A young woman will go to extraordinary lengths to save and protect her brother—this is the central premise of Vasan Bala's action thriller 'Jigra', starring Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina in lead roles. While the trailer hinted at an intriguing storyline, the big question is: how does the film hold up?
Initially, Jigra shows promise as a decent thriller, but its lacklustre plot ultimately drags it down. The predictability of the narrative works against it; even if it had been somewhat predictable, the film could have thrived with more depth in its plot development.
The movie begins on a solid note, with Alia portraying Satya, an 'angry young woman' reminiscent of a young Amitabh Bachchan, whose sole focus is her brother Ankur, played by Vedang Raina. Alia's reactions feel genuine and organic, making her the driving force of the film. Vedang, on the other hand, had the potential for a richer, more complex character, but that promise isn’t fully realized in the film. Another notable performance comes from Vivek Gomber, who plays a ruthless policeman willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goals. The first half has enough substance to keep your attention, leaving you curious about what will unfold in the second half.
However, once the second half begins, the film starts to spiral out of control, taking unexpected turns that contradict the established plot. You may find yourself questioning, 'Why is this happening?' The film lacks enough emotional depth to connect with the characters, leaving you feeling distant even during the climax. The last half hour drags on, giving the impression that the plot is being stretched unnecessarily. The events in the second half may leave you questioning, 'Wait, what?' There are several moments that feel utterly irrational, undermining the film's believability.
The movie features jail scenes and jailbreaks, but they fail to deliver any real thrill. What you might expect from a prison setting and its inhabitants is largely missing. The supporting cast, including Rahul Ravindran and Manoj Pahwa, delivers solid performances, particularly Pahwa, whose scenes with Alia are enjoyable and evoke a father-daughter dynamic. While Alia has plenty of material to work with, her character development feels more like an origin story for a villain or hero than a fully realized arc within the film.
The film's downfall lies in its trailer revealing too much, leaving the audience already anticipating what’s to come. It needed more to intrigue viewers, but unfortunately, it falls short. It needed additional layers to truly engage viewers. The story progresses in a straightforward manner, and ultimately, even Alia Bhatt's star power isn’t enough to redeem it.
