Alia Bhatt does full justice to the film

A jailbreak thriller on the shoulders of the helpless Alia Bhatt is not an ordinary cinema project due to the nature of the venture. Jigra uses the general conventions of a rescue drama, but gives it a twist by placing the responsibility for the rescue act on a woman who will stop at nothing once she has set herself a goal.

But that's not the only reason for it JigraNotable is Vasan Bala's fourth film as a director. It may be far from perfect – for one thing, it's 20 minutes too long and therefore a bit sluggish at times – but it does a good job of creating a compelling action drama.

JigraThe screenplay, written by Vasan Bala and Debashish Irengbam, features minimal plot, understated performances and flawless technical characteristics. The backstories of the main characters, including Satya and her brother, are presented without wasting footage.

The story of a woman wronged by fate and family revolves around Satyabhama Anand (Bhatt), who travels to a fictional Southeast Asian country where draconian laws apply as her brother Ankur (Vedang Raina) becomes involved in a case is involved in drug possession, the series ends there in death. His execution is still months away and Satya has no time to waste.

She knows that Ankur is innocent, that he is a victim of circumstances that stem from the terrible hand that life has dealt the two siblings. She is determined to free her little brother at any cost. She teams up with cheerful ex-gangster Bhatia (Manoj Pahwa), who also has a good reason for helping her.

Bhatia quickly becomes the father figure that Satya never had, having been raised by distant relatives who treated her as more of a factotum than family. (Early in the film, an engagement ceremony takes place and Satya wears the staff uniform until the family patriarch instructs her to change into civilian clothes – a reference to her tenuous status in the world in which she lives.)

Satya and Bhatia are joined by Muthu (Rahul Ravindran), a retired police officer of Indian origin who knows the prison inside and out. The trio devises a daring plan to get Ankur, Bhatia's son Tony and another wrongfully convicted prisoner out of the maximum security prison run by a ruthless officer in charge, Hans Raj Landa (Vivek Gomber).

Jigra There are sections that could have used sharper editing, but explosive pacing and breathless action aren't what really interest the film. He glides quickly through the early parts to set the stage for Satya's foray into a foreign land where she has no friends until she meets Bhatia and Muthu.

Once Satya settles in and finds accommodation near the prison, Jigra noticeably slows down to follow the aggrieved woman's movements as she solidifies her plans for a prison break with the help of those who know the innards of the penitentiary better.

The final act of the film marks another obvious change of pace. It creates a clean break from the more leisurely structure and delivers a lengthy block of action that strains credibility somewhat but is executed with exceptional flair and verve. Because it crackles with energy, it doesn't wear out the audience too much.

Until this point JigraManoj Pahwa and, to a much lesser extent, Rahul Ravindran, share screen time with Alia Bhatt. In the climax, however, it is the main actress who is in the spotlight. It's her mission and she's moving to the center of the stage.

Satya's actions have their roots in her past. She always protected her little brother. In the first scene of the film, she asks Ankur the names of the classmates who bullied him. I will punish every one of them, she insists. But when she and Ankur enter their home, they witness a tragedy that changes their lives forever.

“Tu meri rakhi phenta hain na, you meri protection mein hai (I am tying a rakhi on our wrist, you are under my protection),” Satya says to Ankur, reversing the power dynamic in the sister-brother relationship.

She expresses this assurance when she first meets Ankur in prison, although she can barely hide her concern, and vows that no harm will come to him as long as Big Sister is nearby. It is both a statement of intent aimed at reassuring her brother and a promise to herself.

Satya's determination and daring are tested several times. It is made clear to her more than once that her jailbreak plan is both logistically and morally questionable. But she remains steadfast. There's no way she's going to let her brother end up in the electric chair.

As Satya's mission races towards its climax, the momentum of Jigra expands to include gangsters, political rebels, prison rioters and fast-track police units. The finale gains momentum as Satya storms the prison, while the prison administrator uses all his strength to stop the three young men the protagonist wants to save.

Directed by Swapnil S. Sonawane, Jigra is a visually dynamic thriller with a restless, energetic rhythm that balances the occasionally deliberate pace of the narrative. Achint Thakkar's background score highlights the intrinsic driving quality of the film.

Alia Bhatt has better performances and more well-rounded characters behind her, but Satyabhama Anand's role is unique. And not just in the context of their individual oeuvre. She delivers a solid and convincing star performance as a “heroine” who defies deeply rooted gender perceptions and parameters.

Vedang Raina shows his best in the character of the hunted and tortured Ankur, a young man who perseveres because he is convinced that his Didi hazaaron mein ek (one among many thousands).

It's easy to see why he thinks this way: The lady has no qualms about breaking bones – and the law – when her brother, the only family she has, is in danger.

Manoj Pahwa, as always, enlivens the film with a phenomenally effortless and effective performance.

It goes without saying that Alia Bhatt does full justice to it Jigra. The question is: does Jigra Does she do justice to the calm, measured flair she brings to the role? Almost. And that is not an easy task in any respect.