Director Raj Mehta brings a fresh family drama after a long time with JugJugg Jeeyo. Raj raises a very pertinent issue of marital ties and the vulnerability in relationships at different age groups. The film brings in three different situations with a similar looking issue that is very fragile and the message that it sends out to the audience. It also subtly speaks about arrange versus love marriage and their outcomes. Though JugJugg Jeeyo is about a very tricky topic, it is told in a very light-hearted manner. There are serious situations too, but they are tackled with tongue-in-cheek humour.
The story is about three marriages, the mindset of the couples involved, their journey, their issues and the resolution.
Varun Dhawan (Kukoo) and Kiara Advani (Naina) are childhood besties. Varun is head-over-heels in love with Kiara right from 5th grade in school!! They eventually get married and move to Canada. Once there, all the bliss is lost between them and they decide to divorce! Kukoo’s sister (Prajakta Koli) Ginny’s wedding is planned and the couple (Varun and Kiara) will have to visit their hometown in India to attend the same but they decide to play-on like a happy couple until the impending wedding. Once in India, they makeup a happy face in front of Varun’s parents Bheem (Anil Kapoor) and Geeta (Neetu Kapoor). Varun wants to open-up to his jolly father over a drink, but all hell breaks and the tables are turned.
Varun’s sister Ginny, who is the bride-to-be, is also seeing someone else!! There is also Maniesh Paul who plays Gurpreet, Naina’s brother and Kukoo’s best friend and Tisca Chopra plays Meera in a very special cameo. In this emotional melodrama laced with humour, how the family gets into various situations and how the story unfolds is worth watching.
Watching Anil Kapoor on screen is entertaining in itself, (especially the middle-aged audience) and he balances his act deftly. Somehow age doesn’t seem to catch up with him! Ditto for Neetu Kapoor, who returns to the silver screen almost after a decade (Besharam 2013). She easily slips into the caring wife, mother and mother-in-law character effortlessly. Kiara Advani looks mesmerising and plays her part very well. Kiara’s scene with Varun having a heated argument that turns emotional showcases both the actors acting prowess. Kiara seems to be picking the right scripts (5th with Dharma) and brings success in them. Varun Dhawan is mostly shown unkempt. He gets enough scope and does justice to his character with the situations that he gets into.
Maniesh Paul who plays Varun’s friend brings in the right dose of humour in the narrative. Prajakta Koli makes her big screen debut and gets to share screen with the likes of Anil Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor in a meaty role.
The music for Jugjugg Jeeyo is composed by Mithoon, Tanishk Bagchi, Kanishk Seth – Kavita Seth, Diesby, Pozy and Vishal Shelke with lyrics written by Mithoon, Tanishk Bagchi, Kumaar, Abrar-ul-Haq, Diesby, Shamsher Sandhu, Ginny Diwan, Ghulam Mohd.
The song ‘The Punjaabban Song’ recreated by Tanishk Bagchi from the 2002 Pakistani music album Nach Punjaban by Abrar-ul-Haq comes in the post interval session and raises the overall tempo, no wonder it became such a rage. Not to forget the ‘Rangisari’ song recreated by Kavita Seth – Kanishk Seth from the late classical vocalist Shobha Gurtu’s popular thumri, is worth waiting for as the end credits roll.
The song ‘Duppata’ is the recreated version of 1994 hit Punjabi song, ‘Dupatta Tera Satrang Da’ composed by Atul Sharma written by Shamsher Sandhu and sung by Surjit Bindrakhia. whereas ‘Nain Ta Heere’ sung by Guru Randhawa and Asees Kaur is debut song for Vishal Shelke as music composer.
All in all, Raj Mehta’s Jugjugg Jeeyo is a mocktail of emotions, the humour and the message that the story gives, is soothing, to sip in and enjoy in a relaxed mood… unmissable.
Movie: Jugjugg Jeeyo
Director: Raj Mehta
Cast: Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Maniesh Paul, Prajakta Koli, Tisca Chopra.
Duration: 150 Mins
