Movie Review: Jogi

Plot

Jogi revolves around Joginder, a young man from a working-class family, who finds himself fighting for survival as 'Delhi burns' following the Prime Minister's assassination. He attempts to protect his people from the imminent danger, making it a commendable effort with a hard-hitting storyline.

Acting

Diljit Dosanjh as Joginder is the heart and soul of Jogi. He lets his eyes do the talking, portraying vulnerability, and the desire to protect his people. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub is fabulous as Joginder's friend, while Hiten Tejwani is quite sincere and convincing. Kumud Mishra's portrayal as the mastermind behind the riots is commendable, while Paresh Pahuja's nuanced acting is impressive.

Cinematography

The cinematography and lighting do justice to Jogi's grim and heart-wrenching premise. Close-up shots are cleverly used to make it more impactful, particularly the sequences in which Jogi removes his turban and tears flow continuously from his eyes. The editing, sound design, and action choreography are also top-notch.

Direction

Director Ali Abbas Zafar's sensitive touch and clever writing ensure that every character in the film has an emotional curve, and the audience can identify with them. The film progresses through its central character Diljit Dosanjh in and as Jogi. The pacing is comparatively slow at certain points, but this is not a significant issue.

Music

There is not much scope for music in Jogi as this is a highly realistic drama. The makers refrain from adding songs to the narrative for the heck of it. The BGM by Julius Packiam and songs with moving lyrics by Sameer Uddin add gravitas to the plot.

Overall

Jogi is a bold and effective attempt from Ali Abbas Zafar that bears testimony to the Sultan director's range as a storyteller. It is a heart-moving tale of humanity and friendship set amidst the backdrop of the 1984 riots in India. The film conjures strong feelings of finding hope in the midst of devastation and tragedy and leaves you with a heart full of emotions. With intricate writing and high-impact performances, Jogi depicts all characters as human beings, flawed and broken, but humans nonetheless. It is a good watch, especially for those looking for realistic dramas based on sensitive issues.

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