Director and co-writer Atlee makes his Hindi film debut with Jawan, a high-energy big-budget action thriller starring fan favorite Shah Rukh Khan. The film was a box office smash, emerging as the highest grossing Indian film of the year (topping King Khan’s other big 2023 hit “Pathaan”). Atlee’s ambitious first feature is a wildly entertaining blend of violence, romance, and music, all built around the endless charisma of one of Bollywood’s biggest stars.
“Jawan” proudly embraces many of the trademarks of Indian action cinema including outrageous plot twists, lavishly produced musical numbers, and of course the thrilling stylized set pieces. The story itself features as many wild narrative flourishes as eye-popping action. It shrewdly interweaves both past and present day storylines, evolving its characters along the way. Not everything clicks into place as it should and certain elements of the story feel rushed. Yet Atlee keeps us hooked for the entire 170 minutes.
SRK gets to stretch himself in all kinds of directions starting in the film’s opening scene. A man (Khan) is shown floating in the river high in the mountains near the Indian border. Bloodied, wounded and near death, the man is found by a young woman who takes him back to her village. As the villagers are nursing him back to health, soldiers from a brutal military regime attack the village and begin slaughtering the people. The man suddenly rises up and slays the invaders, saving the people like a mythical hero.
Jump ahead thirty years where a strikingly similar man has hijacked a metro train in Mumbai with the assistance of his six highly skilled female accomplices. He threatens to kill the passengers if a hefty ransom isn’t paid. Government agent Narmada Rai (an excellent Nayanthara) is called in to negotiate. Kalee Gaikwad (Vijay Sethupathi), a notorious arms dealer, learns that his daughter is aboard the train and agrees to pay the ransom.
“Jawan” has so many twists and turns that I hesitate to say much more about the story. Suffice it to say Shah Rukh Khan is given a “multifaceted” role that he tackles with his signature charm and panache. Nayanthara is fabulous in a supporting turn that lets her flex her emotional intensity and physicality. As for Sethupathi, it takes time, but he eventually evolves into a solid villain – devious, cold-hearted, and fueled by his own self interests.
The action is spectacular and ranges from entertainingly cartoonish to absolutely jaw-dropping. The sequences can amaze you with their insane creativity and sometimes jolt you with their bursts of brutality. Outstanding cinematography (G. K. Vishnu), editing (Ruben), and stunt choreography (Anal Arasu) help Atlee put his wild and stylish vision to screen.
Narratively the movie is fun and diverting, but it does ask a lot of its audience. It challenges our ability to suspend disbelief and needs us to go along with some pretty far-fetched ideas. But to be honest that’s a big part of the fun. “Jawan” is such a wild ride, playfully blending genres while also making serious statements on government corruption, greed, class discrimination, and healthcare scandals among other things. It has a little bit of something for everyone, and Atlee’s ability to corral it all together is pretty impressive.