Jab Harry Met Sejal Hindi Movie Review

Hello Mr. Imtiaz Ali
Congratulations. It must have a huge effort to obtain the dates of that winning combination of Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma. Never mind that if you went to the sets with the stars and not a script that justifies mega stars and stretched your tale to satisfy the viewer for the money he has spent on the tickets. Having made successful road stories it is a zone of personal convenience to hit the road again and what better back drop than Europe. We buy a ticket to see a mushy Hindi flick and end up watching some awesome locales of Europe. Now that you have chosen to give us a tale without a story line to invest time it is nice to be engrossed in the star value of the film on which you expended not just money and effort but repute too.
You dared to take a one line episode (?) of a gal Shejal (Anushka) who has lost her engagement ring in the panoramic view of Europe and is nitwitted to stay back to search in public places and parks. Oh yeah it should be believable so she is a lawyer and her dad is a diamond merchant. She runs into this tourist guide Harry (faded, aged Shah Rukh), who like the Italian Spy Casanova had a weakness for the fair sex and the bed parcelled together.
On a road trip the twosome – the loony lady and the lonesome lover let chemistry get the better of them even as the audience is waiting for the first smooch. But then you are the classy Sufi film maker so the audience will have to wait for any voyeuristic satiation – also given the repute that the Khan has to ensure is in place.
Jab We Met we thought it was not Love Aaj Kal and you had such great talent that it would last for ever. Somewhere on the Highway did the Rockstar loose the Cocktail and resign to serve fizz less mocktails?
It is nice seeing a film maker bet on his crew and cast and place them above himself. How selfless!! You decided to shoot a film of this guy and girl not in love but constantly romancing in Europe by placing faith in your cinematographer (KU Mohanan) and the music team (Pritam) who somehow do not respond with the same degree of efficiency. In fact, you wonder what lenses the cinematographer was using and what kind of music Pritam was disturbing the narrative with. Never mind this Tamasha has come to pass and the foot falls ensure not many will be disappointed except of course the producer who any way should have known what he was getting into.
Thanks for giving us a feel that Anushka too is mortal and can make mistakes in choosing a script. So often artists go to the repute of the film maker and not the strength of the film. Tq for telling us that even Anushka can bite the bait.
Very special thanks for putting beyond debate the question as to how good an actor the Khan is and whether he is ageing.
The only nagging question in the film is about the meeting: Why the H… did they?

L. Ravichander.