Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Ileana, Parvati Melton, Kamalini Mukherjee, Sivaji, Mukesh Rishi, Prakashraj, Ali, Brahmanandam, Raviprakash, Bianca, Tanikella Bharani and Others
Director:Trivikram
Producer:Allu Aravind
Music:Devisri Prasad
Cinematography: K.V.Anand
Editing: Anthony
Lyrics: Sirivennela, Bhaskarabhatla, Raquib Alam, Ramajogaiah Sastry
Writer: Trivikram
Banner: Geetha Arts
Release Date: 2nd April, 2008
"Bengal Tiger Siddhu, Siddharth Roy" made such a deep impression on Pawan Kalyan fans that they just couldn't digest him doing 'Rakshasa Vada' (Annavaram) or any other such thing. At least they got over Tholi Prema's Balu. After a period of 8 years, PK has reason to celebrate, literally. If ‘Kushi’ had nothing to do with it's title, ‘Jalsa’ has even little. But Sanjay Sahu is a character that makes a distinct impression on you.
Plot:
Sanjay Sahu, and ex-Naxal is living his civilian life disrupted only by the appearance of three women, one after another. Bhagi falls deeply for him after he saves her from an eve-teaser, and he reciprocates after a while. Bhagi's father is against the match. And a land settlement Don of sorts, Damoder Reddy, wants to revenge himself upon Sanjay, who doesn't even know of his existence.
Story, Screenplay and Direction:
There are traces of ‘Kushi’, but who's complaining? "Chotu" in the first fight in the rain, Sanjay calling the mighty crook Damoder Reddy 'uncle', Sanjay and Bhagi's fights, some gestures and the memorable sword in ‘Kushi’ are all seen here. There is a similarity in the character names and their C/O address (Nizam's and Osmania). But there the similarities end. ‘Jalsa’ has something new and something different to offer. Something deeper than an ego hassle, although it could have been explored further.
Sanjay Sahu the naxal has serious issues. He doesn't agree with annihilation of the innocent people who are related to the crooks. But why he actually gets out and why he leads the lifestyle he does (after all that he has gone through, instead of simplistic living, he chooses to do ‘Jalsa’) is unclear. The screenplay for Prakashraj's character is good, but sometimes it is shoddy and the various threads fail to become coherent on time. So the first half has little to offer apart from some humor and a cute love track.
The movie picks up in the second half. Overall, there are some lackluster scenes, and the movie could have done with some more editing. Polish and prune some parts, and ‘Jalsa’ is totally watchable. Not only that, with a few really catchy songs, it is entertaining as well. For PK fans, it is no less than a treat.
The humor and some of the dialogues make up for the flaws in the film. The editing and re-recording for the songs could have been crisper. The whole Che Guevara look in the naxalite flashback (and the photograph that adorns Sanjay's room) is appealing.
Performances:
Pawan Kalyan carries the movie on his shoulders, and does a good job. If ever he hammed in any of the previous movies, here he is fast and furious. It looks like he believes in the movie and gives it his all. Ileana is convincing and makes a good pair with PK. Parvati Melton and Kamalini Mukherjee do well in their cameos. Mukesh Rishi shines in his negative role.
Song and Dance:
The songs are good, and the choreography in two of the songs is good enough. The picturization starts off with an interesting touch but loses the energy level somewhere.
Last Word:
’Jalsa’ entertains. It is not a great movie, but with a tighter screenplay it would have qualified as a good movie. For now, it is time-pass. For Pawan and fans, definitely time to rejoice. Whatever the fate of the movie, Sanjay Sahu will be among the characters that he has played, for ‘Bangaram’ and ‘Annavaram’ and others are highly forgettable and typecast. After ‘Balu’ and Siddhartha Roy (to an extent, ‘Gudumba Shankar’), Sanjay Sahu will stay. |  |
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