Brilliant Jalsa: My quick take on Amazon prime’s “Jalsa”
I've seen a "Hindi" thriller on OTT in a single sitting for the first time in a long time. From the start, I was captivated by this thriller. The only odd thing about this "Hit and run" thriller is the title "Jalsa," which means "Celebration," but the plot is quite contrary, gloomy, twisted, and it tries to call into questions of morality, ethics, class divide, and human values.
Suresh Triveni reunites with his Tumhari sulu cast for the second time, and while Vidya Balan is in the lead, her last film's hubby (Manav Kaul) has a forgettable role in Jalsa. Aside from the brilliant story/plot, the director should be praised for handpicking a fantastic cast. Vidya Balan plays a TV anchor who is the face of a no-nonsense TV channel, her housemaid is played by another acting powerhouse Shefali Chaya, and there is a slew of other brilliant actors in the film who add to the suspense.
Another thing that stands out about the film is its brilliant use of silence; there are many scenes where the dialogue is minimal, and the actors pull it off with facial gestures and emotive eyes. Vidya and Shefali delivered outstanding performances. The plot's unexpected twists and turns make the film extremely engaging. Shefali appeared to be too attractive for the role of housemaid at first, but as the film progresses, she will immerse you in the plot with her terrific acting, so much so that you will overlook her appearance and become convinced that she is a poor housemaid. Surya Kashibhatia, a young boy, plays Vidya Balan's son, who has Cerebral Palsy in the film. His acting is so good that you'll wonder if he's a Cerebral Palsy patient.
Let me not spill any beans about the plot, as it may reduce your “Jalsa” post-watching the movie. I would strongly recommend this Vidya Balan and Shefali special as the movie is jam-packed with terrific performers and their performances, it’s a Jalsa and collage of some brilliant storytelling, terrific writing, brilliant direction, and above all the powerhouse performances.
I only wished that the movie’s release would have coincided with International women's day as it is a brilliant showcase of how two female leads can shoulder the weight of the entire movie effectively.
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