True Blue Celluloid Splendour
Film: Jab Tak Hain Jaan – Review
Produced: Aditya Chopra
Directed: Yash Chopra
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, & Anushka Sharma
Stars: 
When I watched Jab Tak Hain Jaan, It was full 179 minutes as I sat through it, a spectacle of romantic triangle spread over a span of 10 years, in the geographic boundaries of United Kingdom & Kashmir and Leh Ladakh of today! Do I sleep through it? No! Nothing of the sort! Indeed I live through it. I get transported to those eye catching and picturesque locales of snow laden London, its countryside, Main streets, underground subways and than in the heartland of Hi Security Military Zone through the rustic mountainous ranges of Himalayas, terrains and long stretch of Isolatory roads winding and unwinding into the habitats of Jawans and Soldiers. Having cherished the film full heartedly and consuming the emotions wholesomely I realize that I am a critic and was suppose to see the film and review it.
So that’s the magical effect the film had! Infact it was like reliving a true blue cinematic splendour from one of the ace and veteran film maker late Shri Yash Raj Chopra. Having lived cinema through last 6 decades and delivering one after the other mind blowing celluloid extravaganzas, we have to give in to the genius of this Master to beat his own records at the penultimate juncture of his life, by fulsomely justifying the title of his last film on whose completion he called it a day that “Jab Tak Hain Jaan” – Jaan Daloonga Filmomein!!!. The end title that rolls in the end not only complement the Master but is a virtual tribute to the Legend himself, whom we see at the age of 80 years holding the megaphone and instructing and getting the best out of his actors and technicians, who involve themselves as vigorously as the Captain himself at the call of “Action”!
Getting back to the narrative of the film Aditya Chopra as the Producer and contributor towards the story has added wonderfully to the overall vision of Yashji. Yashji aged over a period of time, but the artiste in him was always young as ever. He had shown considerable maturity with every film he had made at every time frame in his life without letting down the subjects of his film and the period he was making the film in. Even in this film it’s not the story which unfolds, but it’s with the main central characters of his film with whom the story begins and whose nature, emotions and behavior, beliefs and action leading to relationships taking different twists and turns, that drives the narrative to its ultimate end. Let’s begin with the main protagonist Samar Anand (Shah Rukh Khan), who is a happy go lucky guy out there in United Kingdom doing all sorts of jobs and in the extra time available singing his way with Guitar and raking in extra money. How he graduates to becoming a waiter in a high end restaurant and full on transition to becoming a Major in Indian Army – Expert in diffusing Bombs. Don’t ask how he becomes one! Than there is Meera (Katrina Kaif) a rich Princess driving in Bentley’s and Rolls Royce, who is good hearted and good spirited soul, but becomes victim of her own beliefs and making. In comparison the third angle to the triangle is Akira (Anushka Sharma) who wants to make a documentary for the Discovery Channel and her subject is the life and times of Major Samar Anand, an expert bomb diffuser who gets introduced to us when he is on the verge of diffusing 98th bomb, and one who has fascinated her no end!
All these three Principal characters have distinctive personality traits and are governed by their nature. Yashji has taken the story further as per the behavior of these characters and tried to highlight certain blind faiths that rule one’s life on one hand that is in case of Meera and at the same time those that don’t seek such favors from the almighty, that is in case with Akira and hanging in between the two is Samar Anand from London to Ladakh. All in all proving one point for sure that almighty creates that balance which is very much required for any relationship to flourish and stay sustained.
Shah Rukh Khan and Challa song sung by Rabbi and London have never looked so beautiful and lyrical. Ishq Shava sung by Raghav Mathur and Shilpa Rao and Saans Mein Teri Saans Mile to by Shreya Ghosal and Mohit Chauhan, is just superb and Shah Rukh and Katrina’s chemistry is just terrific. Katrina looks every inch gorgeous and Anushka’s Jiya Re Jiya Re sung by Neeti Mohan is an out an out winner. Gulzar’s lyrics and A R Rehman’s music have added that extra synergy to the narrative. Cinematography by Anil Mehta is a visual delight! What with every frame just picture perfect! Editing is crisp to quite a good extent, what with nearly three hours of footage. Commendable!
Anupam Kher, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh Kapoor have done their bit in the bit roles they are assigned to deliver. What can you say about Shah Rukh but Evergreen as ever and charming personified. He has had a field day which any way he has in all of Yash Raj films and he has made most of it, never ever betraying the trust the director has put in him. Katrina is evolving for sure and is maturing with every characterization she has been given in recent times. Apart from her drop dead gorgeous look, her controlled emotions are in stark contrast to the most expressive of the lot coming from Anushka Sharma with her in the face kind of reactions which are very endearing. She has done what she is good at with renewed energy. Superlative performances by all the three Shah Rukh, Katrina, and Anushka and Master Stroke from the Master himself has made “Jab Tak Hain Jaan” worth Jaan Mein Jaan Hain!!! Just go Cherish it! Relish it! Savour it! And make most of it!!!
