John Abraham Satyameva Jayate — John Abraham in a still from Satyameva Jayate
Photo:INSTAGRAM

Movie Name:Satyameva Jayate
Critics Rating: 2.5 / 5
Release Date: 15 August 2018
Director: Milap Zaveri
Genre: crime drama

Satyameva Jayate, the slogan that’s written on every cop’s cap below the national emblem of India is the crux as well as the title of this film. As the name suggests, this Milap Zaveri-directorial is all about truth and its triumph over the unjust. However, things like these exist only in the pledges we take and the books we read that add charms to those untouched bookshelves of our house. The film has intended to bring to life that asphyxiated yet alive notion of integrity, burrowed in a shallow grave in our heart. Satyameva Jayate is not a perfect film, neither it claims to be. However, it is unlike all those patriotic Bollywood films that see the world through their rose-tinted glasses.

Satyameva Jayate Plot Summary

Satyameva Jayate is a Tom and Jerry chase between a serial killer Veer (John Abraham) and his brother Shivansh (Manoj Bajpayee), the latter unknown about the killer’s identity. Veer targets corrupt policemen and roasts them to death. Their father, a former policeman, was accused falsely of corruption and later commits suicide by immolating himself beneath a tricolour. To avenge the death of his father and prove his innocence, Veer takes the law into his hands. He’s supported by his girlfriend Aisha Sharma whose father is the mastermind of the conspiracy leading to Vir and Shivansh’s father’s defamation and death.

Satyameva Jayate: What worked and what didn’t

Satyameva Jayate’s cornerstone is the corruption that’s eating up the police department of the country. From bribery to fake gallantry medals, the film talks about all. It hits right at the point when it refers to the Khaki colour as the new colour of fear and bias and didn’t shy away from raising fingers at the existent flaws in our system. The film packs many punches like ‘Gareeb insaan kachre ki tarah hote hain aur kachre ko insaaf nahi milta.’, ‘note badle neeyat nahi’ lampooning the fraudulent ways of the police. The eternal chase between Veer and Shivansh keep you at the edge of your seat. The film is full of anger and frustration and you will feel the same while watching it. It’s not a happy film for even fraction of a second, and so, it’s the utmost real.

(Also read: Gold vs Satyameva Jayate Box Office Collection: Akshay Kumar film expected to mint Rs 18-20 crore at BO)

However, there are things that might create a fuss in the minds of those who like to binge-watch all those FBI drama on the Netflix. How come the police doesn’t find the fingerprints from the crime spot when John Abraham was on a killing spree without even wearing gloves? How is it possible that a primary police station in Mumbai is not monitored by CCTV cameras? These tiny details, however, might slip away from your eyes while watching the film. Also, the end is stretched more than required. It could’ve been shortened by up to 20 minutes, saving the film its long runtime.

John Abraham and Manoj Bajpayee’s performance

It’s surprising that John Abraham has clearly overshadowed the versatile actor Manoj Bajpayee in the film. With his as plain as a canvas face, John puts his emotions well through his eyes. You will feel pain when he reminisces his painful past, you will be angered when he fumes seeing corrupt officers and that’s how John Abraham has emerged like a complete winner in putting across his emotions in less words.

Manoj Bajpayee has delivered a foolproof performance in Satyameva Jayate, however, his character was a little less powerful than that of John. He’s an honest and strong determined police officer but is often defeated at his own game and that too by his own brother. That could be attributed to the character of Shivansh and not Manoj Bajpaee’s acting competency.

The versatile actor Manish Chaudhary, who plays the criminal mastermind in the film, is underused. As much as we’ve seen the actor in many films and TV series, he’s capable of creating some magic on the screen perhaps provided with the right kind of roles. His role remains confined to assigning orders to his junior DCP Shivansh in two-minute scenes peppered throughout the film. He comes to his form for a short span of time only during the climax, which I would say, wasn’t meticulously planned.

Aisha Sharma remains redundant in the film. She appears every now and then to fill the blood and gore-ridden film with a breeze of romance. It won’t be wrong to say, that the film could’ve easily done without the love angle between Shikha and Veer.

To watch or not?

If you’re seeking a true patriotism-evoking film, then Satyameva Jayate isn’t for you. It has its heart placed in the most brutal truth of our ‘Incredible India’ that we often choose to overlook. And also, if you’re uncomfortable with too much blood and violence, you should give it a miss, especially the song Tajdar-e-Haram. Watch the film if you want to watch a well-cooked crime-thriller film and a nail-biting experience.