175. Jhund; movie review

 

JHUND

Cert 15

176 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language, drug misuse, domestic abuse

When I see the name Amitabh Bachchan on the cast list of a new movie, I know I am going to be in for some quality acting and most likely be enlightened too.

I have only been watching Indian movies for 12 years but the superstar of Bollywood has always impressed me with his film choices.

For starters, he plays characters which are appropriate to his age. Secondly, there is usually an important social point to his pictures.

Both are true of Jhund, based on a true story of a retired schoolmaster who tries to improve the lives of slum youngsters through football.

Nagraj Manjule's film is all the more remarkable because many of its cast are non-professional and even have the unscripted chance to explain their circumstances.

That is one of the most moving sequences I have seen in a movie for quite a while.

Manjule sets the scene by showing the clear divide between the haves and the have-nots in the city of Nagpur.

While the children of wealthy families go to a gated school with its high-quality sporting facilities, those in the slums grapple for money in whichever way their wits allow.

However, Bachchan's character .Vijay, sees a spark when he watches them playing football in the rain with a plastic container.

Thus, begins an incredible journey with the kids being led by the only man who can see their potential.

The stand-out among them is Ankush Gedam who plays their 'don' and leads them on robberies other petty crime.

But Vijay offers him a direction to an alternative life and he is faced with serious questions over the path he takes.

Gedam is so good that he could be taken for a top Bollywood actor but, like his friends, he is from the slums of Nagpur and was merely among those who auditioned to play alongside the biggest star in Bollywood.

His performance is one of the many memorable elements of a film which gets to India's heart like few others.

Yes, it falls into schmaltz occasionally and is probably 30 minutes too long but I found myself cheering on the slum team nonetheless.

Reasons to watch: Amitabh Bachchan movies always offer something new

Reasons to avoid: leans heavily on stereotypes

Laughs: A couple of chuckles

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? What Vijay Barse began in Nagpur has spread to other cities in India - kids from more than 100 cities and 24 states are now part of slum soccer.

The final word. Amitabh Bachchan: "Emotion was a rarity for them (the non-professional actors), they knew very little of how to be emotional. In a scene where they were asked to have tears in their eyes, one of them came up to me and said ‘How does one cry ?’ It was the most poignant moment for me." Wion

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