Imtiaz Ali‘s latest offering, Jab Harry Met Sejal, is just like a lullaby. Nah, don’t get me wrong. It doesn’t put you to sleep. What I mean is that it’s sweet, soothing and leaves you with a happy sense of calm.
The story is simple. It’s a run-of-the-mill tale of an engaged girl and a casanova boy meeting and falling in love. But what makes it different? It’s execution.
Filmmaker Imtiaz brings out the endearing camaraderie between a pair that we’ve already seen twice on screen – Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma – but like never before.
What I loved most about this love story was the rapport shared by Harry and Sejal. It was extremely authentic, with their bond established over a period of time, and only after they had their fair share of ‘moments’. Unlike other recent Bollywood love stories, the two did not get super attached overnight, but grew into their relationship.
In fact, I’ve been missing watching these bittersweet moments between the hero and heroine… the build-up that awakens those intense emotions, and that longing for attachment between them. It’s good to finally come across a true blue romantic Bollywood saga after a long time.
Anushka nails the Gujarati accent as Sejal without making it caricature-ish like Dayaben from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. She is adorable and ups the energy of the movie to a pleasant high. Also, OH MY GOD – SRK has never looked sexier! Tour guide Harry exudes Punjabi swag and I can imagine why it’s never difficult for him to woo a woman in any country. It’s delightful to see him in this avatar. The superstar has delivered a very impressive performance here.
The duo embark on a quest to find Sejal’s missing engagement ring and in the process, they find something they both had been seeking. Well, I don’t want to divulge any more details in order to spare you from any spoilers.
Pritam‘s music is soulful. All the songs are well-placed without hampering the pace of the film. Hawayein and Ghar are my personal favourites. Mad props to the composer for trying something different and experimenting with the track, Yaadon Mein. The heartbreaking number features Harry and Sejal in a rather emotional mode and might just make you teary-eyed. So keep those tissues ready, just in case.
Aru Krishansh Verma plays Harry’s colleague and friend. But tbh, there’s nothing about his performance that makes him stand out. Evelyn Sharma preens in and out in a blink-and-miss appearance. Chandan Roy Sanyal on the other hand, delivers a noteworthy act as a negative but comical character.
Shot across the gorgeous locales of Amsterdam, Prague, Lisbon and a few other European destinations, this movie is filled with sequences that are a treat for the eyes. Of course, a lot of credit goes to cinematographer K.U. Mohanan, who has captured it all beautifully.
However, the editing by Aarti Bajaj seemed a little choppy and could have been tighter. The second half is quite slow and you might just feel a little impatient towards the end. There’s a wedding sequence with some dance and random brouhaha that seems rather forced and could have been easily skipped.
But just like all Imtiaz Ali stories, JHMS too has its trademark Sufiana charm and that never ceases to give us the *feels*.
On a side note: A Euro trip with our very own king of romance – isn’t that every DDLJ fan’s dream come true?
Overall, this one’s a light-hearted watch that will reaffirm your faith in love. It definitely deserves a single watch if not more.