Junglee review: Vidyut Jammwal’s heartwarming story about saving elephants deserves a watch!

Chuck Russell’s Bollywood debut with the film Junglee, is an atypical plot, with a prophetic message. As the director rightly said, “Nobody, but Vidyut could pull it off. It was made for Vidyut.” As Indians, we have grown up with Ganesha stories and the elephant – God is woven into our everyday lives casually. We pray to him, talk to him, play with him and pamper him during his festival, he is a family member to all believers. But for a westerner, this connect between man and animals that he feels runs in our DNA, was a fascinating aspect, and enough to draw Chuck Russell. It also tackles an imminent and brutal reality – the extinction of this magnificent animal stares us in the face, due to illegal poaching and hunting – especially for tuskers since ivory commands a king’s ransom.

What Junglee is all about:  It tells the story of a city veterinarian Dr Raj Nair (Vidyut Jammwal), who was brought up in the jungles where his parents ran an elephant sanctuary. At the death of his beloved mother from cancer, Raj leaves his home and settles in the city. He does not go back for a whole decade. His father has given up hope. You see, Raj believes his father did not do enough to treat his mother when she was dying, and could have saved her had he taken her to a city hospital. He holds him responsible for her death. So there is a strained father-son relationship.

But when he does eventually come back, everything in the jungle has changed. They are struggling to keep their Chandrika Sanctuary (in Orissa) afloat and save the elephants from hunters. With a pining female mahout waiting in the jungles for him, and a persistent journalist on his case, who follows him to the sanctuary, Raj has a number of issues that need addressing. How they play out and who wins the day in battle between the hunters and the saviours is the story of Junglee.

Yay: Vidyut has undoubtedly not earned his title as the world’s best martial artist in a day or month or years. It’s his life. And his lifestyle. The action is breathtaking and as everyone knows, Vidyut does his own stunts, even putting his life in peril. But his reflexes are amazing and he is so light on his feet, the action from him is amazingly graceful – especially the scenes involving Kalaripayattu, (he has also been credited in the titles for additional choreography). He looks at ease in the environment, despite being a city slick-nature wins along with nurture. There are some emotional moments that he carries, that are definitely not scripted. The father-son strain, and the repairing of their relationship is very subtly done.

The persistent journalist (Asha Bhat) lives her part very effectively. Pooja Sawant is adequate. Her ease with the elephants is noticeable. Mark Irwin’s cinematography leaves you slack-jawed in amazement through the film. The action directors Ching Li and Parvez Shaikh deserve kudos for their dynamic action choreography and execution. The South Indian actor playing Vidyut’s father was gentle and convincing.

Akshay Oberoi and Makarand both performed very well, even if some parts of Mac’s characterisation was ‘over-the-top’. Atul Kulkarni as the vain hunter excelled. You hated him. The brutal scene of killing of the elephants was so well-shot, it drove one to tears and anger. The elephants were the real heart-breakers.

Nay: From a taut first half, the second half moved into the realm of a masala pot-boiler, with some over-the-top-scenes calling for suspension of belief, or is it disbelief? Also the geography seemed to fluctuate, leaving one a tad confused. Whether you were in Orissa, or Kerala or Paradip? Was it just a bike ride or an elephant-ride away?

CineBlitz Verdict: Despite all the gore, the film will appeal to kids across the world. The message is drummed into you. If you want to enjoy the beautiful elephant on planet earth, it is our duty to save it from extinction. Spectacular visuals in shooting the elephants in their natural habitat makes up for the weaker second half. The film is a must-watch if you are a nature-lover, animal-lover or Vidyut lover. The boy is grand! Bravo – Chuck!

Rating: 3 stars