Rating : ⭐️⭐️
Genre: Drama
Year: 2022
Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Director: Divyaang Thakkar
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah, Shalini Pandey, Jia Vaidya
Kid rating: PG
Jayeshbhai Jordaar’s story is set in a small Gujarati village where Jayesh’s father Pruthvish (Boman Irani) and his wife Jashoda (Pathak Shah) seek to curb any notion of female equality. Patriarchy reigns supreme as Pruthvish makes women responsible for covering themselves up so that men will not be inflamed by desire. Hand-in-hand with this philosophy goes the preference for a male heir. When it is discovered that Pruthvish’s precious son Jayesh is about to father yet another daughter, Pruthvish and Jashoda are all set on an abortion.
Well, hero Jayeshbhai (Ranveer Singh) won’t let that happen, Averse to confrontation and an obedient son to boot, Jayesh can’t voice his disagreement, but runs away with wife and daughter to prevent Pruthvish from getting his wish. His goal is to take them to a Haryanvi village where his family will be safe. Will he able to ensure their well-being?
The film has a good message, but goes about delivering it in a ridiculous fashion. Jayeshbhai Jordar is about a woman’s issue but as the title suggests the film is all about the man. The star Jayeshbhai is painted as the savior while the women – the actual people affected – remain mute and docile and primed for saving.
The scene where Jayeshbhai preaches (yes, sweetly, but it is still preaching) to the women about handling their husbands with love, set my teeth on edge. His pregnant wife Mudra is nothing but a prop. While Ranveer brings Jayeshbhai’s character to life, Shalini Pandey and the little attention to her character makes her a part of the backdrop; had they replaced her with a block of wood I’d scarce have noticed.
The director and script-writer seem to have almost no comprehension of the effects of foeticide or the larger reality. They portray the bachelors of a Haryanvi village (where the women have been wiped out thanks to sex-selection) as sweet lambs who treasure and honor women. In reality a scarcity of women, in the absence of law and order, does not magically turn female-foetus-aborting men into respectful gentlemen, conscious of their misdeeds; it only leads to women being trafficked and bought and sold in these areas.
The film tries to bring in humor with Jayeshbhai’s lively antics and a coterie of Haryanvi bachelors traveling around in a bus, but the general stupidity of the film makes the humor hard to countenance. I felt like I’d been transported to the small screen watching one of Ekta Kapoor’s better television series – such is the tone and disconnect with reality.
On the positive side, the film is anchored by some strong performances. Boman Irani as the patriarchal Pruthvish and Ratna Pathak Shah as Jashoda deliver convincing performances. Ranveer was a delight to watch, as was Jia Vaidya who plays his plucky, smart-talking daughter.
Despite its heart being in the right place, Jayeshbhai Jordaar is a tiresome watch. You could do better than this dithering mess.
Kidwise: Talk of sex-selection and the role of women. The little ones might need explanations.
