'JAAGO' EVOKES SOCIAL AWAKENING BUT LACKS CHARISMA
By P Shukl
Critic's I-view
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Raveena Tandon has maintained the equilibrium between the chairperson of the Children Film Society and as an actress in 'Jaago'. Her on-screen fight against the child abuse comes her way in 'Jaago'. After 'Shool' her socially relevant film has been 'Jaago' that evokes social awakening. Noted film director Mehul Kumar has portrayed the atrocities and sufferings of the child abuse. Hard-hitting concept like child abuse has taken some shape in 'Jaago' as Mehul Kumar deserves full marks for his honest attempt. His most memorable film 'Krantiveer' was also a socially relevant film, but it was powered with tight direction and positive entertainment contents. 'Jaago' comes as a fresh wave of experimentation where the director concentrates on child abuse barring the entertainment content. 'Jaago' depicts the brutalities of this social evil exposing the hapless political machinery that falls between the power and the interest of politicians and bureaucrats.
After 'Khakee', 'Jaago' glorifies the valor and determination of an honest police officer who confronts crime with iron hands. Manoj Bajpai as Police Officer Kripa Shanker outshines everybody, as this can be one of his finest performances of life. Mehul Kumar has tried to infuse articulate impressions of Nana Patekar in Manoj Bajpai's character. Raveena's role as the mother of the aggrieved evokes sympathy for her and wrath against the culprits as she takes one positive step ahead as the chairperson of the Children Film Society. In a marquee of experimental cinema this falls in the cadre of a song-less entertainer. 'Jaago' is made under the banner of M.K. Pictures, and Mehul Kumar produces it. The film being a songless movie has the background score of Sameer Sen.
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'Jaago' is the story that revolves around the child rape. The gruesome incident is shocking, as it becomes the talk of the town. Mumbai is in the backdrop of the film, in which Shrikant (Sanjay Kapoor) and Shraddha live happily with their daughter Shruti (Baby Hansika Motwani). Shruti goes daily from Borivali to Bandra by a local train to her school. One day while practicing late for a school function she gets locked up there and by the time she catches train for home it is midnight. Three drug addicts board the same train and enter her compartment. Besides them the compartment has three passengers - an old man, a middle-aged woman and an adolescent girl. Seeing Shruti alone and helpless they rape her in front of three passengers who become silent spectators out of fear. The old man dares call the police through a public booth and police discovers Shruti in an unconscious state.
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Shruti is hospitalized and her parents are informed about the gruesome incident. Shruti breathes her last in front of the medical staff and her parents. Her death evolves wrath and anger in public. Honest police officer Kripa Shanker (Manoj Bajpai) is assigned the job to arrest the culprits. With the help of the accuser's mother Shraddha tries to trap the culprits. As a seductress she entices them but in the bargain kills one of them. She is arrested and put behind the bars. Shreekant blames Kripa for his negligence. During the investigation the identities of culprits are revealed, as they are the spoilt brats of the bigwigs of the society. Kripa collects the relevant evidences against them. In frustration, Shreekant kills another culprit as he too gets arrested. It becomes a matter of pride and honor for Kripa as he settles scores with the corrupt. Judgment goes in favor of the honest as the culprit is punished severely.
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K.K.Singh's story looks real and relevant but lacks the charisma to entice the audience to theatres. Puru Raj Kumar as an exiled underworld don Ellias fails to impress. He needs some good author- backed role to establish himself in the industry. Sanjay Kapoor lands in no man's land as this film won't justify him as a promising actor. He has put genuine efforts as the child's father but lacks the screen presence. Raveena shows a decent performance as her career is fading. Ahkilendra Mishra, Manoj Joshi and Pratima Kazmi have been good in supporting roles. Mahendra Rayan's cinematography captures the painstaking moments of rape that are gruesome. Manoj Bajpai is simply the best as he proves his mettle with articulate perfection and flawless acting. Bajpai has repeated his glorious performance of 'Shool'. There too, he played a similar character. Mehul Kumar has given a raw deal to the subject as the audiences are traumatized from the first scene. The positive side is the message, but it lacks the panache and charisma of a good family entertainer. The film shuttles around railways and the police station. The courtroom scenes are over-emphasized as they depict the present state of judicial machinery. Mehul Kumar should be lauded for his honest attempt. However, 'Jaago' might not find many an audience in theatres.
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