Click https://bit.ly/komal483 if the above video does not autoplay.
Netflix and AAZ Films’ Jogi is set in the aftermath of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984. Anti-Sikh riots broke out in Delhi post the killing of the erstwhile PM at the hands of a Sikh. This film is the story of a brave Sikh, Jogi (Diljit Dosanjh), who saves the lives of many Sikh families when the local MLA (Kumud Mishra), in a bid to win brownie points, issues orders to the police to kill every Sikh found in his jurisdiction. There’s a Hindu police officer, Rawinder (Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub), who helps Jogi to escape with a truckload of people from Delhi to Punjab. There’s another truckload of Sikhs waiting for Jogi to come and rescue them from Delhi.
Ali Abbas Zafar and Sukhmani Sadana have written a very sensitive and exciting tale of how a brave Sikh risks his own life to save the lives of his brethren. The story captures the audience’s attention because it is a sensitive human drama. Having said that, it must be added that stories about the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination have been seen in earlier films too. The duo’s screenplay moves at such a fast pace that it doesn’t give the viewers time to think. The drama has its share of tension-ridden moments to keep the audience hooked on completely. The love story of Jogi is a little sketchy and, therefore, does not have as much of an impact as it should’ve had. The ending disturbs the audience. Ali Abbas Zafar and Sukhmani Sadana’s dialogues are weighty and touch the heart.
Diljit Dosanjh plays Jogi so extraordinarily that it would seem, he was born to play the role. He lives the character in every single shot and gives his all to it. The anguish on his face and in his body language speaks volumes and adds tremendously to the sensitive portrayal of Jogi by Dosanjh. Amyra Dastur plays Jogi’s love interest, Kammo, with conviction. Although her role is brief, she makes a mark. She looks very pretty. Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub shines as Jogi’s Hindu police inspector-friend, Rawinder. It’s a delight to watch Zeeshan play the character torn between the command of his senior on the one hand and humanity and friendship on the other. Kumud Mishra plays the unscrupulous MLA, Tejpal, with elan. He makes his character detestable, as required. Hiten Tejwani lends decent support as Lali, the misdirected police inspector. Paresh Pahuja has his moments as Jogi’s Muslim friend, Kaleem. Neelu Kohli (as Jogi’s mother), Apinderdeep Singh (as Sukhi, Jogi’s brother), Mandeep Kaur (as Sukhi’s wife), Charu Kumar (as Heer, Jogi’s sister), K.P. Singh (as Heer’s husband, Tejinder), Nimrat Pratap Singh (as kid Jogi), Noyrika (as Kaleem’s wife, Shehnaaz), Mikhail Yawalkar, Sadanand Patil, Saurabh Chauhan and Shailesh Shankar Kulkarni provide able support.
Ali Abbas Zafar’s direction is wonderful. He has handled the drama with the right amount of sensitivity. He has also extracted very good work from out of his actors. Music (Julius Packiam and Sameer Uddin; additional music by Raj Ranjodh) is functional. Shellee and Raj Ranjodh’s lyrics go well with the film’s mood. Rajit Dev’s choreography is okay. Background music (by Julius Packiam) is impactful. Marcin Laskawiec’s cinematography is excellent. Paramjeet Singh Dhillon’s action and stunts are raw, which makes the drama more believable. Production designing (by Rajnish Hedao, Snigdha Basu and Sumit Basu) and art direction (by Santosh Kotkar and Ramesh Andhale) are very good. Steven H. Bernard’s editing is super-sharp.
On the whole, Jogi is an entertaining and sensitive drama which will be liked by viewers.
Released on 16-9-’22 on Netflix.