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Director: Anant Balani
Music: Tabun Sutradhar
Cast: Perizaad Zorabian, Victor Bannerjee
Written by Subhash Ghai and directed by Anant Balani, Jogger's Park is a film in a league of it's own.
The film begins on an anticipatory note wherein a retired judge, Justice Jyotin Chatterjee (Victor Bannerjee) is pursuaded by his family to start morning walks at the Jogger's Park. Enter Jenny Suratwala (Perizaad Zorabian), a young and vivacious girl who works as part time veejay, model, event manager etc, is single and chooses to live life strictly on her own terms. An ardent fan of the judge, Jenny strikes a friendship with him.
Although hesitant initially, Chatterjee (JC as Jenny calls him fondly) soon finds himself responding to Jenny's friendly overtures. In awe of Jenny's boldness and modernity, JC is increasingly attracted to her. In a sense, this new found bond helps him to break free from his shell-like existence and brings him face to face with a whole new world!
Jenny, in turn, graduates from respect, admiration and a light hearted affection to a deep caring for JC. Having suffered three boyfriends, she looks up to JC as a man unlike anyone else she has met before, someone whom she can trust and depend upon, the 'quintessential gentleman'.
Does their relationship affect JC's family life? Apart from showing up late at family gatherings and the obvious indifference towards shifting house to Pune at his daughter's request, JC is quite content to follow his heart. It's only when he is confronted first with his son's alleged extra-marital affair and then his own that JC ends up taking a stand in favour of his family honour versus his personal desire. The film ends four years later with a chance meeting between JC and Jenny, both having gone ahead with their respective lives.
Victor Bannerjee comes across as a fine actor and makes JC's character come alive to the audience. However, the popularity enjoyed by JC is misplaced considering that he is supposed to be a retired judge who is also a bit of a recluse. Perizaad Zorabian fits her role perfectly and renders a spontaneous and intelligent performance. Divya Dutta leaves a lasting impression in the film's climax.
The music by Tabun Sutradhar is melodious and boasts of chart topping numbers such as Badi najuk hai yeh manzil by Jagjit Singh and Ishq hota nahin sabhi ke liye by Adnan Sami. There isn't much scope for visual effects in the film.
The concept of Jogger's Park is unusual but its treatment follows a safe path. One wonders what would have been the natural outcome of the relationship between Jenny and JC had the film-makers gone all out with the story. Instead, practicality and political correctness are maintained by a mere play of circumstance.
To sum it up, Jogger's Park might appeal to a niche audience because it is different but the film is definitely worth a 'dekho'.
-- Madhavi Gokhlay
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