Sanchita
Shahid Kapoor tries to hit a six with Jersey remake but it still stays safely within the boundaries of the Telugu original.
Read Full Jersey Movie Review:
Director: Gowtam Tinnanuri
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Mrunal Thakur, Pankaj Kapoor, Ronit Kamra
Rating: 3/5
Runtime: 2h 50m
This Shahid Kapoor-starrer is the Hindi remake of the 2019 Telugu film Jersey and has been helmed by the same director – Gowtam Tinnanuri. It is an exact scene-by-scene copy of the original, so fans of the Telugu one might feel slightly disappointed to see nothing remarkably fresh in this remake.
Storyline:
Shahid plays Arjun Talwar – a doting father, an unemployed frustrated husband and a failed cricketer. Arjun once had the best of both worlds; he was at the prime of his career as a top-notch batsman, with a government job offer to back him up.
However, things all come crashing down when he quits cricket in his twenties. To make matters worse, he is suspended from his government job after his name crops up in a corruption case.
His wife Vidya (Mrunal Thakur) is doing her utmost to hold everything together in midst of the rising pile of unpaid bills. Once a rosy romance, Vidya-Arjun’s relationship has become strained by the crushing debt and hopelessness.
In the middle of all this despair, Arjun’s only joy in life is his bond with son Karan aka Kittu (Ronit Kamra). He is the apple of Arjun’s eye and for Kittu, his dad, his hero can’t do anything wrong. Arjun’s life hits rock bottom when he realises he’s not even able to fulfill his son’s birthday wish for a Jersey.
Determined to make his son’s dream come true, Arjun steps back into the field at the age of 36, eager to revive his lost career and find purpose in life. He is supported enthusiastically by coach Madhav Sharma (Pankaj Kapoor).
What Do We Think?
The Hindi remake of Jersey, being helmed by the same director, has managed to retain the essence of the original and matches it beat-for-beat. However, nothing really stands out in this adaptation as its very own.
Shahid Kapoor is back in full form and has carried his role remarkably, showing pain, determination and resilience in his performance. But his Arjun is a little bit dramatic, whereas Nani’s was more down-to-earth and understated. Nevertheless, he is moving indeed.
His chemistry with reel son Ronit Kamra is quite sweet and sincere (Ronit played the same role in the original as well). Ronit is cute as a button and gives an earnest performance. Pankaj-Shahid Kapoor are a real-life father-son duo and that translates well onto the screen for the mentor-student dynamic.
Mrunal Thakur has pulled off her role really well, conveying her irritation, helplessness and vulnerability. Mrunal-Shahid’s chemistry, while not tod fod, is decent enough to make it work.
Overall, Shahid’s Jersey is good but lacklustre. Personally, would have liked this Hindi remake to have its own take on the matter instead of sticking to the original frame-by-frame. But for those who have not watched the Telugu film, it can be a decent watch.
Hit Or Miss?
It is a one-time watch. For those who’ve already watched the original, there’s nothing new on the platter though. Jersey is expected to face stiff competition at the theatres from South biggie KGF Chapter 2.
