In JERSEY, a simple man with big dreams is depicted. Arjun Talwar (Shahid Kapoor), a talented cricketer from Chandigarh in 1986, is the protagonist of the film. Vidya is his one true love (Mrunal Thakur). Because Vidya’s father is opposed to their relationship, the two decide to elope and marry anyway. Regrettably, Arjun is unable to play for the Punjab Ranji team this year. Coach Bali (Pankaj Kapur), Arjun’s mentor and coach, advises him to try again next year. As a result, Arjun ends up walking away from the game. He accepts a position with the government and moves in with Vidya in a government complex. Ketan, a.k.a. Kittu, is born to Vidya and her husband (Ronit Kamra). Talwars’ lives were not going well in 1996. Arjun has been put on leave due to allegations of corruption. To regain his position, he must pay a bribe of Rs 50,000 to a lawyer. Arjun, on the other hand, will not budge. Because Vidya works at a five-star hotel, Vidya’s kitchen is operational. She’s fed up with him because she thinks he’s not making any progress in his life. Kittu, on the other hand, has begun taking lessons in cricket. Arjun agrees to buy him a team India jersey one day. A few days later, on Arjun’s actual birthday, he’ll deliver on his promise and buy him one. Arjun, on the other hand, discovers that the jersey costs Rs. 500, which is far beyond his means. He tries to borrow money from his friends, but to no avail. Her reasons for not handing him the money are based on her belief in the importance of saving for other, more pressing needs. Meanwhile, Coach Bali informs Arjun that Punjab and New Zealand will play a charity match. There is a need for a batsman in the Punjab team. When he learns that each player will be paid Rs. 1,000, Arjun agrees to participate in the match. The rest of the movie is based on what happens after that.
‘JERSEY’ begins in present-day Bengaluru, which is an intriguing setting. There is a lot of switching between the 1986 and 1997 tracks during the first half. These include Arjun’s attack on the player who insulted Vidya, and Arjun’s application of cream to Vidya’s hands. It’s heartbreaking to see Arjun slap Kittu and then get slapped by Vidya. Both the charity match and the intermission are exciting parts of the film. When Arjun screams his way to the train station, it’s impossible not to enjoy it. Adorable is Vidya’s request that Arjun fly instead of take the train. The climax of the tournament is a euphoric occasion. The climax comes as a surprise.
Despite its obviousness, the story of Gowtam Tinnanuri is a heartwarming one. The screenplay by Gowtam Tinnanuri works well in some areas. Several scenes are well-written. In order to make a bigger impact, the writer should have made some of the sequences shorter. There are a few standout lines in Garima and Siddharth’s dialogues, but they’re not overly memorable. Although it was possible to avoid it, the author chose to use far too much Punjabi in the final product.
The film is fairly directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri. The protagonist’s pain and dilemma come across very clearly. Because of this, the reader is emotionally invested in the story’s protagonist. The film has a few heroic scenes that are staged in a commercially acceptable way. Gowtam does his best when it comes to the emotional quotient. On the other hand, he’s recreated the Telugu original scene for scene. Anyone who has seen it will find nothing new here. Furthermore, the film clocks in at a hefty 171 minutes. In the first half, which has a slow pace, there are a few scenes that may irritate viewers. There should have been some consideration given to the fact that Hindi audiences have different tastes than their American counterparts, and as a result, the director should have cut or eliminated some scenes. Several of the film’s elements fall flat when viewed in context. The tense relationship between Arjun and Vidya is one of the most prominent examples. Last but not least, there is a lot of cricket, and the commentary is in English. Many people will be turned off by this. As far back as 83 [2021], the same problem arose. Because of this, they should have re-dubbed it in Hindi when they had the opportunity.
JERSEY relies on Shahid Kapoor’s commanding presence to carry the film. The actor has given it everything he’s got and completely inhabits the role he’s playing. There are several scenes where his eyes speak for themselves, and you have to watch to believe it. JERSEY reaffirms Shahid’s status as one of India’s finest actors. The character of Mrunal Thakur is underdeveloped. She does, however, an excellent job. Ronit Kamra is sexy and adorable. Pankaj Kapur is a talented actor who works well with Shahid. In the climax, however, his dialogues are difficult to understand. As Geetika Mehandru (Jasleen Shergill), she is endearing and exudes self-assurance in her performance. Count on Rituraj Singh (Mahesh sir). As Arjun’s sidekick, Anjum Batra (Amrit) is a pleasant surprise. I think the actor who portrays Ravinder and Kittu’s adult self is fine.
The music of Sachet & Parampara is of a mediocre quality. Exciting and memorable, ‘Mehram’ is a standout. Songs like ‘Maiyya Mainu, ‘Baliye Re and ‘Jind Meriye’ don’t stick in the mind. The visuals are what make ‘Baliye Re’ so effective. The music, composed by Anirudh Ravichander, is exhilarating.
The cinematography of Anil Mehta is stunning. The veteran DOP captures the off-the-field action beautifully, but it’s the match sequences that really shine. The production design by Shashank Tere is believable. Non-glamorous costumes are required by the script for Payal Saluja. To enhance the experience, the sound of Nihar Ranjan Samal is used. The action in Manohar Verma’s film is simple and enjoyable. New York VFX Waala’s visual effects are adequate, but they could be better. The film’s editing, done by Navin Nooli, is subpar; it could have been cut by 20-30 minutes. Rajiv Mehra’s cricket coaching and Rob Miller’s sports choreography are to be commended for making the cricket scenes look authentic.
It all comes down to Shahid Kapoor’s performance, the heartfelt moments, and the heartbreaking ending. As a result of its slow pace, long length, and competition from KGF – CHAPTER 2 in single screens, Jersey’s box office prospects will be limited to multiplexes and major metros. ‘