Hurray, it finally released! There has been a lot of debate about whether Jagga Jasoos would see the light of day. It was in the making for 3.5 years surrounded by countless controversies: the infamous Ranbir/Katrina breakup, production setbacks, endless delays, and rumors of the movie being shelved. Regardless of its fate getting here was no easy feat. Jagga Jasoos is a quirky film, no two words on that. It's highly unusual and targets the child in all of us. I'm impressed that such a high-concept and risky film was okayed in the first place and that Ranbir chose it as his debut production. Well done to the team on that front. And I'm happy to say I found joy in Jagga's peculiar world.
Young Jagga, played by Ranbir Kapoor, is a novice detective whose sharp mind allows him to question everything and search for answers where there are none. When his father mysteriously disappears one day Jagga, with the help of a journalist (Katrina Kaif), begins a quest to track him down. But this is only part of the story. Much of the first half is made up of understanding Jagga's world and watching him solve mysteries. There is fun to be had here if you can embrace the madness.
Jagga constantly stutters. To deal with his communication woes the young jasoos sings his thoughts. Hence, the musical nature of the film. And mind you, this is a musical in the truest sense. Much of the dialogue is conveyed through song. Ranbir says very little out of tune. I found myself getting used to and enjoying this interesting approach to storytelling about 20 minutes into the film. After which I didn't expect anything else. The movie is packaged as a children's story. The canvas is colorful and you'll be tapping your feet to most of the songs especially Dil Ulu Ka Patha Hai.
Anurag Basu, of Barfi fame, has creatively conceived a film that couldn't have been easy to imagine. His mind like Jagga's is one of a kind. But his execution, also like Jagga's, has its share of flaws. The first half needs trimming and the script should've matched the intellect. Also, the slight dubbing issues (probably) caused by production delays bothered me. But you can overlook these mishaps if you're invested in the plot. What works wonders for the film is the humor. It's gentle and graciously sprinkled throughout the narrative. You will laugh yourself silly at several points. Jagga trying to fly a plane is not something I'll easily forget.
Ranbir Kapoor's talent should be studied. He's miles ahead of his contemporaries. He hardly speaks in the movie yet every emotion and thought going through Jagga's mind is conveyed in such a poetic manner that you're left in awe. The 34 year old star is playing a teenager here and not once can you imagine anyone else in his place. I continue to be a fan, Mr. Kapoor. Katrina Kaif fits the character to a tee. You can't say she is a particularly good actor but she's a charmer and impresses once more with the innocent act she's managed to own over the years. The chemistry between the leads is also one for the books especially since it's not based in romance. I'm not sure if we'll see them together again but it was delightful while it lasted.
All said and done Jagga Jasoos is unlike anything you've seen before. I'm running out of ways to say unique but that's what it is. Many people in the theatre, myself included, clapped and cheered at the end of the film while the gentleman next to me woke up from his nap. Cleary the audience is divided so have a look for yourself and see where you fall. While that delicious ending deserves a sequel, I'm certain we won't see another movie (or a more natural actor) like this anytime soon.
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