A nail-biting tear-jerker with a bittersweet ending
Netflix has released a teaser for their upcoming movie “Jogi” which has been met with mixed reactions. The movie is a hybrid venture from the popular Punjabi singer and actor, Diljit Dosanjh. Jogi is set to release on October 15th and is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Jogi, the new documentary film by director Deepa Mehta, has stirred up a lot of emotion in those who are closely linked to the riots of 1984. Many viewers from the Sikh community feel that Jogi’s ending will make them shed a tear or two. ..
Jogi tells the story of a Sikh man named Jogi whose goal is to prevent a massacre that killed thousands of Sikhs. ..
The assassination of the Indian Prime Minister by two Sikh men has led to a change in public sentiment against the entire clan. People are now growing blood-hungry for revenge.
In the wake of the Trilokpuri massacre, a politician tries to use the tragedy to gain power and legitimacy. Jogi focuses on a story of a man and his best friends who are all striving to save the Sikhs from being brutally murdered.
Netflix’s Jogi is a gripping, but muted version of the truth about the way many innocent Sikhs were killed. The movie was designed to tell a story that would make people feel good about themselves, and it does that well, but it omits the real tragedy that took place.
The footage of the massacre that was shown is both tight and infuriating. It makes your blood boil so much so that you wish our main man would go in guns blazing and avenge the death of his family members and fellow Sikhs.
The Sikh community’s goal was not to attack and avenge but to escape and survive. Jogi’s survival instincts kicked in and he did something most Sikhs would never imagine doing – he chopped off his hair.
The first half of the film is gripping and exciting, while the second half is emotionally draining. One scene in particular that sent chills down my spine depicts Jogi and his cop friend, Rawinder, scanning the colony for carcasses of Sikhs in order to convince Tejpal. ..
The Sikhs that were left to burn and die in cars, on the street, and inside their homes were all very jarring for someone who is learning about the brutal riots for the first time. The movie, with its nuanced cinematography, aims to highlight the issues significant to the Sikh community.
The idea of sacrifice is seen when Jogi looks at the chopped hair as his neighbour chops her son’s long mane. In a similar way, Jogi’s hair is brought towards his face as he himself cuts his hair. When Kaleem remembers to take Jogi’s Kada (Sikh bangle) from his hand, an ornament that defines Sikh swordsmanship, it implied that without his hair and Kada, Jogi was essentially powerless.
Despite the movie’s flaws, its main focus is on the victory of good over evil and right over wrong. This is shown in the story’s main characters, who are all fighting for something greater than themselves. However, at times the movie can feel half-baked with its muted retelling of a wild and brutal massacre. However, some performances really stand out.
This movie is refreshing because it doesn’t rely on stereotypes and instead casts an actual Sikh in the lead role. This was probably the makers’ best choice because it allows for a more realistic portrayal of someone who has experienced a traumatic life event.
The two main characters in Jogi are Hiten Tejwani as the villain and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as the friend. Hiten is a very good actor and it is refreshing to see him play a grey character aside from the usual ‘righteous man’ image he is known for over the years. Mohammed is also a very good actor and it is refreshing to see him play a friend who isn’t always perfect.
Kumud Mishra is a good actor, but his Tejpal-like performance does not quite live up to the billing. Amyra Dastur did a good job as Kammo, but the plot of Jogi’s lover felt forced only to create conflict and to justify Laali’s actions.
The soundtrack of Jogi is emotional, with a religious sentiment that is playing safe for a movie like this. The dialogue is powerful but not overwhelming, with a strong focus on the story.
I thought the movie was well-made and I enjoyed it. However, I found the ending a bit abrupt and didn’t quite understand what happened.
The makers could have started with an introduction of Jogi’s love interest and set up his conflict with Laali, in the beginning, to justify the latter’s enraged drive to have Jogi killed. With all that being said though, Jogi is a nail-biting watch that keeps you wanting to reach the end in order to see the Sikh community finally get the freedom they deserve.
Jogi, the popular Indian game of chance, has been around for centuries and is still played today. The game is a form of gambling and can be played with either money or goods. In Jogi, players take turns making choices that affect the outcome of a round of play. The goal is to make as many choices as possible in order to win the game.
