Review: ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ lacks true patriotic fervour

Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ is a typical patriotic film which has songs devoted to the motherland, dialogues that speak about nationalism and freedom struggle and other elements which are a must to recreate an era of the long past and the revolutionary spirit in men and women of those times. But somewhere it lacks the hardcore patriotic essence. Ashutosh takes his own time to unfold the story.

Spicezee Bureau

Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ is a typical patriotic film which has songs devoted to the motherland, dialogues that speak about nationalism and freedom struggle and other elements which are a must to recreate an era of the long past and the revolutionary spirit in men and women of those times. But somewhere it lacks the hardcore patriotic essence. ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ (KHJJS) is a moderately good blend of the all the essential factors of a movie with a nationalist base. The film gives the audiences a thrill to watch events that once happened in undivided India. Keeping his trademark approach intact, Ashutosh concentrates on unfolding the story by taking his own sweet time. Based on Manini Chaterjee’s novel, ‘Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34’, the film has an excellent storyline, probably the only reason that makes the film “a must watch”. It revolves round the life of the lesser known Surya Sen, who like many of his contemporaries, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh and several others brings about a revolution by urging the youth for a freedom struggle. What is indeed captivating is the role of a group of teenagers who show great zeal to free their motherland from the tyrant British rule. Lovingly addressed as Master Da, Surya Sen trains teenagers who help him execute his master plan of attacking five important British locations simultaneously. Sen, along with his associates, Nirmal (Sikander Kher), Kalpana (Deepika Padukone) and many others fight for independence from the British Raj. Despite having a great storyline, the film lacks the passion that one expects in a patriotic film. But what are indeed worth applause are the performances of the children. Abhishek Bachchan could have done a lot more to invoke the jingoistic fervour while Deepika hardly has anything to do. Kher and Vijay Maurya are excellent. Ashutosh, however manages to recreate the pre-independent India era well with the help of art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai. Certain scenes are dumbfounding and do make you go numb. But Sen and Kalpana’s romance proves to be an edgy patch, and drags the aimlessly. The children’s performances are the biggest pluses of the film. Abhishek, who plays the protagonist, could have delivered a much better performance, thus helping the film garner better response. Rating: Just three cheers for this one!