Jersey Review: Shahid Kapoor shines in this perfect blend of game & drama!
Movie Name: Jersey
Director: Gowtam Tinnanuri
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Mrunal Thakur, Pankaj Kapur
Rating: 4 stars
Story:
We’re introduced to a jobless Arjun Talwar (Shahid Kapoor), a middle-aged parent whose love for cricket is evident because even his son shares the same dream, prompting him to ask his father for a jersey. Vidya (Mrunal Thakur), Arjun’s wife wants Arjun to return to his previous work, but Arjun wants to return to the field of his long-lost aspirations, while he strives to fulfill such a minor demand of his son.
Vidya asks him to pick between two unthinkable possibilities once he decides to begin the second innings of his life. What would Arjun pick, and will Vidya still support him if he chooses cricket? A parent makes a decision based on the shards of an unfulfilled promise.
Review:
Arjun is painted so perfectly by Gowtam Tinnanuri’s outstanding character-building that he speaks loudest when he has nothing to say. When the world is headed toward a short-content-consumption era, it’s always a treat to witness a film that clocks in at 170 minutes and keeps the suspense alive for the majority of the time. A story that depicts a character’s journey from beginning to end and instills even a glimpse of hope in many people’s lives.
Apart from the sports sequences, which are presented highly game-like with some close-up shots, Anil Mehta gives his customary best in the scenes. In a few of cricketing images, the pause-and-pan camera technique works beautifully in the makers’ favor. Naveen Nooli’s editing throughout the film is brilliant.
Shahid Kapoor owns Jersey. He continues to show why he is one of India’s best actors by being simply terrific as Arjun Talwar. In the first half, he underplays himself, but in the flashbacks, he unleashes his natural swagger. When he makes it to the Punjab cricket team in the second half, keep an eye out for his emotional outburst at a railway station. Mrunal Thakur gives a heartfelt performance, but she deserved a more fleshed-out role.
Some of the film’s central confrontations between the husband and wife lack a common thread that binds them all together. Madhav Sharma, Pankaj Kapur’s coach, is dependable as usual. He has some humorous moments with his son, and it’s fun to watch them interact on film. Ronit Kamra’s performance as Arjun and Vidya’s son, Ketan, is adequate for the part. The rest of the cast is excellent.
Verdict:
Overall, Jersey is a well-intentioned sports drama with heart in the right place, much like the original. It is based on Shahid Kapoor’s outstanding performance as a cricketer, who rises to roar and mutiny.
