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Jijaji is more than a slapstick satire. If script and direction are above average, individual performances, too, are impressive, writes Randeep Wadehra
AGES ago, just when one thought that Doordarshan, the only television channel available to Indian viewers at that time, would never allow telecast of satires, Jaspal Bhatti’s Ulta Pulta lit up the small screen. Used as fillers on the national television, Bhatti’s cameos launched frontal assaults on administrative corruption, political shenanigans and various warps and woofs in our society. Then followed Flop Show and other serials like Dhaaba Junction, and feature-length productions such as Mahaul Theek Hai. What one noticed with approval was that Bhatti’s worldview was getting increasingly sophisticated. Of course, one was pained while watching him play the inane Sardar stereotype in Hindi movies, but in his own productions he had already broken out of the pigeonhole. If any proof is required it’s there in his latest Punjabi flick Jijaji — a one-hundred-minute short rib-tickler that also stimulates your grey cells. Jijaji is a clever portrayal of different aspects of our extant socio-cultural milieu, wherein even a dreaded dacoit defers to the wishes of a mere pickpocket just because the latter is his sister’s hubby. Thus, on the one hand it takes a sardonic view of relationships, especially sister’s husband or Jijaji, and on the other it highlights corruption facilitated by wheelers-dealers and power brokers. That the two aspects have been seamlessly merged into a fast-tempo narrative shows Bhatti’s class as a film-maker. In fact he uses the relationship like a rapier that pierces through middle-class hypocrisy and corruption. It is more of a situational comedy than slapstick satire. In fact situations in the movie unfold so smoothly that not a single dialogue or gesture jars. If script and direction are above average, individual performances too are impressive. He himself plays the role of a fixer-in-the-garb-of-social-worker. Not a single gesture of his could be identified as superfluous. He is Jijaji of IAS officer Sidhu played by (Gurpreet Ghuggi). The latter’s attempts at keeping his hands clean and maintaining office decorum are thwarted because tradition requires that he bows to the wishes of his Jijaji. While playing the bickering couple, Jaspal and Savita are so natural that one would think that they react to each other in the like manner even in their real lives. Rana Ranbir as domestic raises quite a few guffaws. Ghuggi has eschewed his flair for overacting and given a pleasingly convincing performance as a bureaucrat torn between practice and precept of his office; though not corrupt he is not immune to sycophancy. Jaswinder Bhalla and Vinod Sharma amuse with their antics as pop musicians. Deepak Raja and Sandip Pannu in the romantic lead are convincing – the two have it in them to make their presence felt at the national level. Prem Kakariya, B. N. Sharma, Lally Gill, Ravinder Happy et al have essayed their roles with aplomb. This satire effectively proves that you don’t have to resort to ribaldry to appear funny. Bhatti doesn’t even employ ethnic jokes. He rises above all social stratification to provide us with a clean and genuine entertainment. Here’s a tip to those who haven’t watched this laugh-riot. There is a superb twist in the tale’s tail. Don’t miss it! |
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