Jab Tak Hai Jaan Movie Review by Taran Adarsh

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After a wait of eight long years, the master storyteller, the most admired and revered director of our times, Yash Chopra, returns with his new motion picture. Regrettably, JAB TAK HAI JAAN happens to be the last film of one of the greatest raconteurs of our times…

Yash Chopra is synonymous with love and romance and also spellbinding drama and heartrending emotions. Is synonymous with harmonious music and exquisite poetry and also snow-capped mountains and mustard fields. Is synonymous with waterfalls and rains and also Switzerland and Punjab. And so much more… JAB TAK HAI JAAN encompasses everything that one has come to expect from a Yash Chopra movie. This time, it’s a brand new setting, but the journey remains the same as his previous love stories — just as the lead man and his lady love sprint towards each other from opposite directions, to cuddle each other lovingly, you’re told that the romantic pathway is crammed with thorns and spikes [a quick clarification: all this talk of JAB TAK HAI JAAN being a present-day avatar of Yash Chopra’s DAAG is absolutely unfounded].

For the hardcore romantics, this one’s a treat. But those who *don’t* swear by love stories, I am certain, will be able to connect with this film, since the twists and twirls in the screenplay are sure to allure those yearning for something captivatingly distinctive.

JAB TAK HAI JAAN is a poignant voyage of three characters. Thankfully, not once does the script or the writers [Aditya Chopra and Devika Bhagat] permit any penetration of superfluous or redundant characters or sub-plots that would’ve only led to puzzlement. Every episode transpires for a persuasive reason. Besides, the drama is absolutely intriguing, with an undercurrent of emotions running through the length and breadth of the film, thereby adding intensity to this passionate love story.

JAB TAK HAI JAAN is not your typical love story. It has the old-world charm written all over it, with twists and turns plenty. It would be a disservice if one were to reveal the journey of the three principal characters — Samar, Meera and Akira — since the plot changes from conventional to unconventional in its second hour.

JAB TAK HAI JAAN is attention-grabbing from inception till conclusion. The drama only soars higher and the complex love story gets more and more gripping as the conflict between the characters come to the fore. Mind you, JAB TAK HAI JAAN is not the usual ‘love triangle’, with two women fighting for the same guy. Nor can you compare it with any Yash Chopra film of yore either.

Yash Chopra’s brilliancy and vividness is apparent in a number of sequences. And it echoes throughout the film. The poignant moments keep you on the periphery, while the culmination to the narrative may meet with extreme reactions. However, I strongly feel, the conclusion is most befitting for a film that doesn’t take the beaten to death pathway. The only hiccup is that it gets too slow-paced at times. Also, the screenplay could’ve been tighter at places. A few sequences in the post-interval portions could’ve been spruced up for a stronger impact.

When Yash Chopra, A.R. Rahman and Gulzar join hands for a film project, the expectations are gargantuan. Its music has to meet the lofty expectations. Chopra Sr.’s music has had an eternal impact, but the songs here aren’t of that towering calibre that you would anticipate from a Yash Chopra movie. Yet, the melodies that merit a mention are ‘Challa’, ‘Saans’ and ‘Jiya Re’. While on music, the music piece and its choreography in the first hour deserve brownie points.

The DoP [Anil Mehta] and the production designer give the film a radiant look that befits a classic. The cinematography is surreal, grandiose and simply overwhelming. The vibrant frames add to the magnificence of this already spectacular looking film. The costume designers too come up with a wardrobe that’s brimming with stunning outfits.

Event films such as JAB TAK HAI JAAN are, generally, embellished with seasoned actors. That’s one of the fundamental reasons why these films appear so tempting. In addition, assembling such accomplished names [in lead roles as also supporting characters] is a rarity and there’s a strong possibility that one may not see them sharing screen space ever again.

One can’t imagine anyone else but Shah Rukh in the role of Samar. An individual with an emotional baggage. Although Shah Rukh has been an integral part of several romantic movies, he enacts it resplendently in JAB TAK HAI JAAN, brushing off any condemnation that he may have encountered for replicating himself in movies of parallel genre. The role gives the actor abundant opportunity to exhibit his talent and I must add, Shah Rukh transforms himself into the complex character with dexterity.

Katrina is the classic Yash Chopra heroine. An enigmatic beauty, who doubles up as a seductress [watch her in the ‘Saans’ track or the music piece]. She looks ethereal and enacts her part with elegance and restraint. As a matter of fact, she glides into her part with effortlessness and acts out some of the difficult moments with flourish. In view of the fact that a major portion of the story focuses on SRK and Katrina, one might assume that Anushka’s role is more of a supporting one, but that’s entirely fallacious. She’s an integral part of this story and it must be said that she walks away with some of the best scenes and lines in the movie. Her performance is full of grit.

Rishi and Neetu Kapoor are endearing in a cameo. Anupam Kher, also in a cameo, pitches in a neat performance as Katrina’s father. Sarika is first-rate in a pivotal part.

On the whole, JAB TAK HAI JAAN resonates an oft-repeated fact: Love stories will come and go. But no one will make them like Yash Chopra. Just don’t miss this heartwarming love story!

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9 Comments
  1. sputnik 11 years ago

    Rediff review by Sukanya Verma 2.5

    “Ultimately Jab Tak Hai Jaan is nothing more than lovely fluff that could have been shorter, snappier but is definitely worth watching once for the man whose name appears against the bright blue sky – Mr Yash Chopra.”

    https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-jab-tak-hai-jaans-breezy-romance-has-weak-story/20121113.htm

    ————————-

    Raja Sen review

    “And yet it’s not her film. Or even Yash Chopra’s, really. Jab Tak Hai Jaan is all Shah Rukh, all the time. His character seems larger than the film, and Khan himself is in fine form even when the script deserves far less. There are times he seems out of place, certainly, but these are made up for by times where he grounds the narrative with one glare, with one scowl, with one kiss. The dude abides.

    As a swan-song for the master director, Jab Tak Hai Jaan might only be a middling effort. But then, sometimes, all we need is a Khan-song.

    https://rajasen.com/2012/11/13/jab-tak-hai-jaan-review/

    • Author
      aryan 11 years ago

      Times Of India JBHJ Review By Gaurav Malani Verdict Very Good

      Structurally, the film reminds of Yash Chopra’s earlier venture Veer-Zaara where the lead couple is separated by circumstances and another woman is instrumental in bringing them together. Thankfully the inclination to induce a love triangle here isn’t taken too far either. When it comes to a love story, Yash Chopra weaves such magic that a mere hug causes more applause than a mass-appealing heroic entry. While the love story is essentially desi at heart, the filmmaker has shown advancement with times in making the chemistry between the lead couple sexier and scrumptious. Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif are simply sizzling!

      https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Jab-Tak-Hai-Jaan-Yash-Chopras-immortal-love-story/articleshow/17205991.cms?

  2. sneha 11 years ago

    from what i hav heard from some reviews its too long

  3. mate 11 years ago

    NDTV Review (3.5 stars out of 4)

    Tiding over the logical incongruity of an ageing superstar playing a twenty-something lover boy who matches steps with a vivacious actress half his age might take some doing. But once you manage to get that mental holdup out the way, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Yash Chopra’s last film, is a perfectly fitting finale to an eventful life and career.

    https://movies.ndtv.com/movie_Review.aspx?id=759

  4. mate 11 years ago

    oops, It posted two times. Sputnik ji. plz delete the first comment of NDTV review.

  5. mate 11 years ago

    ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ review: This one will be remembered… jab tak hai jaan!
    Rating: 4/5
    https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/movies/jab-tak-hai-jaan-review-this-one-will-be-remembered-jab-tak-hai-jaan_122689.htm

  6. mate 11 years ago

    Movie review: Jab Tak Hai Jaan
    Abhishek Gupta
    I’ll go ***/5 for the Yash Chopra’s classic love saga and for SRK’s passionate love figure. Go with your sweethearts to witness the last ride of the King of Romance-Yash Chopra.

    https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/movie-review-jab-tak-hai-jaan-5541.html

  7. sputnik 11 years ago

    Indian Express Review by Shubhra Gupta

    “Finally, though, what keeps you with the film is Shah Rukh Khan who is first-rate. He pulls every familiar trick of his, and he comes up with a couple we haven’t seen before. This is the star in a lover boy avatar we haven’t seen him in for a long time, and this is what lets him shed his clown-self, and allows his ladies to swoon. Fittingly, Yash Chopra’s final film will be remembered for the guy who gave the director a boost when he needed it, back then with ‘Darr’. Watch this one for Shah Rukh, who can still do the dimpled boy wonder and the older, mature lover with a wry smile and wounded wink and sexy nudge. ”

    https://www.indianexpress.com/news/review-jab-tak-hai-jaan/1030843/0

  8. sputnik 11 years ago

    Quite an orgasmic review by Komal Nahta 😉

    “Although the film is long, with a running time of nearly three hours, it moves at a fair pace so that the initial complaint from a section of the audience about it being slow and boring in parts will vanish in the days to come.

    On the whole, Jab Tak Hai Jaan is poetry on celluloid. It is a movie marvel. It is a piece of cinematic history. It is a blockbuster… sorry, a super blockbuster. It will have a long and meritorious run in the multiplexes and cinemas.”

    https://komalsreviews.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/jab-tak-hai-jaan/

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