STAR CAST

  1. Emraan Hashmi : Arjun Dixit.
  2. Sonal Chauhan : Zoya.
  3. Samir Kochhar.
  4. Vishal Malhotra.
  5. Vipin Sharma.

Director : Kunal Deshmukh.

Producer : Mukesh Bhatt / Mahesh Bhatt.

SYNOPSIS

Arjun Dixit (Emraan Hashmi) wants to get rich in a short time. That simply put is the plot of “Jannat”. Starting out as a small time gambler who keeps losing at cards he goes on to become one of the biggest bookies in cricket. Zaya (Sonal Chauhan) plays the madly in love girlfriend, who knows nothing about her beau’s real dealings and when she does come to know she decides to make him see the light by getting him framed and caught by the cops.

However, by then it’s too late as Arjun has made friend in the high place. Although arrested in South Africa he is bailed out by his boss-Abu Ibrahim. Abu is the biggest match fixer of the world and uses that money to fund the mafia and underworld. Once released Arjun sets out to find Zoya to find out why she turned him in. But when the two meet, Zoya helps Arjun understand that he needs to stay honest and quit the world of betting and match fixing. Madly in love with Zoya, Arjun gives the honest life a real chance. But that’s when he realizes he needs to work twice as hard for a paltry salary at the end of the month. Abu Ibrahim, who needs to earn some big bucks in the upcoming world Cup, does not make it easy for Arjun either. He tempts him with a big palatial house and an obscene sum of money, all he wants in return is for Arjun to fix matches for him in the upcoming World Cup. Will arjun fail his love once again or will he stay honest and find his “Jannat - the real Heaven” in the real world is what the movie is all about.

JANNAT - REVIEW

Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt would certainly reying upon their first release of 2008 “Jannat”. They are effort to make “Jannat” as their real heaven and why not? After all it comes in thewake of some recent  box-office failure coming from Vishesh Films like “Showbiz”, “Dhokha”, The Killer” and “Awarapan”. Infact, “Woh Lahme”, the production house’s lone success in recent times, was not a smash hit and only did above average business.

The Bhatts never run out of stories. In there new outing “Jannat”, Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt have yet another new story to tell and this time, it’s all about match fixing and bookies. But wait, It would be erroneous to classify “Jannat” as a cricket centric movie. Cricket is just the wallpaper here. The focus is on the love story, like “Gangster” which was, at heart and a love story.

You are surprised at the level of maturity , the command over the craft, the display of confidence in the very first outing of 2008. Honestly, You do not take to “Jannat” instantly. The initial portions - the love story - are strictly “Cahlta Hai” stuff. But the interesting part is, “Jannat” takes a step forward every 10 minutes. The movie actually takes off when the characters reached Cape Town (South Africa). The portion there-after are akin to a roller coater ride. Right form the interval point to hair-raising, plus-pounding climax, “Jannat” is another journey together.

The end, especially the hits you like a ton of bricks. You can not imagine  “Jannat” without Emraan . Right from his debut movie “Foothpath” to “Jannat”, the serial-kisser has only grown with the passage of time. The actor displays the gamut of emotions with aplomb, he changes expressions like a chameleon changes colours. “Jannat” is yet another turning point in his career.

You may not be a cricket fan, but it’s not difficult to decipher “Jannay”. Infact, the makers have refrained from using any technical jargon in the film. Portion depicting match fixing and Emraan’s interaction with the cricketers are, in fact, amongst the highest points of the movie. The speed at which “Jannat” unfolds and most importantly, the turns of events is the hallmark of this enterprise.

Vishesh Films has an eye for talent and this time the prolific production house pulls up two more aces, director Kunal Deshmukh and writer Vishesh Bhatt. Kunal is a story-teller to watch out for. In the past decade, the Bhatts have nurtured several talents, prominent among them being Anurag Basu and Mohit Suri. Now add Kunal Deshmukh to the list. If you understand cinema, you would realize that every sequence in “Jannat” is not well-shot, but there is meat in those scences also. Vishesh Bhatt’s writing is dew-fresh and does not take the tried and tested route. Note the intermission point or the twists in the second hour as the climax too, the writer’s contribution looms large in those portions. Pritam’s music is lilting. The movie has a hit score, but you would like to single out two hit numbers, “Zara Sa” and “Jannat Jahan”, for the sheer melody.  

Manoj Soni’s cinematography is first rate. The stunning locales of Cape Town are filmed exquisitely. Sanajy Masoom’s dialouges are excellent. In fact, a few dialouges, are refreshing to the ears. You can not visualize “Jannat” with out Emraan Hashmi. If you loved him im “Murder”, “Gagster” and “Awarapan”, you would like place his performance in “Jannat in the same league. Sonal Chauhan lokk pretty and though she is passable in the initial portions, gets into the groove eventually. The actress has the potential. Javed Sheikh is brilliant, this is his finest work so far. Samir Kochhar is excellent. Vishal Malhotra is good.

Over all, “Jannat” is a well-made movie with lilting music, gripping script and excellent performances as its mainstay. Coupled with an absorbing second hour and a brilliant climax, the movie has it all takes to prove a success story in times to come. Musically like most Bhatts movies, this one will score, but sadly that’s the only place it will find its “Jannat”.