JNU: Jahangir National University Movie Review : A failed attempt to capture JNU’s essence

Story: Sourabh Sharma enrolls at Jahangir National University for his college education, only to be shocked by the widespread disregard for Indian culture exhibited by the left-wing students. Determined to address this issue, he decides to confront and discipline those he considers anti-national.

Review: It's no mystery which university ‘Jahangir National University’ represents in the film. The film presents a myopic view of the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University, selectively highlighting a few incidents from the past few years to construct a narrative that ultimately results in a disappointing viewing experience. It's clear that the filmmakers approached this story with pre-conceived notions, leading to an unsatisfactory outcome. Even from a cinematic standpoint, the portrayal of JNU is mediocre, with a subpar screenplay, average direction, and uninspired dialogues.

Sourabh Sharma (Siddharth Bodke), a new student, is shocked by the pervasive disregard for Indian culture among the left-wing students. When these students decide to celebrate Mahishasura, the demon defeated by the goddess Durga, Sourabh strongly opposes the event, leading to escalating tensions. Minor conflicts between the groups persist, eventually culminating in a major crisis when a Muslim professor with left-wing affiliations is accused of raping a student, and anti-national slogans threatening the country's sovereignty are raised on campus. The left-wing faction, led by Krishna Kumar (Atul Pandey) and Saira Rashid (Shivjyoti Rajput), wins the student body elections, but Sourabh manages to make an impact by securing a seat, challenging the left's dominance.

Those familiar with the campus culture of JNU will view this film with a pinch of salt. Had the film taken a grittier, more realistic approach, it might have been more engaging. However, the forced inclusion of dance numbers and expletives diminishes its overall impact. In an attempt to elicit laughter, the film resorts to stereotypical characters reminiscent of Hindi films from two decades ago, despite significant changes in cinema since then. The film poster prominently poses the question, "Can one educational university break the nation?" Yet, it never acknowledges that this is also the country's premier and most renowned university.

While none of the main cast manages to leave an impression, the cameo appearances by Vijay Raaz and Ravi Kishan add some interest to the proceedings. In the role of cops, their conversation is actually the highlight of the film. Piyush Mishra plays a minor, inconsequential role, but his song stands out as one of the film's few highlights. At 150 minutes, ‘Jahangir National University’ is a drag and tedious experience, lacking depth and soul.