BOTTOM LINE
A Worth Watch
OUR RATING
3/5
PLATFORM
Amazon Prime Video
What Is the Show About?
Set in the early years of the Hindi film industry, before and after Indian Independence, Jubilee is about a maverick maker, Shrikant Roy (Prosenjit Chatterjee), who wants to create a star, Madan Kumar, with the next outing from his production.
Jamshed Khan, the initially intended actor to become Madan Kumar, refuses to play to the tunes of Roy and has his plans. What happens when Shrikant Roy sends his trusted aid cum projector boy, Binod Das, to get him back is the series’s main plot.
The subplots involve the rise of a new star Jay Khanna, the inner struggle of Binod Das, and the foreign and political involvement in the movies of that period in the sprawling epic.
Performances by Others Actors
Jubilee is filled with terrific performances all over. Everyone, small or big, has come up with their best in recent years. Aparshakti Khurana and Sidhanth Gupta lead the pack with well-rounded and intense acts. Both live their respective parts and hit home whenever the right moment arrives. Siddhath’s is a more conventional hero role delivered with robustness among the two. Aparshakti has a grey shade to his part, giving it an additional layer.
Apart from them, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Aditi Rao Hydari and Wamiqa Gabbi come up with electrifying acts. Prosenjit, the veteran, is arresting with his magnetic presence and command. Aditi Rao Hydari shows in Jubilee why exactly she is called a classical beauty in the modern era. Her features, expressive eyes, and face are best used here. And finally, Wamiqua comes up with her a memorable act as Niloufer. She is brilliant and demands attention whenever on screen.
Ram Kapoor and Swetha Basu Prasad are the other supporting actors highlighted in this eclectic cast. The former as a shrewd financier and the latter as a docile housewife are perfect for their roles. The rest of the cast is also neat, featuring names like Arun Govil, Nandish Sandhu, etc.
Analysis
Vikramaditya Motwane and Soumik Sen create the period drama Jubilee set in the Bollywood backdrop. Vikramaditya Motwane of Udaan and Lootere fame directs the series, as well.
The phenomenal rise of the OTT platforms in India has given wings to the imagination of indie filmmakers to go big and make some epic-looking content. Jubilee is the latest edition in this space that tackles cinema and its business before and after India’s Independence. However, the ‘movie’ backdrop isn’t new, though. It is the particular timing that is a unique aspect here.
The elaborate sets and the great production values immediately catch the attention. The music adds to the feel, but more importantly, the performances and the story draw us in.
The opening few minutes are slow and tiring, but the world gradually unveiled before us hooks. It grabs our attention. The various characters are cast and performed well. And when the ‘key’ moment occurs, the little doubts regarding the content are dispelled.
The series’ ten episodes are divided into two halves, like a movie. Moreover, there is also an interval bang in the typical film style. It comes at the end of the fifth episode.
If one used the cinema language, the first half (five episodes) would be terrific. It is a riveting watch, with the main and subplots all coming together beautifully. The old-world charm and the music add to the feeling. All the actors chip in with sparkling and competent acts.
The second half (the second set of five episodes) is where Jubilee falters narratively. Some subplots take a predictable turn while a couple is dragged unnecessarily.
The love track between Jay Khanna and Niloufur and the inner turmoil of Binod seems to go on and on. They do have repercussions on other tracks, but individually they lack the appeal to hold on their own.
By the time one reaches the midpoint of the second half, a feeling of tiredness sets in. It’s more to do with these subplots than performances or direction. It further turns into a drag when the predictability and expected downfall begin to take place. The final two episodes bear the brunt of it.
However, despite the issues, the ultimate end and the song are impactful. It definitely comes a little too late, but the melancholic music, lyrics, and the message previously regarding what a quality cinema is helps raise the graph from going entirely downwards.
Overall, Jubilee is a wonderfully crafted and enacted periodical piece. It is peppered with terrific sequences throughout but overstays the welcome as it loses steam during the final few episodes. Still, it is a recommended watch for the sheer effort that went into it and the final moments. Go for it if the length is not an issue.
Music and Other Departments?
Amit Trivedi provides the music for this periodical. It is an essential element of the series and has been integrated well into the narrative. The song at the final moments is the best of the lot that doubles up as a tribute and homage simultaneously. The background score complements the bygone era and is close to classical-sounding music.
Jubilee is a mammoth effort, and its final output visually reflects its outstanding technical work. The cinematography is lovely and takes us back in time. The editing could have been tighter, though. The artwork is fabulous, and so is the costume design. The writing is a fine blend of past and present styles.
Highlights?
Story
Performances
Fabulous Technical Work
Direction
Drawbacks?
Length
Drags Towards The End
Some predictable Subplots
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
Jubilee Movie Review by M9News
