Rating : 3.6/5
Genre : Drama
Year : 2020
Running time : 2 hours 10 minutes
Director : Nitin Kakkar
Cast : Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Alaya Furniturewala, Faria Jalal, Kumud Mishra
Kid rating : PG
London-based 40 year old playboy Jaswinder “Jazz” Singh (Khan) is enjoying life as usual when he meets a pretty young thing. Said PYT reveals that there is a 33.33% chance Jazz could be her father. Jazz’s world turns on its head.
When I initially heard the “33.33%” dialog it appeared that this might be a remake of “Mamma Mia” – were there 2 more potential dads waiting to crawl out of the woodwork? Apparently not. Also, unaware of the story and watching an aging (and widening) Saif gyrate suggestively on the dance floor was a little repellant – I’m thinking another aging Bollywood hero unable to take on age gracefully! Thankfully the film turned quite a different corner with Tia’s arrival.
Jawaani Janneman is a different tack for a Hindi film, and Nitin Kakkar is the man to helm this. Kakkar, director of films like Filmistaan and Mitron, builds the storyline of JJ very well. The kahaani is revealed in little “jhatkas” (the bombshell, then the mom, and the boyfriend and so on …) which keeps up the interest. Kakkar also picks a fantastic supporting cast, from the fabulous Kumud Mishra (he plays Jazz’s brother) to veteran Farida Jalal (she plays Jazz’s mom).
Saif Ali Khan does a great job exuding exasperation at having his life interrupted, and a surprising (for Jazz) fatherly love for his new found daughter. Khan really does look good playing his age and the new-found-fatherhood act sits comfortably on his shoulders. Tabu as Ananya, Tia’s yogini mom is a hoot – only she can combine nonchalance and concern with such effectiveness! Debutante Alaya Furniturewala is confident and can act, unlike mom Pooja Bedi.
This was a fun, light watch and had humorous as well as poignant moments. Do see.
Kidwise: Pretty clean. Some suggestive dialog and innuendo which is why I go with the PG rating.
