Jab Tak Hai Jaan Review

Rating: ***

The basic premise of 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan', though a little too far fetched, does manage to keep you keep you engaged till the first half at least. Yes, it does taken an entire one and a half hour to actually come to the point where the film's title is established and the conflict brought to the fore as well. However the journey taken till then follows a leisurely pace and while one wonders whether Shahrukh Khan and Katrina Kaif would indeed meet, the wait is a rather long one to see the route that the second half takes to reach the (expected) point.

Add Anushka Sharma to the drama and though she does have a scene each in the beginning and towards the interval point, it is more or less sure that she would have a peripheral part to play in this love story. So far, so okay, though Katrina's flip-flop ends up bewildering you at various intervals. Frankly, the core conflict is such that it doesn't quite carry the kind of potential to be convincing enough for a universal audience. Some may fall for it, others may wonder if this is stretching things a little too far.

In the middle of this all Anushka gets into a chirpy act and while her breaking into 'Hey Soldier' jig every now and then seems a little too much, even otherwise the entire series of events at the Army stationing are way too extended. This isn't all because once the film moves back to London, the pace only slows down further which makes the second half seem even longer than the first half.

(Spoilers ahead) There are certain sequences that do stay with you though and catch your attention. First interaction between Shahrukh and Katrina where he questions her if she is indeed happy, the one at the underground tube station, the sequence of events leading to the interval point (the highest point in the entire film), the one where Anushka and Shahrukh are hanging under a bridge (in fact each of the bomb disposal sequence is arresting) and then the pre-climax scene where Shahrukh and Katrina meet each other at the church again - these are indeed good.

However, what one waits to experience are some truly emotional sequences that either tug on your heart strings or end up making you all moist eyed. That doesn't happen and it is this lack of emotional upheaval that you expect from a Yashji film that leaves you a tad disappointed.

Yes, the performances from the lead actors are good. While Shahrukh is particularly impressive as an Army man, Katrina shows once again that she is much more than just a pretty face. Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh cameo is okay while Anupam Kher is hardly there. The man playing Shahrukh's friend is stereotypical as a Pakistani.

Technically, every frame of 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' is captured beautifully while outdoor locations are eye candy. The background score isn't much effective though and the music by AR Rahman only slows the film down (though the grungy dance sequence in the first half is simply brilliant).

You expect nothing but an extraordinary outing when so many talented names come together for the film 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan'. However somewhere in the corner of the heart you are also a little apprehensive if abundance of talent and present of best in the best from the business turns out to be a little too overwhelming from the film's making perspective. Eventually though, 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' turns out to be a one time affair that can be seen but without any expectations of a would-be classic unfolding on screen.

Rating: ***