Amazon Prime Video India’s latest release is Suresh Triveni’s film Jalsa. The thriller stars Vidya Balan as Maya Menon and Shefali Shah as Ruksana. Triveni penned the story along with Prajwal Chandrashekhar and the dialogues are by Abbas Dalal and Hussain Dalal. The rest of the cast includes Manav Kaul, Rohini Hattangadi, Surya Kasibhatla, Vidhatri Bandi, Ghanshyam Lalsa, and Shrikant Mohan Yadav, Iqbal Khan, and several others. Gaurav Chatterjee has composed the music for the film. The cinematography is by Saurabh Goswami.
The synopsis reads, “A hit and run of an 18-year-old girl becomes the hub of a wheel that sets into motion many a spoke – a journalist, a raging mother, a cop and a system all caught in an ethical dilemma. Questions raised only to realize that the truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
Amazon Prime’s Jalsa Review Contains No Spoilers
Jalsa Review: Plot Summary
A young girl meets with an accident late at night on the silent streets of Mumbai in Amazon Prime’s Jalsa. Many people’s lives are affected by the accident and its inquiry. During the investigation, journalist Maya Menon’s ethics, who is known for telling the truth, are put to the test. The young girl’s mother, Shefali Shah, is battling for justice, which is difficult in such a convoluted system.
Everyone is caught in an ethical dilemma, as stated in summary. The more they try to find out the truth, the more terrifying the situation becomes. Even the most honourable individuals are forced to make decisions contradictory to their beliefs. We see every character’s struggles, decisions, fear, and desperation to avoid falling into trouble over those two hours. The truth gets muddled up in the process. Everything turns into a game of who can outsmart who.
Jalsa Review: Screenplay, Performances and More
Suresh Triveni’s Tumhari Sulu provided us with a heartwarming story in 2017. So you are intrigued to see what he has to give in a thriller like Jalsa. He spent a solid 20 minutes in the film establishing the plot by keeping us captivated by the screen. Maya Menon, played by Vidya Balan, is the focus of the first half, developing a lot of suspense. As a viewer, you are aware of the truth. However, seeing the characters seek answers you already know is a different experience. You’re curious about how they’ll find out and how they’ll react.
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The engaging and solid plot in the first half is what sets it apart. Every scene has a compelling point to convey. Several characters’ behaviour shifts as they strive to make the best of the circumstance. The music is what elevates the already excellent first half. Along with the director and performers, the music also tells the suspenseful drama we witness on screen. The music team and Triveni deserve praise for the exceptional sound mixing.
The tension begins to subside a bit, unexpectedly in the second half. Some characters you didn’t expect to have a key role in the plot speak up. Triveni makes us question our values and beliefs in the film’s second part. Everyone is attempting to defend oneself for reasons that we can understand. But what about the one who suffered the most? It’s a tricky mind game. The climax just heightens the intensity. The last 15 minutes, like the first half, are absolutely thrilling.
Maya Menon, played by Vidya Balan, is the star of Jalsa. It was a demanding role for the actor to play because she had to communicate feelings like care, concern, confidence, and subtle coldness. Maya can’t afford to display her actual emotions in some situations. Throughout the film, Balan is spectacular.
Ruksana, played by Shefali Shah, is the mother of a teen girl whose accident impacted many lives. She is distressed to see her child in such pain. Shah doesn’t say much, but her eyes say a lot. Her facial expressions are sufficient to convey her feelings. You know how she moves when she’s happy and how agitated she gets when she’s upset. Both the actors leave a great impression with their performances throughout. Rohini Hattangadi, Surya Kasibhatla, Vidhatri Bandi, Ghanshyam Lalsa, and Shrikant Mohan Yadav play their parts well.
Amazon Prime Video India’s Jalsa Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, Suresh Triveni’s Jalsa is an excellent thriller balanced with great tension and drama, a fantastic story, complex characters and stellar performances. You’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole time. The movie has one of the most gratifying climaxes I’ve seen recently.
The film is now streaming Amazon Prime Video India.
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