Everything Wrong With Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa Film Jatt & Juliet 3

What is there to like about ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’? Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa, their chemistry, comedy and what more? This Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa film is deeply problematic at so many levels.

What is there to like about ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’? Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa, their chemistry, comedy and what more? This Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa film is deeply problematic at so many levels. ( Image: Instagram/@neerubajwa)

New Delhi: What is there to like about ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’? Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa, their chemistry, comedy and what more? This third installment of the Punjabi hit series is doing such great business at the box office that one really begins to wonder what is so special about the film. This Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa film is deeply problematic at so many levels. Not only has it not really progressed or evolved in terms of content from the previous films but it also carries forward the deeply problematic jokes justifying men’s behaviour that Bollywood films in late 90s to early 2000s excelled in.

Here is a look at 5 reasons why Jatt & Juliet 3 is NOT that much of a watch:

 

Diljit Dosanjh’s song & X factor

As much as fans love Diljit Dosanjh and his performances, the makers of ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’ seem to have taken his global image too seriously. Irrelevant song introductions, too much image-based dialogues to the look and feel of the character in the film, everything feels purposeful.

Outdated model of justifying misogyny through jokes

While on one level of the vertical, Punjabi films seem to be upgrading themselves by creating more tolerant, liberal-minded characters who value parts of women empowerment, if not embrace it totally, a film like ‘Jatt & Juliet 3 unabashedly comes around to turn the tide for every ounce of hard work being put in the last few years.

A post-interval film

While Jatt & Juliet 3’s pre-interval film relives memories and brings back nostalgia from Jatt & Juliet 1 & 2, the post-interval film works like the proper 90s sandwich film where a single guy mediates between two women and is undecidely unsure about choosing the right partner. 

And this Jadgeep Sindhu film takes this to another level by creating a love triangle between two engaged people and a third person.

Songs that don’t vibe

If all of Dosanjh’s discography is about ‘the vibe’, ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’ is a film whose songs just don’t vibe. Barring Je Main Rab Hunda, all of 'Jatt & Juliet 3' songs feel deliberate and formulaic.

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Despite most of the comedy landing right, ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’ also feels unbearably long. A forceful addition of a sad song to the masala entertainer format of the Punjabi film including a taxing climax that unwinds all of the loopholes is a big problem in the film.

For a filmmaker like Jagdeep Sidhu who has given films like 'Guddiyan Patole', ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’ is a step back into a tide of more open-ended portrayal of women, on the entire discussion on empowerment that the mainstream the Punjabi film industry is trying to achieve off late.

This is not to say that something is morally wrong in ‘Jatt & Juliet 3’ or that the change of heart or that all of the ‘pervert’ jokes are in good humour, but there is also an element of cringe that could have been done without and left the entertainment and comic factor of the film untouched.

Nevertheless, it is a delight to watch people from not just the Punjabi-belt watch a comedy film series that has remained true, unabashed in its nature.

Perhaps, it is because of Diljit Dosanjh but the space has opened up, and interesting conversations and perspectives will flow as the demographic of audiences widens for Punjabi films per se.