Jail

A reality in true Madhur Bhandarkar style.. .

Jail is as gritty as it gets. It is not meant for the faint hearted. Jail transports you to a hitherto unknown world that most of us haven't seen and if this is its USP, it's also something that might go against it. Irrespective of how strong its merits are, a section of moviegoers (read families/kids), who generally tilt towards feel-good/sunshine/entertainment-filled cinema, might skip this film due to its dry (and at times depressing) theme.

It's hard-hitting, it's compelling, it's thought-provoking. The efficient storyteller has the courage to speak a new language in every film and for that very reason, Jail should be on your agenda.

People who know Madhur Bhandarkar are also aware of his through provoking ideas and his ability to display the bitter reality of life on celluloid. He is superb with his direction and takes the cinema to highest level. With his well researched and authentic treatment, Madhur makes us feel the pain and anguish of what a person must be undergoing when he is put in jail. The dialogues are razor sharp befitting a Madhur Bhandarkar film and the large number of character actors carefully chosen justifying their parts with their natural act.

Jail is a movie from one of the best storytellers of India and a must watch for this weekend, if you love realistic tales.

Jail involves you from the very start. The inmates, their crimes, their individual stories... you get drawn into a world that's very real. So real that you feel it's happening right in front of your eyes.

Although, it takes a little extra time for the story to build up, after the interval point it packs in a solid punch. Camerawork by Kalpesh Bhandarkar and background music deserve special mention. Sayali Bhagat’s item song will please the front benchers. The dialogues from Raghuvir Shekhawat go hand-in-hand with the script given by Madhur, Manoj Tyagi and Anuradha Tiwari. Despite the fact that this is a movie, where songs have no work, the three songs have been incorporate perfectly. Cinematography is excellent, with Nitin Chandrakant Desai deserving special appreciation for the prison set.

Madhur has the knack of deriving award winning performances from his principal cast and in here Neil Nitin Mukesh delivers an award worthy performance as Parag Dixit, but the performance would easily rank amongst the finest this year. The manner in which he has successfully conveyed his anger, frustration and sheer helplessness against the situation that he has been subjected to deserves a bow. He conveys the pathos and helplessness that this character demands with amazing understanding. He deserves all praise for his extra-ordinary portrayal.

Mugdha Godse in a non-glam part is good. Manoj Bajpai in his intense act is simply superb. His meaningful gaze conveys a lot. Playing jail inmates - Rahul Singh as Gani bhai is excellent, especially in the sequence when he confronts his wife. Arya Babbar as the underworld recruiter are excellent in their parts. Atul Kulkarni impresses in the two scenes he gets during the climax. Chetan Pandit is first-rate. The actor who plays the part of Joe D'Souza is effective.

Each and every second of the movie makes the audience aware of what exactly happens in a legal process. But there is a point when people feel that the movie becomes slightly repetitive. But after that, Madhur shows you what all things the inmates of prisons need to undergo. The climax is touching and moves you.

Jail is a movie which is a food for your thoughts. This movie, indeed, takes the audience through a real prison as well as let him experience what exactly is the mindset of a prisoner.

Watch Jail for an experience of a trip to a world which you will wish you never to visit even in your worst nightmares.

Jail

• The research Director Madhur Bhandarkar was doing for the movie jail was interrupted by The 26/11 Mumbai attacks as the jail is based on Indian Jails and he wanted Neil Nitin Mukesh to visit Tihar Jail, Delhi. But Neil was refused due to security reasons and increased security in Tihar Jail after the attack.