Jai Gangaajal

"Jai Gangajal" is a sequel Prakash Jha's much acclaimed "Gangajal" released in 2003. Lately, the film saw a lot of criticism despite a hype created through its promos. The film is not a wash-out, it does have its merits; but by the end, it's not more than a regular Bollywood flick with an overdose of action and improbabilities. A village entirely ravaged by the fear of the goons and a ferocious lady superintendent, trying to regulate law and order against the corrupt officials form the crux of the movie, which has been seen umpteenth of times in movies. Priyanka Chopra performs the role well and presents it with a glamour. But the face that attracts more in the movie is Prakash Jha, who debuts in this movie as a corrupt official. However, influence of Nana Patekar is seen in his performance. Besides a contrived plot, the film also drags at times and could have been trimmed a bit. There is also an over dramatization of sequences added to the screen. Hence, good performances and a good direction merely save it and make it a watchable movie.

Rating: 2 stars out of 4

Jai Gangajal is totally a PRAKASH JHA movie, literally. He at 64 makes the most promising debut by an actor in recent times. The movie is no match to its predecessor but Priyanka Chopra's honest performance as Abha Mathur does make up for all the loopholes in the story. Much like Gangaajal the movie makes an attempt to focus on the socially relevant topics like land grabbing, farmer suicides, rape etc. Manav Kaul is the villain of the season but you do miss the presence of Prakash Jha regulars like Mukesh Tiwari, Ayub Khan, Yashpal Sharma who really add a touch of realism to such political dramas. Overall a good watch that could have been a great sequel to a cult movie like Gangajal.

Just to make it clear JAI GANGAJAL has nothing to do with 2003's GANGAJAL, apart from the fact that both the films had the same director, both the movies deal with cops and both have something to do with police department against vigilante justice, in the former it was vigilante cops, here it is a whole neighborhood which resorts to vigilante justice.

Abha Mathur (Priyanka Chopra) arrives as the New SP of Bankipur, Bihar a kind of recommended position by a minister with whom her family has good relations. Once she takes charges, she realizes that the law and order situation is in a toss in the hamlet. Bhola Nath Singh (Prakash Jha) the circle inspector is on the payroll of the local MLA (Manav Kaul) and gives them ample protection from the law. The MLA's brother Babloo Pandey(Ninad Kamat) has a terror hold on the people and right at the moment they are trying hard to acquire land for a certain power plant. Babloo Pandey faces opposition from Sunita (Vega Tamotia) a teenager who refuses to part with her land even after Babloo KIills her father. She is soon kidnapped, raped and killed by Babloo. This brutal incident causes a change in Bholanath and he decides to become a honest cop and arrest the culprits, but he is too late, as the people have formed a vigilante group and decide to make the first strike, the first step taken by the 14 year-old Nagesh (Ayush Khedkar), Sunitha's brother. Though the whole thing sounds like a climax sequence, it is a sequence which happens right in the 10 mins of post interval. Now Abha has to control the law and order in Bankipur where the people and the politicians/goons are with an internal war with one another and the police are forced to become mere spectators.

The premise is awesome, but is completely drained out because of a weak screenplay, which goes wandering in the oft repeated scenes of honest police offer, corrupt police officer, politicians etc., in the first half, and even when the twist happens, the movie again seems like we are watching the same lady cop versus corrupt politician saga.

Priyanka Chopra is excellent as Abha Mathur, she carries the film well, especially in the interrogation sequences and the final showdown.

It is Prakash Jha as Bholenath who actually carries the film on his shoulders, as a corrupt cop turned vigilante supporter, the role has many shades. Rahul Bhat is wasted, nothing much to discuss about him.

It is Ninad Kamat, who steals the show as Babloo Pandey, he makes the role so loathsome that you in fact cheer for the fate which awaits him.

Vega Tamotia is good as the unrelenting girl showing defiance even after being aware of the fate which awaits her. She performs ably and holds her own against Prakash Jha and Priyanka Chopra. The rest of the cast do what is expected of them, nothing to write home about .

Salim-Suleman's music is OK, not so great, just flows along with the movie.

If only the screenplay had been tighter, we would had a classic, but this where Prakash Jha falters,

Disappointing fare, but not a bad movie.

Watch it if you are a PC fan, otherwise stay put till you get to watch it on TV.

Same storyline on which Prakash Jha is always focused at. This movie echoes society and the corrupt governing policy for personal gain, same as his other previous movies. As a sequel it's a so-so representation, Priyanka Chopra as Abha Mathur is spot on. And yet again Prakash Jha on silver screen, this time as a full time character lacks certain expression and acting, could have been more better. But he was able to pull it off this time as inspector B N Singh. On the whole the storyline is nothing unexpected, it has it's own thrills, twist and turns. This time Priyanka did a appreciable job,but Prakash Jha failed to create a wonder.

Film looks like a remake of Gangajal instead of a sequel. Although it's not a sequel technically, it absorbs a good amount of theme from the last version. Story is well scripted once again but not very gripping and exciting. I'd rather prefer to see Gangajal again. But it gains a good pace towards the end of first half and bleakly manages to create its own identity.

It has been underplayed by all the actors and that is the best part of the movie. Prakash Jha was amazing from the start and maintained a perfect body language throughout. Priyanka Chopra was certainly above average and delivered a decent performance. Manav Kaul as the prime villain is also a good watch.

This movie remains a Prakash Jha show where he does everything from writing, acting and directing. This brings down the direction levels a little bit but still the goodness of the movie lies in the repeat of a wonderful direction.

There's a good support of an enthralling background score.

Overall, a Prakash Jha show, where he manages an above average performance in all acting, writing and direction.