Jaggi
Introduction
Jaggi opens with an uncomfortable one take sequence starting with the protagonist weeping uncontrollably even as he tries to masturbate while also writing a letter and grabbing a gun before being picked up by his uncle. On the way, they encounter a stranger who they do give a lift, and much to the dismay of the protagonist, the stranger molests him on the bike. This in effect sums up the baggage that the protagonist has been carrying even as he remains unflinched with his fate. I remember watching the Kanu Behl directed film Agra at MAMI and that film did a great job in addressing the repurcussions of curtailed sexual repression in a relatively small city of Agra. Jaggi here offers a perspective from the other side, that of a victim who is reduced to an object after a miscommunication about his identity. When we do say that ‘Sex’ as a topic is important to discuss, this is the very reason for it! The awareness is important both for the victim and the people around him on the steps that could be taken to overcome it, even while living in a more evolved society that is not repressed under the sexual garb. So then does Jaggi, which is streaming on Mubi manage to impress in its entirety, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
Jaggi follows the story of a young boy suffering from an impotency who is misconstrued as being ‘gay’ before being bullied and assaulted by folks around him. And in many ways, Jaggi does make for an uncomfortable watch, often pushing the envelope in scenes of trauma instead of giving it an artistic overview. The writing is raw and deliberately so, to allow the viewers space to not only empathize with the protagonist but also peek into his psyche wherein he also plays a victim of not quite being aware of its sexual wellness. And this duel-edged sword is what Jaggi thrives on, over the course of its screenplay of a shade under 2 hours which is extremely hard and uncomfortable to sit through, yet equally important from a storytelling point of view.
The long opening sequence does give a clear picture on the sufferings of the protagonist almost as a part, post his initial trauma which is revealed in the subsequent sequences. So as a part of the extended flashback, you are introduced to the surroundings of Jaggi, featuring his dysfunctional family comprising of his father who is in the police force but an alcoholic, while his mother is secretly having an affair with her brother-in-law. But the impressionable age that Jaggi finds himself in, is more to do with his surroundings and company at school wherein he resorts to masturbation almost provocatively, almost under peer pressure. And while he violently tries to carry out this activity, the lack of awareness about his sexual wellbeing(you must do it only when you are aroused) leads to his downfall in ways, even as an innocent exchange of his problem with his friend, spreads like wild fire in the vicinity.
The proceedings are incredibly difficult to sit through, particularly the one involving a couple of guys raping the protagonist mercilessly while previously promising him medicine for his ‘problem’. The camera refuses to cut even as the boys take turns on Jaggi, an incident which would scar the protagonist for the rest of his life. This incident was an epitome of the repressed sexual energy floating in the veins of youth, in a society that still considers discussing about intercourse a taboo. As a result, the lack of knowledge and empathy does show on the part of the perpretators, but also the victim who slowly begins to blame his situation at home for the state he finds himself in. And this includes his mother who he does keep a close tab on, even as she adds sleep tablets in their food before tip-toeing to meet her lover, while her husband and Jaggi’s father remains helpless and oblivious.
The third act of the film is the most layered considering how Jaggi slowly resonates to Raman, his new found love almost in the form of escapism similar to what was showcased in the Pakistani film Joyland. Apart from this brief part of the day, he continues to worry on how his relationship with Raman might be subjected to the violence for the latter too, something that he has been enduring all throughout thereby mirroring situation at his current home, featuring his parents whom he does secretly blame for him inheriting the issues that he did face physicality(read : impotency). The drama briefly flirts with a social issue of patriarchy and hierarchy too wherein the protagonist doesn’t blame the perpretators who are more powerful than him, rather his stature and his parents, both of whom are indirectly responsible for his ‘state’. And this duality is what leads to a rather disturbing concluding act that left me pondering about what the outcome would have been, had there been folks around Jaggi to help him(remember this is based on true events). The screenplay here is a writing masterclass on the repurcussions of sexual repression and toxic masculinity, things that are passed off casually in the modern day world that we live in.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are sparingly used but almost used as a by-product of the actions subjected to, by the protagonist. The crude language is reflective of the mindset of the characters and their lack of awareness to the wellness issues that forms the crux of the drama. The BGM is raw particularly in the different encounters of Jaggi that is almost designed to make you uncomfortable, even at a psychological level. The cinematography comprises of atleast three single takes, each one telling a separate story on which the film is mounted on. The camera doesn’t cut away from the scene, almost coaxing the viewers to be a silent by-stander, in order to create a psychological impact that is scarring and rewarding in equal measures. The editing is crisp and sharp yet not shying away from continuing the atrocities showcased in a particular scene, something that creates an unwavering impact. Director Anmol Sidhu offers to address a different side of the state of Punjab that is lesser talked about, yet equally impactful. The director doesn’t shy away from being unabashed and going all out with the drama, while lacing the sequences with an underlying layer of poignancy that makes for a thoughtful watch. Yes, it is uncomfortable and deliberately designed that way, but it is the victory of the director for addressing a delicate subject in a rather impactful manner wherein the direction is brilliant overall.
Performances
The performances are outstanding by the ensemble cast. Jasskirat Bajwa as Raman symbolises hope and escapism in the life of the protagonist and she was incredible to watch here. Harmeet Jassi as the mother is a character that remains oblivious to the issues of her child, even as she is consumed having an affair of her own, and she was excellent in her character. Harmandeep Singh as Sarba and Gaurav Kumar as Shinda will make your blood boil even though a part of me did blame the society that they were brought up in. And both of them are brilliant to witness here. Aks Mehraj as Satnaam has his moments to shine again in a character who was more consumed with his actions rather than paying attention to his surroundings. Ramnish Chaudhary as Jaggi delivers one of the most haunting performances that I have witnessed in recent times. His body language is often of surrendering to his fate without an iota of retaliation while enduring pain deep within him. And this vulnerability of his does account for a resounding performance that was complex and restrained in equal measures.
Conclusion
Jaggi is a nightmarish tale on the repercussions toxic masculinity and s*xual repression that makes for a deeply uncomfortable and a difficult watch. Yet, this drama accounts for a screening writing masterclass making it a brilliantly poignant watch too. Available on Mubi and Highly Highly Recommended!