Jannat
2008 · Directed by Kunal Deshmukh
Original language: Hindi
- crime
- drama
- romance
The story
A gambler turns into a cricket bookie banking on his sixth sense for the game. But his urge to make quick money pushes him into match-fixing and he loses control of his life and love.
What it’s like
Floodlit cricket grounds glow white against black night skies, and the film cuts between sun-washed, saturated musical sequences and dim, smoky back rooms where the betting happens. Its look is glossy commercial Bollywood: bright costume colours, warm skin tones, and close two-shots that linger on faces during romantic scenes, then tighten into nervous handheld framing once the stakes rise. The soundtrack carries much of the emotional weight, with melodic romantic songs that swell into a tense underscore whenever money changes hands. The mood is romantic and anxious by turns, a glamorous surface cracking under the pressure of a gambler's bad decisions. The pacing is brisk, with long song interludes that pause the drama. The crime elements bring some brief physical threat and scenes of menace, but no gore; the romance is sweet and sentimental. It suits a Saturday evening with snacks, or a viewer who likes melodrama, cricket-tinged thrillers and Bollywood music, rather than anyone wanting something calm or gentle.
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