जलसा

Jalsa is the story of a hit & run accident which throws a lot of people's lives haywire. It forces and tests their belief systems, morality while being a character study of sorts. What happens when people are pushed to their brink, when it's about their survival? Is morality thrown out of the window or do you fight it? The film is a nuanced portrayal of all the above.

It stars arguably the two biggest powerhouses of acting in Indian cinema, Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah. Vidya plays the role of a tough, ethical journalist while Shefali plays the role of her maid. The juxtaposition the films portrays through it's two female leads is laudable. Both are at polar ends of the societal class system, have their own set of problems and are bound by maternal roles & instincts. An unfortunate incident takes place which turns their world upside down and both are left to ride through the chaos that ensues their life. What follows is a taut thriller and a game of human emotions, psyche and morality.

The writing cleverly avoids any sort of melodrama to get its point across. While Vidya's character is more vocal and dialogue heavy (being a journalist), Shefali's gut wrenching silent portrayal of her sufferings is on another level. Suresh Triveni helms the director's hat along with Prajwal Chandrashekhar's taut writing. It translates to a slow burn screenplay giving ample time for the story to brew. The film does test your patience in some places but all the pieces and conflicts have been carefully orchestrated by the director and writers which pays off as the story gradually progresses. The support cast is also terrific especially child actor Surya who plays Vidya's disabled son. One of the biggest highlights of the show apart from the acting is the how to plot progresses and ends. Time and again and even through the trailer one might expect the film to turn into a regular run of the film cop crime thriller. But the film turns drastically away from this and there in lies it's monopoly.

With just a shade over 2 hours, Jalsa is a fascinating watch of complex human emotions, their inner conflicts and the instinctive fight for survival.

Suresh Triveni's "Jalsa" might get the marker of a modern-day thriller, but trust me, it's much more than that. The narrative digs deeper into the intricacies of motherhood, with some secondary innuendoes that contemplate class predilections and how society and its people shapes accordingly around them. By the delineation of two women's personal and professional space, we get to observe the disparities as well as the similarities in the way these two characters perceive their circumstances.

When an intriguing Screenplay matches up with a director's profound sense of understanding of a specific subject, the aftermath, the outcomes almost always turns out to be strikingly visceral and eccentric in their own respects, and Jalsa is no exception. Even with a few discrepancies (Pacing issues) and some notable flaws in the script, the narration was enough productive and held its ground to the very end, and that's partly due to two highlighting performances.

Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah, a powerhouse of talents, both have done extraordinary pieces of work here. While the latter one (Shefali Shah) recently found her footing (for the second time in her life) through successive projects for not one but many streaming sites. The former one (Vidya Balan), well, she's a much-renowned face amongst the film fraternity of contemporary times and rightfully so! Vidya is entitled to all the praises that will be coming along her way and so is Shefali for her spirited resurgence.

Jalsa is a slow burn, intense drama that unfolds as a psychological thriller.

It quietly observes the *human behaviour* when pushed over the edge.

This movie a brilliant thriller put together by great performances by everyone involved..., but manav kaul ko kyo liya tha...????😄

Can circumstances override truth and moral principles?

Heath Ledger's iconic line as the Joker comes to mind - "When the chips are down, these 'civilized people'.., They'll eat each other." Do they?

Jalsa gets its title from a trajectory you can't even guess without watching the movie - A good Movie.

Jalsa is a highly engaging and unsettling moral drama as it is a captivating a gripping thriller. The film is in many ways an effective commentary on the easy way out for those in power, against the helplessness of the common man if front of the gigantic system. It also shows the hypocrisy of the so-called responsible sectors of society, whose ideology cannot stand when put to the test of a contradicting reality or circumstance.

Technically, the film is a delight. It is excellently shot, with slick cinematography, sound and camera work. The dialogue is very good but what's great, is the actual minimal use of it when the visuals offer greater insight into the development of the story and the characters' state of mind. The film is carried by two central female characters who are on opposite sides of the barricades.

Vidya Balan is in top form in a very difficult role which demands exactly what actresses of her calibre can give. Conflicted, confused, ridden with fury, worry and guilt, and constantly at the height of emotional pressure, Balan captures with sheer realism the multi-layered complexity of this grayish character, which most people would find highly unlikable while perhaps at the same time feel for her condition.

But it is Shefali Shah who gives the film its dramatic poignancy and makes what could have been just a thriller into a touching, involving human story. A fascinating actress with tremendous range, measure and the most resonant of facial expressions, her use of her eyes and sometimes just her presence alone achieves so much more than many other actresses ever could with tons of dialogue.

Both Balan and Shah are so immersed in their parts it would be surprising if they weren't emotionally drained after playing their respective parts. They are supported by a host of fantastic character actors, all of whom perform brilliantly. The legendary Rohini Hattangadi is also here and she shines in the little she's given. Jalsa is an entertaining and effective story well depicted on screen.

The tiltle of the movie is quite vague untill climax.

Hit & run case drama which dwells in dark side human of nature is brilliantly perfomed on screen. Vidya, Shefali both are too good.

BGM, Cinematography & production is quite good. Screenplay is crisp.

Usual subject with unique handling & honest performances makes this movie worth a watch.