What Is the Story About?
Maya Menon (Vidya Balan) is a famous journalist known for honesty and truth. Ruksana is a cook in her house with a teenage daughter and kid. What happens when Maya accidentally hits Ruksana’s daughter and runs away from the scene is the movie’s basic plot.
The psychological and emotional character study of Maya and Ruksana forms the basic narrative.
Performances?
Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah play the main protagonist. They are as contrasting as they come, role-wise, but both leave a similar impact, performance-wise.
Vidya Balan is in the zone right from the first frame. She is a picture of confidence and clarity bordering on arrogance. However, things turned out wrong and put her in a complicated position post an accident. The initial reaction, the emotional turmoil, is wonderfully enacted by her. The second hour offers her more scope for drama as the character shows some mercurial behaviour. They all show her broad range as a performer and the depth of the character. Some moments takes us by surprise. Jalsa is another exciting outing for the actress who ceases to surprise.
Shefali Shah, in contrast, has a more predictable sort of role. It takes an expected but emotional route after the accident. The actress lives the part and conveys the pain with her eyes. There are hardly any dialogues, but we feel for her. But, the real twist lies once she gets ready for settlement money. The duality of the character, the uneasiness, helplessness, and finally a rage of anger and intense fury are some of the emotions the role goes through, and Shefali Shah nails all those leading to a calm but powerful end. It is a memorable part for her, and she makes it count.
Analysis
Suresh Triveni directs Jalsa. It is a character study drama with a hit and run backdrop. The graph of the two leading ladies and where it ends is the prime focus.
The movie literally takes off with a hit and run incident. And right from that moment, the curiosity related to ‘what happens next’ drives the narrative.
The initial half an hour or so moves on the expected lines as the characters chart a predictable course of action. The real drama kicks in when a few more players get involved and social hierarchy comes into place. The actions of the privileged (the person being from a media angle gives it an additional bite) versus the non-privileged, an air of entitlement on one side and helpless submissiveness on the other end, add to the intrigue.
The last half-an-hour stretch is fascinating in this regard. Both the character goes through behavioural changes that throw surprises intermittently. They keep us engaged, and the same question remains – what happens next.
However, some predictable choices are made as the narrative reaches the end. A slightly more elaborate (only a little) proceedings reaching the same end might have been better to convey the point. One gets a feeling of a sudden shift in the characters’ actions.
The way it (climax) is, it feels a little rushed and muddled, even though the theme of innate goodness overcoming the negativity (negative emotions), the fact that one can’t escape the guilt and conscience, no matter how privileged, is understood.
Overall, Jalsa is a psychological character drama with terrific performances by the two female leads. They are enough to make the movie a decent watch and overcome the issues.
Other Artists?
Jalsa has limited characters that are a mix of stereotypes and unique ones. Iqbal Khan and the family members of Ruksana belong to the former category, whereas Surya Kasibhatla and a couple more belong to the latter category. The good thing is that irrespective of the clichés, they have all done well and perfectly fit the parts.
Music and Other Departments?
The background score by Gaurav Chatterji is on the louder side, but it works. It helps keep the narrative beating and lively even when it is all silence and stares. Saurabh Goswami’s cinematography is par for the course for films in this style. He brings a realistic feel without overdoing it. Shivkumar V Panicker’s editing is alright. There are fewer dialogues in the narrative, and the focus is mostly on expressions.
Highlights?
Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah
Casting
Theme
Drawbacks?
Slow Pace
Needlessly Convoluted In Parts
Predictable Moments At The Start
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, For The Most Part
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Reservations
Jalsa Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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