Review: Gopichand Malineni’s Jaat, marking his Hindi directorial debut, is an unabashedly loud, hero-driven spectacle that aims to marry the exaggerated swagger of South Indian action with North Indian machismo. The result is a film that offers moments of undeniable impact but ultimately plays too safely within the confines of well-worn formulas.
With a title steeped in cultural pride and defiance, Jaat wears its identity on its sleeve. It’s clearly designed as a star vehicle for Sunny Deol, putting him front and center in a role that brings back his signature style—loud one-liners, heavy action scenes, and a larger-than-life masculinity straight out of the 90s. To its credit, the film doesn’t shy away from this tone and fully commits to the old-school action formula, even if it feels dated at times.
A fictional town plagued by injustice and brutality, Bharathi remarks that even God fears to set foot in this Lanka. Entering a land overrun with black money and corpses, Jaat arrives with intent to restore justice and save the villagers.