One of the big action blockbusters of 2023 was released on Netflix in Germany. In it, Shah Rukh Khan continues his impressive comeback as the guard of a women’s prison
Last year belonged to RRR, 2023 is all about SRK, at least as far as Indian blockbusters that are making waves in Europe are concerned. 4 years after his last starring role, Shah Rukh Khan is back with a comeback campaign. First he stepped into a successful action universe in Pathaan, then he surpassed its success with Jawan. In Germany, the blockbuster was released directly on Netflix after a short theatrical run.
Jawan is a wild ride about the civil struggle for justice
The Indian superstar plays two roles in Jawan. One is that of a prison guard who takes control of a train in Mumbai with the help of a group of female inmates. The other is not revealed.
Azad (Shah Rukh Khan) is a quick-change artist who tricks the security authorities with his crew of jailbirds. By taking hostages, the underdogs make themselves heard in the media and politics in order to force action against corruption and injustice. In the process, he crosses the path of the brutal arms dealer Kalee (a devilishly playful Vijay Sethupathi), who will not stand for it. Anti-terrorist officer Narmada (Nayanthara) is also on his trail.
(Jawan)
From now on, our expectations will be played with as gleefully as perhaps only a superstar who knows he’s been missed for years can. Shah Rukh Khan is “unveiled” several times under different disguises – you’ll have to imagine the cheers in the packed movie theater at home. Jawan is also a movie about the comeback of a star who had stumbled after failures. But you don’t need this prior knowledge to enjoy this wild blockbuster ride with a semi-feminist twist.
There’s a surprising amount of reality in this Netflix action film
Slow-motion shootouts alternate with powerful fights. Atlee Kumar’s film dances back and forth between exaggeration and realism, mythical drama and social criticism. Here we see the steeled Shah Rukh Khan punching opponents through the wall, there we watch poor farmers collapsing under mountains of debt
(Jawan)
Real cases found their way into the script, for example a series of deaths in a hospital where oxygen supplies were running low. The uproar over these events is processed in the guise of an (extremely) popular narrative. Now a fictional hero on the big screen stands up for the little people. Blockbuster entertainment can do that too.
This is where Jawan differs from Pathaan or the other hits from the aforementioned YRF Spy Universe. They all score points with ultra-cool, muscular guys who were born to casually turn their backs on a huge explosion. The makers of the Shah Rukh Khan blockbuster Jawan want more. But they don’t give up a second of their desire to entertain. As soon as the finale features a truck chase with some brilliantly crazy action ideas, you can only applaud the return of the king.
