Jail - Movie Reviews - Post Here

Scene one: hero enters jail. Last scene: hero is set free. There is not much in Jail in between. Except for a few interesting scenes, some decent performances, and the Madhur Bhandarkar touch, the film requires a lot of effort to be watched.

The director, though, lends his typical style to the proceedings by presenting the film in a manner that has become synonymous with Bhandarkar films -- hard-hitting scenes, some very real characters, and the portrayal of a world that is not always spoken about in films otherwise.

But although his earlier films explored themes that weren't touched upon in cinema otherwise -- the Page 3 culture, the life of street urchins, and the fashion world, for example -- here he picks up a setting that has been explored in quite a few films before, Ek Hasina Thi being a more prominent name that springs to mind.

Parag Dixit's life is just about looking good, with a steady career and girlfriend (Godse) to boot, when he is implicated in a drug case. His flatmate Keshav Rathod is the one involved in the trafficking and is shot by police while travelling with Parag (Neil).

Found with a bag full of cocaine, which actually belongs to Keshav, Parag has no way of proving he is not guilty and lands up in jail. From there on, the film is about the characters he meets in jail, their day-to-day lives, and the way he copes with life in prison.

Jail then becomes a checklist of various crimes a person can be in jail for: match fixing, fraud, murder, and extortion. There is also a spoilt rich brat, in for running over a group of people under the influence of alcohol, Joe D'Souza a la Alistair Perreira, and a Mr Ghosh, who looks suspiciously like Binayak Sen, in for links with Naxals.

Even though Bhandarkar has managed to present the film well, it is in the writing that he falters. In fact, you can't help but wonder why he chose to make a film with such a single-track screenplay, when he could have opted for some more twists and turns, given the setting. Also, the film drags on and on about the life of inmates, which gets to you after a point and makes the film look like a documentary.

The only 'different' thing about Jail is the end where Parag, when set free, is shown to have not changed as a human being even after his two-year stay in prison, as in other films where a jail term usually leads to crime (Satya, for example). But it takes so long for the film to get there that you don't care much whether Parag is set free. All you want is to be set free yourself.

While Mugdha is just about okay, Neil Nitin Mukesh tries too hard in scenes that require him to 'perform'. Bhandarkar, however, gets it right with the casting, as Neil looks the well-bred, out-of-place prisoner he is meant to be.

Manoj Bajpai plays Nawab, the mentor to Parag, in a manner much subtler than you usually associate with the actor. The film, though, loses out on account of being so very subtle and without life. Watch Jail only if you are in the mood for a documentary on prisoners.

JAIL transports you to a hitherto unknown world that most of us haven't seen and if this is its USP, it's also something that might go against it. Irrespective of how strong its merits are, a section of moviegoers [read families/kids], who generally tilt towards feel-good/sunshine/entertainment-filled cinema, might skip this film due to its dry [and at times depressing] theme.

In a nutshell, JAIL mirrors a reality in true Madhur Bhandarkar style. It's hard-hitting, it's compelling, it's thought-provoking. The efficient storyteller has the courage to speak a new language in every film and for that very reason, JAIL should be on your agenda.

Parag Dixit [Neil Nitin Mukesh] is living a dream life -- a great job and a loving girlfriend [Mugdha Godse]. However, things take an ugly turn when, after a series of unfortunate events, he suddenly wakes up in jail. Parag is perplexed. The only salvation he finds is in Nawab [Manoj Bajpayee], a convict, who believes that Parag is innocent.

Soon, Parag is left with a choice, to either live a life with hordes of broken hearts and shattered souls amidst the prison walls or hope to see freedom some day.

JAIL involves you from the very start. The inmates, their crimes, their individual stories… you get drawn into a world that's very real. So real that you feel it's happening right in front of your eyes.

Madhur has a knack of narrating stories and he narrates the story of Parag Dixit with razor-edge sharpness. Besides, JAIL also enlightens you of the legal process, which also acts as an eye-opener.

At the same time, the legal procedures and also the behavioural pattern of the inmates tend to get repetitive after a point and that's when you start feeling restless. Nonetheless, the post-interval has some interesting twists-n-turns, like the convicts' escape from the police van; prior to that Neil and Manoj exchanging stares before Neil perches himself in the van; Neil getting thrown in a dark cell, spending the next few days in solitary confinement; a convict using the garbage van as the means to escape; another convict realising that his wife is now a cop's mistress. Also, the climax is touching and moves you.

Madhur hits the right note yet again. Madhur, Manoj Tyagi and Anuradha Tiwari's script involves you in most parts. Raghuvir Shekhawat's dialogues are true to life. There's no scope for music in a film like JAIL, but the three songs are smartly integrated in the storyline. Kalpesh Bhandarkar's cinematography is top notch. Special mention must be made of Nitin Chandrakant Desai's prison set, where the film is entirely shot.

Not only does Neil Nitin Mukesh deliver his finest performance to date, but the performance would easily rank amongst the finest this year. He conveys the pathos and helplessness that this character demands with amazing understanding. He deserves all praise for his extra-ordinary portrayal.

Manoj Bajpayee pitches in a memorable performance. In fact, the supremely talented actor is in form after a long, long time. He's subdued all through, which only goes to prove that he knows the craft so well. Mugdha Godse underplays her part beautifully. Also, she carries the non-glam look well.

Aarya Babbar is fantastic. This film should make people sit and notice this young actor. Chetan Pandit is first-rate. Rahul Singh is excellent, especially in the sequence when he confronts his wife. The actor who plays the part of Joe D'Souza is effective.

On the whole, JAIL is a well-made film from an expert storyteller. At the box-office, the film will appeal to those with an appetite for hard-hitting, realistic fares, but its clash with AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI will affect its business to an extent.