Directed by: Kunal Deshmukh
Produced by: Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt
Story by: Shagufta Rafique
Starring: Emraan Hashmi, Esha Gupta, Randeep Hooda
Rating: ***
I thought Jannat was alright and didn’t really understand what was so great about it! Anyway Jannat is a mild film compared to Jannat 2. Jannat was about match fixing and the sequel is about the more serious and dangerous trade of the smuggling of arms and ammunition. Most of the movie is engaging and entertaining.
Image: Jannat 2 Movie Theatrical Release Poster | Courtesy: Vishesh Films.
Emraan plays Sonu Dilli KKC (Kutti Kamini Cheez), a smooth-talking arms dealer who takes life as it comes. He falls in love-at-first-sight with magnanimous doctor Janhvi (Esha Gupta) and decides to change his ways and live a normal, respectable life. However, ACP Pratap Raghuvanshi (Randeep Hooda) has different plans for him and makes an informer to infiltrate the arms business of Mangal Singh Tomar (Manish Chaudhary) and give him leads. So how will Sonu Dilli walk this fine line between life and death?
Jannat 2 was previously titled The Informer and that makes sense because Sonu Dilli is an informer. The title was changed to simply cash in on the success of Jannat and the stories are similar. Fans already know the USP of Jannat series. Jannat 2 is set in Delhi and the abundance of foul language and the thick North Indian accents and dialects lend authenticity to the film. If you cannot stand the dangerous activities and crude language of the by lanes of Delhi, this film is not for you. The dialogue is in-your-face. Sonu Dilli has the best lines, of course, typically taali-aur-seeti-bajao type. This movie is sure to be a rage at single screens. It is a mass entertainer. Kunal Deshmukh’s direction and the editing makes the movie entertaining and engaging in the first half and even the chase sequences are interesting and well-executed. The movie loses some pace in the second half because of the romance and some songs. What is amazing is that you actually care for the characters of Sonu Dilli and ACP Pratap and you want them to succeed. The movie brings you on the edge of your seat in that sense. Credit for this obviously goes to director Kunal Deshmukh and fine performances by Emraan and Randeep. There are clichés such as love-at-first-sight, moles in the system, and the cop getting drunk and having a personal vendetta against the arms trade. The depiction of the arms trade is done with maturity.
Usually we have seen Emraan Hashmi play angry and frustrated characters (especially in Bhatt films) but this guy is happy-go-lucky. He usually has a bad haircut but this is the best he has looked since Tum Mile and Gangster. His character is boyish and Emraan has made him endearing so you actually root for him. He plays the part with aplomb and no apologies. He makes Sonu Dilli his own. This is definitely one of his best performances. The music is definitely a plus-point, as is the background score and the slick cinematography. Randeep Hooda is superbly cast as the hot-headed cop. With his physique, he looks the part and his performance is flawless. This is a hat-trick of memorable performances after Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster. He and Emraan have an amazing rapport that makes you root for them. Esha Gupta looks gorgeous and sensuous (especially in the Sarees paired with revealing blouses), even a little like Angelina Jolie and Lara Dutta but she cannot act. She is in a hurry to deliver her lines. Emraan and Esha make an unlikely couple. Maneesh Chaudhary has become an expert at playing wicked and twisted characters and he manages to evoke fear with this portrayal too. The supporting cast does a fine job, especially Brijendra Kala as the cop’s assistant.
I did not like the ending of the film. I found it unfair and twisted and fraught with unnecessary lies. It defeated the purpose of the love story. Jannat 2 has flaws and clichés but it has positive attributes. Kunal Deshmukh’s film is worth watching for its performances, slick action sequences, drama, and entertainment value. I am going with three out of five stars.
