#SpoilerAlert: 'Jaane Jaan' is a terrific thriller where the characters stand out more than the plot

A murder takes place, and the murderer(s) ensure they have an alibi, who will give the police a convincing story; you feel you’ve entered familiar territory when you watch Jaane Jaan. After all, it is an adaptation of Keigo Higashino's Detective Galileo series' third novel, The Devotion of Suspect X, which has previously been adapted into countless versions in many countries, including the hit franchise, Drishyam, that has the likes of Ajay Devgn, Mohanlal, and Kamal Haasan as the protagonists. While one remembers exactly what had happened on October 2 in Drishyam, everyone in Jaane Jaan tries to unravel what happened on the 10th of the month the murder took place. 

Despite the few similarities, Jaane Jaan is a terrific thriller by Sujoy Ghosh. 

 

 

The town of Kalimpong is a character in itself

A story is even more impactful when the location becomes an integral part of the premise. And that’s exactly what happens in Jaane Jaan, which is set in the East Indian hill town of Kalimpong, where the action and the murder takes place. The frames are mostly grey, and overcast, and have an eerie feel to it, exactly reflecting what the characters are like and what they are going through. It’s the perfect canvas for this story to be told; so much so that you will think there couldn’t have been a better place for these events to take place.  

Furthermore, the close-knit nature of a small town, where everyone knows everyone, looks realistic and plays an important role in taking the story forward. Be it the local cafe or the school in the town, everyone’s familiar with the people they interact with daily, and anything out of the ordinary is treated with suspicion. 

Kareena Kapoor Khan and her interesting career choices

 

One grew up watching Kareena Kapoor Khan as the fashionista Poo in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..., the carefree girl in Khushi and Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, a prostitute in Chameli (something completely out of her comfort zone), only to win our hearts as Geet in Jab We Met, and in a lot of other commercial hits. Throughout her career, Khan has made a host of conventional and not-so-conventional choices. But if we consider Jaane Jaan, her OTT debut, and her most recent film Laal Singh Chaddha, it seems that we’re getting to see a new side to the actor—one who has complete faith in the character and puts it well above how the success of the film. These nuanced characters that she portrays, however imperfect they are, will surely receive a lot of love. 

A Vijay Varma that you’ve never seen before

Vijay Varma as the good guy? How did that happen? The actor plays the investigating police officer in Jaane Jaan. Considering his previous roles as the antagonist, you will often wonder if his character might have an ulterior motive and if there’s going to be a big reveal from his side. 

Jaideep Ahlawat will surprise you

 

The most complex character in this film is also the most captivating. There are so many layers to this Math teacher that you just don’t know who he truly is and which way he will turn. In one scene, you might think he’s a loner and in another, a stalker. At one point, he is a genius, who plans and analyses his every single move with logic, and at another, he is a sociopath. The character keeps you guessing and makes you wonder what his true intentions are. 

The climax doesn't make the cut

The audiences loved Drishyam, more so for the gripping climax. One where we see the protagonist walk out of the police station having dug the body right below it left us with our jaws on the floor. That said, Alhawat’s logic and methodology (he’s a mathematician after all) to plan the perfect alibi for Khan is way more believable. Like he says in the movie, ‘maths is logic’.