REVIEW: Jail is engrossing but predictable

One goes in to see a Madhur Bhandarkar film expecting it to be realistic – his brand of realistic, that is. This means that the director's research is limited to real-life instances in the country, which have been highlighted in the media. Which in turn means that he often uses a journalistic approach in filmmaking – and mind you, not thorough investigative journalism, but just on-the-surface stuff ridden with a few clichés.

This is what has made Madhur's film almost predictable. Whether that is intentional and a part of the director's strategy, only he would know. But because of that, the audience and the critics now already know what to expect to a certain extent. That can be dangerous for a filmmaker and the actors who obviously work very hard. And it could be perilous in the case of Jail as well.

Jail's story begins with Parag Dixit (Neil Nitin Mukesh) in police custody, clueless about what's happening to him. The back-story begins – Parag is doing well in his career with Max Finance, being promoted to regional manager status. He is going steady too, with airhostess Manasi (Mugdha Godse). So, how does he land in prison?

Parag gives a lift to his roomie Keshav Rathod, a guy who's always using Parag's things – his cellphone, his shoes, even his towel. Cops suddenly start following them, and the chase leads to shots being fired and drugs worth crores of rupees being found in the car. Keshav is injured and lands in hospital on life support systems, and Parag in the police station.

From then on starts the journey of an innocent man charged with drug trafficking and firing at the cops. Manasi and Parag's mother (Navni Parihar) hire a lawyer, and the quest for a 'bail' begins.

Next Page: The Jail Life