Jawan: A High-Octane Action Thriller with a Social Message

Jawan is a 2023 Hindi-language action thriller film that marks the debut of Tamil director Atlee in Bollywood. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan in a dual role as father and son doppelgängers who team up to rectify corruption in society. The film also features Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone, Priyamani and Sanya Malhotra in supporting roles. The film is produced by Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma under Red Chillies Entertainment and has music by Anirudh Ravichander.

The plot of the film revolves around Vikram Rathore, a jailer of a women’s prison in Mumbai, who hijacks a Mumbai Metro along with a group of six inmates. He demands ₹ 400 billion from the Agriculture Minister in exchange for the passengers’ lives. His motive is to donate the money towards the loan waiver of 700,000 impoverished farmers in the country. He also reveals his name as Azad to Kalee Gaikwad, a global arms dealer whose daughter Alia is one of the captives. Kalee is also the main antagonist of the film, who has caused extreme suffering to many people through his illegal activities. Vikram/Azad is assisted by his son Aishwarya Rathore, who is also a NSG officer and Narmada Rai’s husband. Narmada is another NSG officer who negotiates with Vikram/Azad during the metro hijack.

The film delivers a strong social message about issues like the corrupt political system, challenges faced by farmers, and flaws in the healthcare system. It emphasizes the power of the index finger during elections as a means for citizens to actively participate in shaping the destiny of their country. The film also showcases the emotional journey of Vikram/Azad, who is driven by a personal vendetta while keeping up to a promise made years ago.

The film was released on 7 September 2023 in standard, IMAX, 4DX and other premium formats, coinciding with Janmashtami. The film received critical acclaim from critics who praised its cast performances, screenwriting, action sequences and musical score. The film set several box-office records for a Hindi film, overtaking those set by Khan’s previous release Pathaan (2023). Grossing over ₹1,103.63 crore (US$140 million), it emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2023, the second-highest-grossing Hindi film and the fifth highest-grossing Indian film.