Jigra Movie Review

Story and Plot

The film follows a fiercely protective sister (Alia Bhatt) who will go to any lengths for her wrongly incarcerated brother, splitting wide open the ethereal gates of the most high security prison on earth. It follows a jaw-dropping plot where Alia leaves everything aside to get her brother out of harm's way, but finds herself in the midst of questionable alliances and unsavoury ethical decisions. The show is so much more than a straightforward prisonbreak; it's an exploration of the love between siblings. The film reveals it occurs, slowly. It never just kind of meanders and eventually tells us what we knew all along while the stakes seem to keep increasing as much is both confined (by prison walls) and yet free to sprawl well beyond San Quentin.

Vasan Bala, famous for his individualistic style of mixing realism with stylized action) falters at some points in terms of pacing as one feels the film is getting a bit stretched during its mid point phase. Even though the build-up is uneventful, a still of the bat-shit crazy finish saves it and gives us with an exciting as well as action-packed finale.

  Performances

Alia Bhatt does it again in an another power packed performance. Her desperate but determined sister is intense and emotional in a way that feels raw to the bone. It is the way that she balances vulnerability with fierce grit, which attracts people to her. Alia (in a complete changeover from the kind of parts in which we are used to seeing her) delivers some kill-to-the-end stunts, becoming reborn in new physically demanding outfits. She is the core of emotions in and she manages to own it.

Vedang Raina- After his debut with "The Archies," Vedang impressed us quite a lot in an understated and yet impactful performance. He may not have as much screen time as Alia, but playing a henpecked husband who is drafted into a conspiracy makes the sibling dynamic even richer with his brooding presence. You see him go through several emotions from fear, despair to finally the courage. The subtle Veerang vs the high octane Alia sets a great templat for their equation and it plays out well for the most part, keeping this sibling duo in narrative forefront.

  Overall

Jigra presents the usual prison break genre with a twist and roots it in familial bonds and emotional stakes. Though the pacing could have been tighter, thanks to his unique visual style, Vasan Bala has made a visually arresting film. The saving grace of the film are its two performances, Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina to be specific, with Alia in particular continuing to showcase her versatile acting capabilities. It has its problems, but still turns out to be a movie worth watching for drama and action film buffs.