Director Sujoy Ghosh is in full flow in Jaane Jaan. His love for R.D. Burman’s songs, his chequered portrayal of the victim as well as the perpetrator, his mastery of craft, his play of emotions... everything needs to be experienced to be enjoyed.

As rightly pointed out, it is more of a drama and less of a thriller. It gives a human vision to the age-old Drishyam angle. Kareena Kapoor Khan shines as a stony-faced mother and so does the incredible actor Jaideep Ahlawat. Ghosh has managed to craft another super-duper moody film from a nail-biting storyline. (I liked/didn’t like Jaane Jaan because... September 22)

Pampa Paul

Jaane Jaan is a well-written thriller and human drama adapted from a Japanese novel written by Keigo Higashino. Director Sujoy Ghosh mixes emotions like love, hate and fear in well-measured proportions which makes this Netflix movie worth a watch. The howdunit connects the story of a single mother (Kareena Kapoor Khan) with a highly intelligent math teacher (Jaideep Ahlawat) with extreme patience. The movie is like a brain game for its audience.

The film is full of watchable performances. Jaideep’s complete makeover is too good. His lonely, silent love, devotion to what he loved and his intelligence is worth watching. As an investigating officer, Vijay Varma was his usual flamboyant self. His love for food added some humour to the story. Cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay captured the misty, shadowy beauty of Kalimpong which helped to hold the pace of the movie. The only thorn is that the filmmaker left some doubts and questions in the last part of the movie. Otherwise, it’s a carefully knitted, logical film.

Sarbani Banerjee

I wish to point out a few more R.D. Burman connections to the title Jaane Jaan in addition to those mentioned in the review of the film published in t2.

1. A film, titled Jaane Jaan, which was released in 1983, incidentally featured Randhir Kapoor in the lead (along with Neetu Singh, Ajit and others). Directed by the same Ramesh Behl who had produced Jawani Diwani, the music of the film was scored by R.D. Burman. Jaane jaan duniya se na darr / Aaja zara bas ho jaaye, sung by Kishore Kumar, is one of the songs of the film.

Originally titled Nikamma, its shooting began in 1976. Inordinately delayed, the film was completed seven years later, and released under the title Jaane Jaan, turning out to be a dismal flop.

2. Jaane jaan, o meri jaane jaan, goes an iconic song in RD’s oeuvre, one of his sensational hits for the successful musical drama, Sanam Teri Kasam, released in 1982. In another coincidence, the film was directed by Narendra Bedi who had directed Jawani Diwani. The song, sung mainly by Asha Bhosle, with R.D. voicing the initial lines, was picturised on Kamal Haasan and Reena Roy, the lead pair of the film.

Zenith Roy

Sujoy Ghosh’s proclivity for making suspenseful films belonging to the noir genre is well-known. He churns out yet another riveting crime thriller, Jaane Jaan, with an ensemble cast. The movie rests on the able shoulders of the triumvirate, Jaideep Ahlawat (as Naren Vyas), Kareena Kapoor Khan (as Maya D’Souza) and Vijay Varma (as cop Karan Anand).

Kareena excels as Maya, a local cafe owner, with her restrained acting and a deadpan face that speaks volumes of her unflinching and indomitable resolve to safeguard her teenage daughter from all perils. Vijay Varma aces the role of an investigating officer who gets enamoured by the ravishing beauty, Maya. He is outstanding in the comic scene where he eats dragon momos with an extra-spicy and extra-tangy sauce at Maya’s behest and is left gasping. It is Jaideep Ahlawat who steals the thunder with his stellar performance. He brings out the inner turbulence of a clumsy math wizard who fails to claim his share of much-coveted recognition. He, too, is smitten with Maya and puts his heart and soul into pulling her out of the quagmire. His icy stare and uncanny grin send shudders down the spine. In the final act, Naren unleashes his pent-up frustration in the prison and delivers one of his finest performances to date. Jaane Jaan is a perfect murder mystery with an ample dose of plot twists and surprises that are sure to give us the collywobbles.

Suparna Ghos

I liked Jaane Jaan because it is a thriller that will keep you engaged. Kareena Kapoor Khan delivers a credible performance in her OTT debut. Vijay Varma is first-rate. But it is Jaideep Ahlawat who comes up with a superlative performance. Jaane Jaan is not as taut and gripping as Drishyam but is a decent one-time watch.

PVS Krishnan

Jaane Jaan will always be memorable to me for Jaideep Ahlawat’s astounding portrayal of a shy and lonely maths teacher deeply in love with his beautiful neighbour. As the plot takes its twists and turns, the audience also explores Naren’s ambiguous inner world and the surprise that comes in the last 15 minutes makes the film a love story more than a crime film. With this film, Kareena Kapoor Khan ventures into OTT. She utilises every opportunity and gives a commendable performance. Her best scene is undoubtedly the one in the karaoke bar where the handsome and dynamic cop, played by Vijay Varma, matches steps with her in the groovy tune Aa jaane jaan. As in Kahaani, the director conceals certain bits from the audience. The most important question which remains unanswered is the disappearance of Maya’s ex-husband’s body, the answer to which will perhaps remain in oblivion forever.

Kakali Mukherjee