Cleverly marketed as Kareena Kapoor’s OTT debut, Jaane Jaan is a largely honest adaption of the Japanese novel, The Devotion of Suspect X. Largely, because director Sujoy Ghosh takes certain creative liberties in the climax that deviate from the source material. Nevertheless, as the opening credits roll, the book drifts into the background and Kalimpong takes centre stage.
This small, misty town in West Bengal engulfs the story, being the passionate protagonist in every scene but rarely in your face. Perennially cloudy with scattered human occupancy, this is a hauntingly beautiful setting for those who want to start anew. Or those who want to get away with murder.
Kareena Kapoor plays Maya D’Souza, a single mother blissfully running a small cafe on this dreamy hilltop. Her next-door neighbour, predominantly called ‘Teacher’ and also known as Naren, is an introverted mathematics genius. Enacted superbly by Jaideep Ahlawat, Teacher is besotted with Maya but is socially awkward, stalling his unending intent to befriend her. One fine day, Maya’s estranged husband, a deliciously vile Saurabh Sachdeva, enters the fray, and chaos ensues.
Jaane Jaan is not a classic whodunit. The premise, culprits and the crime are evident from the start. The unfolding of events forms the crux of the screenplay. The plot thickens towards the end, although that appears disingenuous and unsatisfying, especially given the brazen exhibition of criminal intelligence earlier in the film. Jaideep comes to the rescue, his outstanding performance papering over the cracks.
He could’ve sleepwalked this role as an unhinged sociopath. Yet, he expertly imbues hope and frequently demonstrates genuine empathy, neutralizing his uncanny freakishness. His is the best-written part, and Jaideep portrays Teacher with aplomb.
Kareena is afforded plenty of screen time in a pivotal role, especially at the start. She is, unfortunately, quickly relegated to an onlooker tasked with merely responding to the occurrences around her. Vijay Varma, as police officer Karan Anand, breaks the suburban inertia with his urban exuberance every time he is on screen. His metropolitan energy constantly threatens to unsettle the zen of those around him accustomed to the languid pace of Kalimpong. In this game of nerves, he is the one with verve. Ha! Well, that sounded smarter in my head.
After directing two forgettable OTT shows, Sujoy bounces back with Jaane Jaan. He expertly weaves this arguably underwhelming story into an absorbing watch by casting some of the finest actors in the business. And not many directors can blend location into the narrative quite as well.
Initially daunting, the 2:15-hour runtime rapidly becomes a footnote due to the steady screenplay. Jaane Jaan is unlikely to make you jump out of your seat. It doesn’t need to. On a lazy evening, sit back, grab some grub and let Sujoy entertain you.
Rating: 3/5
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