Jhund, the debut Hindi film from Marathi filmmaker Nagraj Manjule, is a moderately compelling social drama that touches a chord thanks to Amitabh Bachchan’s towering screen presence and its honest execution. The film is set in Maharashtra and tells the story of what occurs when an elderly professor uses his passion for football to help young people from the slums enjoy a better life.
Contrary to popular belief, the film is more on the game’s symbolism than the game itself. The core plot is simple to relate to because it explores the difficulties that underdogs experience, which is a universal issue. It has a socio-political undertone, which makes some of the scenes even more incisive. Despite small flaws, the notion is realised because the prose is powerful. Manjule makes the most of Big B’s acting abilities, which benefits the film greatly.
Jhund begins with a few genuine moments that set the tone for the rest of the film. These scenes are powerful because they are as raw as they can be, and they finally set the setting for Bachchan’s arrival. The organic energy of this passage is what makes it work. Given the film’s nature, Manjule makes the wise decision not to play up Big B’s ‘Megastar’ persona.
While underdog stories are a mainstay of moviegoers’ diets, they can get a little formulaic at times. Take, for example, Sarpatta Parambarai. The combat sports depicted in the film were not particularly unique. They did, however, work because the setting was flawless. The same may be said for Jhund’s football matches. This isn’t a significant problem, though, because commercial movies is synonymous with formulaic.
Jhund’s greatest achievement, however, is that it uses basic situations to express powerful messages. The climax scenario, which takes place at an airport, is a good example.
When it comes to performances, AB Sr is Jhund’s heart and soul. The performer gives himself over to the writing, adding depth to the realistic conversations with his powerful baritone. In particular, his work in the courtroom scenario is as famous as it gets. It contains echoes of his Pink and Chehre monologues.
Commercial aspects like as item songs and romance have no place in Jhund. Luckily, the filmmakers do not force these elements into the storey. The title tune is upbeat and enjoyable to view on a huge screen. The other components of the project have been well-managed.