Jannat movie review, You can truly bet on Jannat!

Finally a movie worth watching after the hit Race.

Finally a movie that has more substance and less style.

Finally a movie that is high on content and less on stupid filmi stuff.

Jannat deals with a niche subject and still manages to have all the ingredients: entertainment and emotions of a typical Mahesh Bhatt movie.

The Story: Arjun(Emraan Hashmi) is a compulsive gambler who is blessed with sixth sense to predict the outcome of every cricket match. He is also smitten by a gorgeous looking Zoya(Sonal Chauhan) whom he sees shopping at a mall. Arjun wants to give her the world(or Jannat, as he says) so he tries to make fast money off his art of predicting cricket matches. He soon find himself fixing matches. Arjun’s luck takes him to South Africa where he fixes up players to under-perform in the cricket matches. He turns a bookie and comes under police scanner. Arjun’s girlfriend Zoya has him arrested so that he could turn a new leaf. When Arjun comes from jail, he does agree to reform himself but then the old bug in him to make a fast buck makes him enter the match fixing spree again. But, this time something dangerous awaits him.

Technicalities:

Debutante director Kunal Deshmukh has got the subject spot on and has directed the movie well. The editing of the movie is crisp especially post interval. This looks one of the first movies from Mukesh Bhatt stable after a long time, which does not seem to be ripped from any foreign DVD. In fact, the events have been taken from real life and a speculated account of Bob Woolmer, Pakistani cricket coach’s murder. The costumes and art direction in the movie is amazing. Emraan’s and Sonal Chauhan’s costumes are trendy without looking filmy.

Best scenes in Jannat:

The movie appears to be researched well, especially the bookies part. The scene where just before the police comes to the den while Emraan is partying with other bookies is commendable. The way they hide their mobile phones in every inconceivable place(like daal and curry) is a good one.

The chemistry between Emraan Hashmi(including the romance and show-down) is in top-form

The last twenty minutes of the film is impactful.

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Minus points:

1. The music of Jannat is not quite in the same league as other Mahesh Bhatt films like Gangster, Kalyug, Zeher etc. The music could have been lot better. Except for the song “Zara si Dil mein,” none of others are actually hummable. Pritam disappoints in Jannat

2. The characterization of Emraan Hashmi’s friend(Vishesh Malhotra) is not well defined. Sometimes he wants Emraan to reform himself and sometimes he joins in the party.

3. The first few scenes are slower and needed slick editing to set the momentum.

4. People who expected a lot of sizzling scenes and steamy kisses are likely to be disappointed .

Performances:

Jannat is a full-on Emraan Hashmi film. He relishes the role and chews it with gusto. This can easily be his career best as he slips into a complex role with ease. Sonal Chauhan who looks like Katrina Kaif’s twin, has a good screen presence and shows that she has potential. The movie should be the best birthday gift to birthday girl Sonal Chauhan, whose birthday coincides with the release of the movie.

Mahesh Bhatt’s Vishesh films is known to churn out gorgeous women who can be serious performers and Sonal Chauhan is no exception. Javed Shaikh is convincing as the underworld don.

Verdict:

You can definitely bet your money on Jannat.