JugJugg Jeeyo Movie Review: Normalizing Divorce, It Balances Feminism And Male Infidelity
Updated on: 27 June, 2022 03:53 PM IST | Shweta Shah
JugJugg Jeeyo, a latest entrant in the cinemas has been welcomed with mix reviews. While some say the movie was a tad too stretched, others felt it was refreshing seeing a light-hearted family drama in a while. Either ways, the Dharma movie is still running in theatres, collecting more and more money as you read this. If you haven`t watched it, this movie review may give out some spoilers. And if you have, let`s make you look at this family drama with another point of view.
JugJugg Jeeyo starts with showing Patiala-based Varun and Kiara (Naina Sharma) childhood sweethearts who grow up to get married. However, they end up in a cold-hearted marriage because Varun had to shift countries to support Naina`s career. While she made it big, he was still `figuring out` his professional path. This was the time when Varun`s sister Ginni (Prajakta Koli) is getting married and the couple had to fake it to portray they`re major #CoupleGoals.
When they return from Canada to Patiala, Kukoo Saini (Varun Dhawan) finds out his father Bhim (Anil Kapoor) wants to end his over three-decade long marriage with Geeta (Neetu Kapoor), his wife. While he`s trying to absorb the shock, he meets Bhim`s new girlfriend Meera. Played by Tisca Chopra, Bhim is attracted to her because she is younger and has that `romantic spark` which Geeta lacks.
While the fmaily finds out about all the infidelity and divorce drama, Bhim being a typical Indian male refuses to take the blame and instead, trades it for the sympathy card. Because hahahahha he hasn`t slept with Meera so technically, he hasn`t cheated on Geeta, hahaha! Ginni`s world comes crashing down because her two ideal couples were never ideal for each other.
When Meera runs away from all the responsibility that pativrata Geeta has fulfiled, Bhim again plays the selfish card to be accepted by his wife. As if women are born to serve, feed, and look after their men! Even amidst all these chaos, Anil Kapoor`s character is still shown the heheheh hohoho happy-go-lucky man because that`s how we all stereotype Punjabis, right?
Coming back to the story, there`s an epic scene in the movie that has been fixated in our minds. For everyone who have seen Jug Jugg Jeeyo - let`s run you through the Kukoo-Naina argument in their bedroom a night or two before Ginni`s D-day. While Kiara`s trying to eradicate the divorce taboo, Kukkoo finds it hard to believe his parents are getting separated. And that`s when Naina questions him why is it so easy for him to go through their divorce but not accept his parents`?
That`s also when Naina questions his insecurity and `male ego` about him having to move to countries to support her career. Ideally, isn`t any woman expected to do the same if her partner gets a better job in another country? Then why can`t a man do it too? The scene highlights the deep-rooted patriarchal problem subtly but with so much depth. While Naina was still willing to give their marriage another shot, Kukoo was lost in his own issues.
Later, when Bhim realises how much he`s taken Geeta for granted, it`s too late. They already go ahead and sign the divorce papers while Kukoo and Naina Sharma give their marriage a second chance. Being the cliche KJo family drama, it wasn`t surprising that the ending was beyond cheesy.
If we were to list three things that made JugJugg Jeeyo a perfect entertaining movie, it`d be - Maniesh Paul`s comic timing (he was epic in every scene and his screen presence was as captivating as him), Anil Kapoor`s charm, and Varun-Kiara`s refreshing pair (her stunning looks and ace acting proved that she has finally landed the role she deserved).
The film is a balance between a painful cry for feminism and selfishness of a man who is too reliant on a woman but too egoistic to agree. His infidelity is defined by sleeping with another woman, not with not wanting to put more efforts in his marriage. Well, a marriage without respect for your partners will definitely end up you signing on the never-ever-thought-in-your-wildest-dreams s.
For the people who have seen this latest Bollywood film, do you agree with our reviews? And for the unversed, will you book your tickets for it basis this review?
