Jabariya Jodi Review: (1.5/5): Sidharth Malhotra-Parineeti Chopra starrer steadfastly puerile, give it a miss

With 'Jabariya Jodi', director Prashant Singh brings in a light-hearted comedy based off a serious tradition of groom kidnapping to prevent dowry. However, the convoluted film fails to make an impact due to a scattered story and misfit casting. The film is neither able to prove its point nor makes audiences chuckle with a dose of comedy. In the end, all it does is leave the viewer extremely exhausted wondering how he/she sat through an inexplicably and unforgivingly long film. 

Director: Prashant Singh
Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra, Aparshakti Khurana, Javed Jafferi and Sanjay Mishra
Genre: Comedy, Drama and Romance 
Date released: 9th July, 2019 
IBFC Rating: U/A
Duration: 139 minutes 
Reviewer rating: 1.5/5 

Setting the Scene:

The film opens in 2005 in a small town called Madhopur, the home of two schoolchildren- Babli Yadav and Abhay Singh. The first scene shows the former pushing the latter into the river when he tries to make a pass at her and that is how their love story begins. While the two of them bond, Babli has to suddenly leave for the big city after her parents come to know about her rendezvous. However, fifteen years later, the two meet at a wedding and as Bollywood as it can get, sparks fly! 

Plot: 

Patna's Abhay Singh (Siddharth Malhotra) belongs to a gang of professional kidnappers in Bihar. Not only do they abduct educated and capable men who demand dowry, but they also keep guards on them till a child is born to the couple. Led by Hukam Singh, (Javed Jaaferi), the gang seems to be doing well, given the fact that they live in a palace. Bizarrely, the men that are dragged into tying the knot are miserable, and one might think that the women should be too, but they don't mind!  Amid the seriousness of the issue that is blanketed with bursts of comedy and chuckles, is a budding love story between Abhay Singh and Babli Yadav (Parineeti Chopra). 

Verdict: 

What starts an innocent childhood love story, transitions into a story where a patriarchal society sees women as mere commodities in a blink of a second. Now while watching it, one might think that it has a great potential to address the social cause. But amidst, the disappointing love story and poor jokes, the essence of the story is lost. The lead pair of the film, however, don't 'stand out' in terms of their acting, but due to their loud make-up and garish clothes. Bizarrely, both Abhay and Babli's characters, do a completed 360-degree flip in the second half when they turn from their bold, no nonsensical attitude to lovelorn couples. If truth be told, one can give this film a miss and they won't regret it. 

However, special mention to Sanjay Mishra (Babli Yadav's father) who does a fantastic job, so does Aparshakti Khurana, Babli's poetry sprouting friend who walks around with his heart on his sleeve and makes the audiences chuckle with his light-hearted one-liners. 

What works: The one-liners that make you chuckle once in a while. 

What doesn't work: Music, No chemistry between lead actors,  inexplicably and unforgivingly long.