'Jawan' review: Action entertainer has Shah Rukh Khan back to his best

AFTER enjoying massive success in south Indian cinema, ace director Atlee makes his foray into Bollywood with this commercial entertainer, which was also made available in Tamil and Telugu.

Although action is very much at the forefront of this big budget film, there are plenty of surprises and unexpected turns from start to finish.

That is why it’s better to know as little as possible about the plot before watching it. In that spirit, without giving too much away, Jawan is set across different time periods and revolves around two individuals who are connected. There is violence, an inevitable back story, amnesia, individuals trying to figure out what is going on, a powerful villain, political corruption and a vigilante-type quest for justice.

All the elements come together for a surprisingly strong storyline, with powerful social messages.

Director Atlee brings back the soul of commercial Bollywood entertainers, by injecting a strong South Asian cinema influence and a twist of Hollywood, with superb special effects. At the heart of the action is Shah Rukh Khan with a heroic turn as a father and son.

He brings real power to each role and shows just why he remains the undisputed king of Bollywood. His magnetic presence adds an extra layer to the well-made film.

The strong supporting cast could have struggled to match his authorbacked explosive double role, but all are first-class and bring great individuality to each character. After stunning careers in south Indian cinema, Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara are particularly brilliant in their respective roles.

The only weak element is the surprisingly poor music. That is a minor flaw in this year’s best commercial Bollywood movie.

It has eye-catching entertainment from start to finish, enlightening messages for the masses, surprises and Shah Rukh Khan very much back to his very best.