Jawaani Jaaneman Film Review – A Carefree Life Interrupted

Jawaani Jaaneman is a comic drama starring Saif Ali Khan and newcomer Alaya Furniturewala. Does this Nitin Kakkar movie live up to its catchy trailer? Let us find out in the Jawaani Jaaneman film review at Film Comments.

Saif Ali Khan plays Jaswinder “Jazz” Singh, a middle-aged playboy who leads a carefree life that sees him spending nights at a discotheque often with different women. When he comes to know that he might be the father of a girl that he has just met, he is thrown off-kilter. Eventually, as he jostles with reality, there are even more surprises in store for him.

Saif Ali Khan reprises a role that has shades of many a character he has previously portrayed. For the most part, he cakewalks through his role as a blithe man having to cope with an unexpected twist in his life. Daughter of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar actress Pooja Bedi, Alaya Furniturewala gives a solid performance as Tia, a young girl who is looking for her father. She appears calm and collected for her first screen rendezvous.

If after checking out the trailer you were drawn into believing that Jawaani Jaaneman would be a fun watch, you are not alone. And for much of the first half, the film lives up to that expectation. Even though the screenplay is sketchy at times, it manages to entertain.

The movie does not waste any time cashing in on the nostalgia factor as you see Saif Ali Khan dancing to a remix of Ole Ole. It will take some viewers on a nostalgic trip down memory lane as many moons ago Saif Ali Khan first swung to the melodious track in Yeh Dillagi.

If around intermission you were to think that Jawaani Jaaneman will romp home on the momentum built in the first hour or so, you are in for a disappointment. The second half is lackluster and goes awry in more than one way. You are left to negotiate forced and unconvincing plot points that reduce the story’s charm considerably.

It does not do any good that Tabu is introduced rather late in the film. She is given only a few quirky lines to make an impact. As always, Farida Jalal brings warmth, but much like Tabu, she too does not get enough screentime. Chunky Pandey is passable as Saif Ali Khan’s friend who runs a discotheque that the latter frequents. Although, Kumud Mishra and Kubbra Sait are the only ones among the supporting cast that leave their mark.

The movie squanders its sprightly start to leave you feeling let down by the time the end credits roll. Even then, Jawaani Jaaneman is thoroughly watchable, more so if you are a Saif Ali Khan fan, as he does not disappoint. He is aided in a big way by an inspired debut performance from Alaya Furniturewala. How I wish that the movie had ended with the same flair as it began.

Jawaani Jaaneman film review rates Jawaani Jaaneman (2.5 / 5)

If you liked the Jawaani Jaaneman film review at Film Comments, please share it with others.