‘Jaago’ hard-hitting!

By Bollywood Hungama -

January 20, 2004 - 12:00 AM IST

Hollywood has often depicted the disturbing issue of child molestation. But Bollywood has rarely explored this unpleasant issue on the big screen.

The director of hard-hitting films such as KRANTIVEER and TIRANGAA is back yet again with a hard-hitting fare. His latest film, JAAGO, based on a true-life shocking incident the rape of a 9-year-old school girl in a local train of Mumbai is a hard-hitting statement that pricks your conscience and makes you think.

A songless film [more and more producers are attempting songless movies a trend that is gaining momentum!], JAAGO depicts the heinous act with utmost realism. Your heart skips a beat when three drug addicts [two of them belonging to affluent families] force themselves on this hapless young girl. Right in front of mute spectators!

Although child molestation continues to wreck havoc on young lives, the finale of the film will be met with a thunderous response. There couldn't have been a more appropriate end for the film!

Mehul Kumar was instrumental in giving a fillip to Raaj Kumar's career with MARTE DAM TAK and Nana Patekar's career with author-backed roles in KRANTIVEER and TIRANGAA. In JAAGO, the director recreates the magic with Manoj Bajpai, who delivers an astounding performance. His lengthy outburst in the courtroom before the judge pronounces the verdict deserves an ovation.

Yet another factor that stands out is K.K. Singh's dialogues. Singh, who had penned the razor-sharp dialogues in Raj Kapoor's RAM TERI GANGA MAILI, for Raaj Kumar in MARTE DAM TAK and Nana Patekar in KRANTIVEER and TIRANGAA, makes a scathing attack at the corrupt system in JAAGO. To state that the dialogues are the soul of the film would be an understatement.

This writer witnessed the uncensored version of the film last week. The detailed review will appear on its worldwide theatrical release, on February 6, 2004.