Jai Ho: My perspective on why it failed

I finally saw Jai Ho last night. Salman Khan fans are doing him a great disservice by blindly raving about and promoting the film. Now I may not be a fan girl, but when it comes to cinema I thoroughly enjoy Salman flicks. Films like Wanted, Ready, Dabangg were all great entertainers. I even enjoyed Ek Tha Tiger to a large extent. I saw each one of them in the theaters and didn't regret a single penny. The selling point of each of these movies is Salman Khan as the larger than life, over the top lead character. He's the best in this masala genre. To me Salman Khan can be this type of character and still come off as likeable and endearing. None of the other characters can play such characters as well as Salman.

So what went wrong with Jai Ho? To me the much applauded idea of patriotism and power of the common man is what makes the film lose its plot. Had this been a movie about just some guy who beats up goons and takes on the powerful & corrupt without the preaching, the film would work as a masala action flick. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against patriotism or the message of creating a helping chain. The problem is that in the setting of this film, it simply doesn't work.

The common man isn't an ex-army officer who is a one man army. The common man cannot beat up a handful of goons, forget a dozen of goons. No matter how well intentioned and honest the common man is, the common man does not have the courage or conviction to take on powerful ad corrupt systems on their own. There is a complete disconnect between the larger than life action hero and his message to the common man. Die hard Salman fans may lap it up. But for the average viewer, the message just doesn't resonate. They cannot connect or identify with the hero or his message. If you are familiar with the original "Pay it Forward" then the disconnect is even bigger.

The hero of Pay it Forward isn't a larger than life hero. There is nothing special about him. He's just a little kid who comes up with a big idea for a school project. It isn't about taking on goons or fighting injustice, but just awakening compassion and humanity within people. It tugs at the heartstrings and resonates with anyone and everyone, because if a school kid can try to do so much to change the world, we grownups can easily do a lot more. Some of the tasks to pay it forward are as simple as forgiveness and as elaborate as buying someone a car. It reaches out to people of varied backgrounds and abilities.

In my personal opinion to do the "Pay it Forward" concept more justice, you have to simplify the story. Remove the larger than life elements and make it more down to earth. Create a hero the common man can identify with, not someone who is unlike the common man. You can still adapt the concept to add the message of patriotism and anti-corruption, but do it at a level that resonates with the common man. By making it into a larger than life action flick, Jai Ho does grave injustice to a simple humane concept.

The failure of Jai Ho is due to the films attempt to fuse two incompatible themes together in one movie. The result is a conflicting mess. Not to add the narrative was choppy and some subplots had no relevance. I don't get why fans cannot be critical of their star. Had Salman focused on just being a do gooder action hero, we may have had something in the footsteps of Wanted or Dabangg. Had Salman focused on recreating a tug your heartstrings, move you to action "Pay it Forward" story, he may have delivered a critically acclaimed performance akin to Tere naam or Kyon Ki. If you like a star and want them to succeed, shouldn't you call them out on what they did wrong - so they can fix it and do better in the future?

Heisenberg's abridged version of the above: The movie was just pure shit.

Yes agree, the whole message in the film I didn't really connect with . If the film had no OTT action, it could have been so much better than this.

In short the point whuch sums it up is he wanted todo a movie which had a good msg, but the excution wasnt on target, because they meshed massy with a classy/noble thought!!

Originally posted by: wat_up

In short the point whuch sums it up is he wanted todo a movie which had a good msg, but the excution wasnt on target, because they meshed massy with a classy/noble thought!! Hence missing key target audiences!!

His other movies did not preach anything other then that they are entertainers and typical Salman movie, which works with mot only masses but with others too!!

🤣

So the masses can't appreciate noble thoughts. 😆

jail ho flopped coz it was a crap film when films fail or dont reach high bo office figures ppl then will say as an excuse that look what sweet msg it had i think salmans brand of cinema is slowly finishing

Originally posted by: Heisenberg.

🤣

So the masses can't appreciate noble thoughts. 😆

His other movies had action but here it was too much even to my taste esp him taking on too many gundays was unrealistic!!

The failure of Jai Ho is due to the films attempt to fuse two incompatible themes together in one movie. The result is a conflicting mess. Not to add the narrative was choppy and some subplots had no relevance. I don't get why fans cannot be critical of their star.

I think salman was scared that the movie might be another phir milenge ( the last time he did in a proper role but which was a disaster at BO) if it wasnt larger than life .

You are probably only IF member whose long essays I don't mind to read from top to bottom. Well written.