Divya
Directed by Suresh Triveni, Jalsa is a Hindi thriller that stars Vidya Balan, Shefali Shah, Rohini Hattangadi and Vidhatri Bandi.
The film was released on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video on the 18th of March, 2022.
Directed By: Suresh Triveni
Runtime: 2h 6 min
Ratings: 4.5/5
Cast: Vidya Balan, Shefali Shah, Rohini Hattangadi and Vidhatri Bandi
Storyline
Proud television reporter Maya Menon (Vidya Balan) is celebrating the success of her latest interview in all glamour. While returning home at night, she finds herself driving with the thrill from the party, enough to make a young girl crossing the street go unnoticed. Carelessly, Maya continues speeding down the road and ends up hitting the girl. Scared and anxious, Maya does nothing to help the bleeding body on the road and flees away without a second thought.
However, the big twist comes when Maya later on discovers that the girl she hit was none other than the daughter of her own house help, Ruksana (Shefali Shah), whom she considers family. Ruksana confides in Maya who guiltily offers to pay and get the former’s daughter Alia (Kashish Rizwan) and get her treated at a grand hospital. Ruksana treats Maya’s autistic son Ayush (Surya Kasibhatla) as her very own and her younger son Imad (Shafeen Patel) is Ayush’s only friend. Ruksana is determined to find out and punish her daughter’s criminal while Maya is swirling in layers of guilt and emotional breakdowns.
Naturally, every criminal leaves a trace behind and in search of that trace comes rookie reporter Rohini (Vidhatri Bandi). Rohini is quick witted but is also Maya Menon’s greatest admirer. What happens when she find out more about the incident that fateful night? Watch to find out!
What do we think?
Vidya Balan has made a screen appearance after what feels like ages but it’s always the best experience to watch the actress and her charming acting skills. Vidya has pulled off roles in every genre and what makes her so special is that every single character played by her is better than expected in many ways. Vidya’s portrayal of Maya Menon has us biting our nails wondering what may happen within the next minute. Similarly, Shefali Shah manages to leave an impression on you with just her eyes. The actress has such a hold on the character she plays and we love that about her. She will make your hearts weep for her and her daughter and you can’t contain the chills seeping into your skin.
Hit or Miss?
If you’re looking for an escape into an unknown reality where it’s just you and your thoughts, this film is the best option you got. You will fall in love with all the characters and you’re not going to have the patience to understand where the suspicious story goes. With that said, how could Jalsa not be a major HIT?
