Review: 'Joaaiah ' lives up to its expectations

Film: Joaaiah (Kannada)
Director: Prem
Cast: Shivarajkumar, Sumit Kaur
Rating: ***

So, Jogi was a money spinner. That’s also one of the reasons why director Prem left no stone unturned to ensure that his audience gets what it expects and more from its sequel.

So much so that people were talking about this much-awaited film even before the entire casting was in place. What’s more, this one also marks Kannada star Shivarajkumar’s 100th film in the industry.

Which is why, this review has to invariably set out to answer the one question that everybody who has not yet watched the film is asking — was the hype worth it?

Unlike most sequels that end up as a damp squib, it is refreshing to say that this one stands its ground. Unfortunately, the ground here can be rather confusing for the layman.

Shivarajkumar continues to essay his role of Jogi, except for the fact that he has decided to leave his past miscreant life behind.

For over three years, he was doing nothing but maintaining a cow shed in the home of a respectable family.

Yet, the city is full of people cursing Jogi for having ruined their lives or having been responsible for killing their loved ones.

For a man who lived unaware of how influential his name has become, his arrest comes as a surprise for poor Jogi alias Madesha.

The hero’s introduction scene — where he is seen in the garb of an aghora sadhu — seems quite misleading.

Our guess is that the director’s aim to present the lead character in such an avatar was restricted to showcasing the similarity in belief in Jogi and Lord Shiva himself. Well, too much hype over that one.

The good part is Shivarajkumar’s dedication towards his workouts seem to have paid off.

While Jogi’s arrest takes us all the way to the interval, what follows could be called the return of ‘violence’ into the Kannada movie screen.

Jogi, now renamed Jogaiah, sets out to clean up the system on the behest of a stenographer at court, who has silently watched and planned out Jogi’s life chart for him from then on.

There is absolutely no dearth of emotional and sentimental scenes, even an overdose of them as the hero compels you to ‘feel’ for what is happening around, with his prolonged teary-eyed close shots.

While the emotional scene that is meant to be the moment when Vidya (Sumit Kaur) falls in love with Madesha, may not really make it to the list of best movie moments ever, it is the moment when Madesha falls back in love, much later, with the leading lady that actually is moving — thanks to technical help.

There aren’t many scenes that allow you to mull over the romance or chemistry in this story, because most of it happens only in the abruptly-placed, but extremely well-choreographed, well-designed and well-shot songs.

As for performances, Sumit began with a great role but got sidelined as the story progresses. A bit more presence would have ensured a double thumbs up from female audiences.

Pooja Gandhi, in her guest appearance, manages to hold fort but could have been given a more appropriate exit.

Good casting as far as the politicians are concerned — the similarity in looks and mannerisms bring in a humourous touch.

The rest of the cast, though they have delivered, happen to be just a means to an end. As for Shivarajkumar, he is outstanding. This film goes on to prove why the actor continues to be one among the most bankable actors in the Kannada film industry.

Which brings us back to the million dollar question — is the hype worth it? Watch the movie for its technical brilliance, the songs and if you like gruesome violence — there is some of that as well — censored appropriately.

The use of north Karnataka dialect may require a regular Kannada movie watcher to pay more attention if he wants to understand every word that is spoken — and there are way too many words, for this story borders dangerously on being rather preachy. And finally, no, the hype is not worth it.

So try to walk in minus expectations to be able to enjoy this out-and-out masala entertainer.