Jigra: Movie Review—Alia Bhatt’s Quest to Be Next Bachchan?

They say, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get”.

In the case of Jigra, I’d say it’s more like a mixed bag of punches and kicks—some sweet, some a bit nutty.

The film kicks off with a cheeky line that sets the tone: a character asks Satya, “Toh kya Bachchan bananna hai?” Ah, the classic quest for cinematic greatness!

Jigra movie cast: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Aditya Nanda, Manoj Pahwa, Vivek Gomber, Rahul Nambiar

Jigra movie director: Vasan Bala

What’s the Plot?

Alia Bhatt’s character, Satya, responds with, “Ab toh Bachchan hi bananna hai.”

And just like that, we’re on a mission to watch her channel her inner Amitabh Bachchan—complete with all the dramatic flair.

The premise? Satya’s journey is filled with dramatic punches, unexpected falls, and, of course, the quintessential comeback that Bollywood does so well.

But hold on! While the film starts strong, I couldn’t help but feel like they hurried through the backstory.

It’s like they had a delicious appetizer but forgot to linger over the main course.

The emotional beats hit hard initially, but then the film stretches out the punchlines a tad too long, leaving me to wonder if I’d been served a never-ending buffet of banter.

Sibling antics

The plot thickens (or should I say, gets more convoluted) with the classic brother-sister dynamic.

Satya’s younger brother, Ankur, played by Raina, finds himself locked away due to a false drug charge—classic Bollywood!

He’s imprisoned on an island that looks more like a tropical getaway than a jail.

Armed only with her sisterly instincts and a questionable plan, Satya gathers a motley crew, including the resourceful Mr. Bhatia and the islander Muthu.

Together, they dive headfirst into a rescue mission that feels a bit like trying to herd cats.

While I love a good rescue story, I found myself tapping my foot impatiently. The urgency that a prison break demands just wasn’t there.

Instead, we’re treated to a few scenes of “let’s show these convicts who’s boss,” courtesy of a delightfully campy prison chief played by Vivek Gomber.

He certainly brings some color to the otherwise bland backdrop.

Action and ridiculous

Now, let’s get to the action! Satya claims she’s karate-trained, and boy, does she put those skills to the test.

She faces not one, but two brutal bare-knuckle fights—talk about a tough cookie! Between driving trucks like a maniac and scaling walls like she’s auditioning for a superhero role, it’s a whirlwind of action.

But as the stakes get higher, I started thinking, “Is this too much Alia and not enough everyone else?”

Despite her efforts, the film often feels like a showcase for Satya’s fighting prowess rather than a balanced ensemble.

Bhatt typically has a way of blending vulnerability with badassery, but here, it’s like someone swapped her edges for a rubber stamp of toughness.

Finall words: Stretched too far

I found myself wondering how far the filmmakers could stretch the plot before it snapped.

To wrap it all up, Jigra is a film that tries hard to deliver thrills, but sometimes it feels more like a game of dodgeball—lots of action, but not always hitting the target.