Following the events of the first film, Jhimma 2 follows the story of the bandwagon of women who decide to take a foreign trip to celebrate Indu’s 75th Birthday. This time though, there are new additions to the group that contribute to the overall chaos as the women bond with each other all over again! The story here is endearing while packaged in a happy feel-good drama while also touching upon a few women issues related to each character. All of it contributes towards Jhimma 2 being a happy film in many ways with traces of humour thrown in along the way. The screenplay standing at 130 odd minutes is compelling and I was quite invested in the journey of all the characters here, through their ups and downs and their personal conflicts that they were undergoing. But more importantly, I had a wide smile on my face right throughout the film. 

The drama opens with the introduction of the principal characters as they decide to take a trip together to celebrate, Indu’s 75th Birthday together. Right from the onset, you can feel the camaraderie between the ladies and how well their offscreen friendship may have translated onscreen. There is an atmosphere of positivity that is created and you slowly are privy to knowing the individuals again while getting familiar with the new ones. The beauty of Jhimma was the ability of the writers to develop character conflicts while being on the journey of self-discovery. And that is the case here as well! It is said that every trip that is taken, does change something in you for the better, and Jhimma 2 taps into exactly that aspect. 

The strongest aspect of the writing is its well etched out characters in a screenplay which is essentially character driven. This includes the baggages and insecurities that the various characters are holding onto, without having the courage to follow their heart or atleast address the issue that they were suffering from. And through the varied group of characters, acceptance and the ability to learn or relate with each other forms the streak for solution. The proceedings are engrossing and frequently laced with humour that does create a feel-good ambience in what is essentially a road film. Yet, the conflicts are tapped in a quieter space apart from the interval block that leads to a startling revelation of a character suffering from Parkinson’s disease. 

It is the second hour that develops on the conflicts(subtly so) through a thread that connects all the characters(and the viewers alike). The best part of the drama is that it could so easily have been a preachy affair, and to be fair it does enter that territory every now and then. But credit to the cautious writers who almost every time are self aware of this fact, and they balance out the scene with bouts of comedy that helps the drama retain its character and stay true to its tone. As a result, you are always invested in the journey of the protagonists while never really getting bogged down by the tone of the drama which is light and frothy. Yes, one little criticism could be that the conflicts and issues addressed in the first film were better staged, but the overall impact is not diluted at all. A part of me says that the deft tone was consciously done to waver the conflict almost as an undercurrent, and that worked in the favour of the drama. Overall, the screenplay is enjoyable while providing brief moments that are poignant in a drama that will allow you space to ponder on them. But more importantly, this is a celebration of womanhood in the truest sense!