Most of us would have a preset notion of what to expect from a Dharma Productions film before entering the cinema halls. The glittery, fancy costumes, glossy visuals, urban setting with a touch of light-hearted humour are an inevitable part of this universe. Jug Jug Jeeyo falls under the same category of a goofy family adventure laced with emotions of all levels to cater to every section of audience.
If you’ve watched the trailer you would easily get the idea of what the film’s all about (they always reveal too much on the trailer). Set against a Big fat Punjabi wedding, Jug Jug Jeeyo is built on conflicts and dysfunctional marriages where the protagonists of different generations have something to deal with. Raj Mehta after Good News uses his ability of humour to depict a story that would have otherwise been told in a depressing manner. Jug Jug Jeeyo is a vibrant, happening film that never loses its joyfulness even in the most dramatic episodes. The first half is primarily set around establishing the conflict accompanied by a great set of laughter. While the laughs take a back seat to let the drama take charge in the second hour, the film moves a tad overboard with its high charged melodrama. However Raj Mehta’s craft of an elite family saga is utilised to the best, thanks to the grandeur production design and actors who made it look easy.
With some established faces on screen Jug Jug Jeeyo cleverly uses the actors to their full potential. The film for most part is single handedly shouldered by veteran Anil Kapoor who uses his wit and charm to deliver a knockout performance. The evergreen actor impeccably balances emotions and conveys his part quite effortlessly. Neetu Kapoor scores in the second half while Varun Dhawan gets his chances to express his skills comfortably in many sequences. Kiara Advani looks ethereal who’s not reduced into a mere doll rather gives own space to leave her mark. Maniesh Paul is a revelation whom some of the best comic lines of the film belong to. Prajakta Koli in her big screen debut impresses. The frames are rich with pompous set pieces adding an extra layer of glamour to the proceedings.
However Jug Jug Jeeyo is badly affected by few tropes of Bollywood. The loud, quintessential Punjabi music gets in the way of storytelling and is mildly irritating. Several stretches in the film lack convictions and reduce the speed of narration leaving the film a tad longer than its intended runtime. Jug Jug Jeeyo never relies on novelty and keeps churning the used format spicing it with rib-tickling humour, thanks to the goofy situations it mostly works. The film brings back the sparkle Bollywood has been missing for a while. Jug Jug Jeeyo isn’t the perfect product you expect from a family drama but it has got moments to comfort you. Despite all the obvious imperfections this comedy of errors leaves you with a smile at the end.
Review By ©Rahul Babu
