Music Is the Heart and Soul of Jugni, You’ll Love It
One wishes a gem of a film like ‘Jugni’ doesn’t get eclipsed by other bigger, more humongous movie releases.
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Debutant director Shefali Bhushan lets us into an intoxicating universe woven together with rustic tunes and lyrical dreams. Jugni, touted as a romantic musical is a small, endearing film that you must watch if you want to savour something refreshing and truly endearing.
Jugni literally means a “female firefly”. In this film, it also works beautifully as a narrative device used in Punjabi folk wherein an outside observer comments on existing social realities.
Vibhawari or Vibs (Sugandha Garg) as she is fondly called by everyone around, is a music composer from Mumbai. She journeys through the serpentine Pind di galliya in search of the golden voice of Bibi Saroop (Sadhana Singh), a local folk singer. Vishal Bharadwaj’s song ‘Dugg duggi dug’ lends the musical carpet as we follow Vib’s first meeting with Bibi Saroop’s son. A gifted singer himself, Mastana (Siddhant Behl), with his raw energy and charming smile, endears himself to us within minutes.
What follows is a musical jugalbandi – with each song in the movie exuding their shared passion. Their raison d’être is music, but the reality of their different worlds is always palpable.
And this is what renders the film a nuanced and layered sheen.
Why Music is the Heart and Soul of Jugni
This world of rustic tunes rings in authenticity to a large extent also because of Shefali Bhushan’s own successful tryst with the “Beat of India” project (where she went to remote villages and towns in search of local tunes and singers). It’s a world she is at home with and that translates beautifully on screen.
Bibi Saroop and Mastana sing with passion songs of Bulleh Shah and other local ballads – but are painfully aware that if music is to earn them their bread and butter then they must succumb to the demands of the masses, even if it means putting aside their own traditional tunes in favour of peppy item numbers.
Jugni is as much about songs and symphony as it is about what really goes behind the making of these lilting melodies. Emotions are invested, harsh realities negotiated and a constant battle fought to remain true to one’s self. The film never loses sight of reality – be it the hard life of a village singer or the fake high walls of pseudo sophistication in the celebrity parties of Mumbai.
These little nuggets of reality sewn in without any unnecessary addendum is what make Jugni so enjoyable.
Siddhant is a Find, Sugandha Spot On
Jugni is also special because of Mastana. Siddhant Behl is a phenomenal find. His theatre background holds him in good stead as the film and his character reverberate with his gorgeous vibe. So convincing is he on screen as the singer Mastana that it’s difficult to believe he isn’t the real singer after all.
Siddhant’s boyish insouciance with his lady love Preeto, his vulnerability as he tries to negotiate his passion and love for Vibs and the magic that he weaves with his charming smile all ensure that we can’t wait to watch more of him!
Sugandha Garg nails it as the impulsive and fiery music addict. The ease with which she navigates the amorous desire of Vibs and her knotty relationship with her live-in boyfriend Sid (Samir Sharma) is all so delectably honest and real.
What with Clinton Cerejo as the music composer and precious contributions from musical giants like A R Rahman and Vishal Bhardwaj, the film is marinated with songs and tunes that give it an irresistible allure.
A particular scene between Sugandha and Siddhant with the notorious ‘Gulabo’ for company (where the fusion of music and amorous attraction lead to an intoxicating high lit by the soft light of a bonfire) captures the beauty and soul of Jugni.
Unsullied and true to its music, I’m going to give Jugni 4 QUINTS out of 5. It’s an exhilarating watch and here’s hoping this little gem doesn’t get overshadowed by the other humongous releases of the week.
Go for it and you won’t regret it!
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