Rating: ★★★½ (3.5/5)
Sunny Deol Shines in a Familiar Yet Fierce Action Drama
Jaat, directed by Gopichand Malineni, is a nostalgic action-packed film that leans heavily on its strong male leads and intense showdowns. While the story travels down familiar tracks, the film packs in enough powerful moments to earn a solid ★★★½ (3.5/5).
Plot:
The story follows Baldev Pratap Singh (Sunny Deol), who is on a train journey from Chennai to Ayodhya. Due to an accident ahead, the train halts at Chirala, a small village that becomes the stage for a fierce confrontation. Hungry and restless, Baldev’s attempt to grab a meal ends in a clash with the local tyrant Ranatunga (Randeep Hooda), who, along with his brother Somulu (Viineet Kumar Singh), rules the village with an iron fist. Even Ranatunga’s wife Bharathi (Regina Cassandra) and his mother stand by his brutal ways.
Moved by the suffering of the villagers, Baldev decides to intervene. His decision sparks a war of justice against tyranny, culminating in an intense showdown where he defeats Ranatunga and restores peace to the troubled village.
Review:
Jaat thrives on its classic Deol-style action. Sunny Deol fits seamlessly into the role of the rugged hero, bringing back the charm of old-school, righteous aggression. The narrative is loaded with age-old tropes—revenge, powerful punches, and heavy dialogue—but somehow, it still feels engaging in parts.
Gopichand Malineni deserves credit for crafting an energetic first half that mixes action with emotion and intrigue. The screenplay, though not groundbreaking, maintains a tight grip, especially in the early segments. Thaman S’s music amps up the intensity, and the gritty cinematography adds to the film’s robust tone.
The action scenes, while occasionally exaggerated, hit hard and deliver on visual thrill. Dialogues by Saurabh Gupta and Sai Madhav Burra are packed with drama—at times even more gripping than the scenes themselves.
However, the film starts to drag post-intermission. The second half loses momentum, and the lengthy runtime of 153 minutes begins to weigh it down. A special dance number featuring Urvashi Rautela feels unnecessary and disrupts the pace further.
One of the film’s biggest drawbacks is its underutilization of female characters. Regina Cassandra as Bharathi and Saiyami Kher as the fierce cop Vijayalaskhmi are given promising starts, but both end up with underwhelming arcs. Kher’s role, in particular, begins with strength but fades into the background as the male-centric narrative takes over.
Final Words:
Jaat is a decent watch for fans of vintage Sunny Deol action films. It delivers on drama and intensity, but lacks freshness and depth. Despite aiming to spotlight social issues and the strength of women, the film ends up leaning too heavily on its tried-and-tested formula.
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