Just to make it clear JAI GANGAJAL has nothing to do with 2003's GANGAJAL, apart from the fact that both the films had the same director, both the movies deal with cops and both have something to do with police department against vigilante justice, in the former it was vigilante cops, here it is a whole neighborhood which resorts to vigilante justice.
Abha Mathur (Priyanka Chopra) arrives as the New SP of Bankipur, Bihar a kind of recommended position by a minister with whom her family has good relations. Once she takes charges, she realizes that the law and order situation is in a toss in the hamlet. Bhola Nath Singh (Prakash Jha) the circle inspector is on the payroll of the local MLA (Manav Kaul) and gives them ample protection from the law. The MLA's brother Babloo Pandey(Ninad Kamat) has a terror hold on the people and right at the moment they are trying hard to acquire land for a certain power plant. Babloo Pandey faces opposition from Sunita (Vega Tamotia) a teenager who refuses to part with her land even after Babloo KIills her father. She is soon kidnapped, raped and killed by Babloo. This brutal incident causes a change in Bholanath and he decides to become a honest cop and arrest the culprits, but he is too late, as the people have formed a vigilante group and decide to make the first strike, the first step taken by the 14 year-old Nagesh (Ayush Khedkar), Sunitha's brother. Though the whole thing sounds like a climax sequence, it is a sequence which happens right in the 10 mins of post interval. Now Abha has to control the law and order in Bankipur where the people and the politicians/goons are with an internal war with one another and the police are forced to become mere spectators.
The premise is awesome, but is completely drained out because of a weak screenplay, which goes wandering in the oft repeated scenes of honest police offer, corrupt police officer, politicians etc., in the first half, and even when the twist happens, the movie again seems like we are watching the same lady cop versus corrupt politician saga.
Priyanka Chopra is excellent as Abha Mathur, she carries the film well, especially in the interrogation sequences and the final showdown.
It is Prakash Jha as Bholenath who actually carries the film on his shoulders, as a corrupt cop turned vigilante supporter, the role has many shades. Rahul Bhat is wasted, nothing much to discuss about him.
It is Ninad Kamat, who steals the show as Babloo Pandey, he makes the role so loathsome that you in fact cheer for the fate which awaits him.
Vega Tamotia is good as the unrelenting girl showing defiance even after being aware of the fate which awaits her. She performs ably and holds her own against Prakash Jha and Priyanka Chopra. The rest of the cast do what is expected of them, nothing to write home about .
Salim-Suleman's music is OK, not so great, just flows along with the movie.
If only the screenplay had been tighter, we would had a classic, but this where Prakash Jha falters,
Disappointing fare, but not a bad movie.
Watch it if you are a PC fan, otherwise stay put till you get to watch it on TV.
