Film Review: “Jhimma 2: An excellent comedy film despite some shortcomings…”

Rating: Two and a half stars

Banner: Chalchitra Mandali, Crazy Few Films, Color Yellow Productions, Jio Studio

Producer: Color Yellow Productions, Aanand L Rai, Kshiti Jog, Jio Studio

Author: Irawati Karnik

Director: Hemant Dhome

Cast: Sayali Sanjeev, Shivani Surve, Kshiti Jog, Rinku Rajguru, Siddharth Chandekar, Suchitra Bandekar, Nirmiti Sawant, Suhas Joshi, Anant Jog

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Duration: two hours sixteen minutes

Language: Marathi, with English subtitles

In 2021, during the Covid period, the Marathi film “Jhimma” directed by Hemant Dhome was released and it was a storm of success at the box office. There was a dearth of good films with good comedy and emotional touch in Marathi cinema and 'Jhimma' fulfilled both these needs. While other filmmakers were making story less nonsense films abroad. Hemant Dhome made a film in which all the characters are women. But an entertaining film was made. What I mean to say is that this film had done what Hindi films were still not able to do. In such a situation, it is natural for the second part of this film to come. But Hemant Dhome, director of the film 'Jhimma 2', does not like to call it a sequel. In his opinion, this is a new story. But the audience has definitely placed a lot of expectations on this film.

Story:

Continuing the story of the previous film's characters, the ever-shy tour operator Kabir (Siddharth Chandekar) has gathered together most of his chatty clients for a new trip to England's Lake District. Kabir does his work by giving a resignation like a masochist. This time this women's group has set out on a journey to celebrate the 75th birthday of Indu (Suhas Joshi). Indu has promised to give a big surprise to everyone. Meeta (Kshiti Jog) is slowly moving on from her husband's death. Nirmala (Nirmiti Sawant) not only has the support of her laconic minister husband Saheb (Anant Jog), but she has also brought along her smart daughter-in-law Tanya (Rinku Rajguru). Tanya is a bit too friendly to Nirmala who has always been awkward. Vaishali (Suchitra Bandekar) also has a niece, Manali (Shivani Surve). Tanya is an open book, while Manali is a stressed girl, who prefers to be alone with all her sorrows. She doesn't like to share her sorrow. This joyous journey is plagued by some personal problems of the travellers, which brings them closer together while exploring new bonds of friendship. These tourists, like their predecessors, are quarrelsome, rebellious, and complex women.

Review:

The specialty of the film 'Jhimma 2' is that even if someone has not seen its first part 'Jhimma', it does not matter. Along with the comic tone, it also has a flood of human sentiments and emotions. Admittedly, in ‘Jhimma 2’ it emerges that women on holidays never travel light. But despite some comic moments before the interval, the film seems to be at a standstill. After the interval, the relationship between Tanya and her mother-in-law Nirmala, the reason for Manali being stressed, and Indu's surprise, everything comes to the fore, which is also touching. But the film has become weak at the level of script and direction. All the episodes appear to be episodes of a TV serial. Not a whole movie. Still, writer Iravati Karnik can be appreciated for crafting humorous and emotional scenes in a better way. The characters are not extremely ridiculous or silly, they all do normal things, which creates humour. Such scenes are rarely seen in Indian cinema. Some repetition is also visible. Some of the fights in the film seem like mere imaginary revenge. Despite the presence of seven female characters in the film, the writer and director did not curse patriarchal thinking anywhere. Men were not considered inferior in any scenario. Otherwise, filmmakers do not shy away from demeaning men or society while talking about women. Through the character of Mita, the filmmaker has also highlighted how important it is to have a partner, the right person, or a friend in life. Without any aggression and without pretending to be progressive, the problems that come in women's lives how they solve them on their own, and how they stand strongly behind each other, are presented in a very restrained manner in this film. This has been done, which is the strong side of this film.

Acting:

77-year-old actress Suhas Joshi's performance in the role of Indu is brilliant. She has done amazing acting in those close-up shots, where her silent expressions say a lot. Sayali has rocked again, and her catfight with Suchitra Bandekar is absolutely explosive. Kshiti Jog's acting in the role of Mita is amazing. Siddharth Chandkar makes his place in the hearts of people in the role of Kabir. This time there is more teasing. Shivani Surve wins the hearts of the audience in the character of Manali. Rinku Rajguru's acting in the role of Tanya in this film has emerged much better after the film 'Sairat'. 

- Shantiswarup Tripathi