Dil Juunglee

wogma rating: Watch if you have nothing better to do (?)

quick review:

A sincerely superficial film. Makes no attempt at making character motivations believable. A case of “believe it or leave it”. “Leave it”, it is then.

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Director: Aleya Sen
Running time: 125 minutes
Genres: Romance
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Dil Juunglee - Preview

- meeta, a part of the audience

Each of us has our own definition of love and don’t feel loved till that definition is satisfied - if I had to read value into the hotch-potch of a film I just saw, that would be it. Koroli (Tapsee Pannu) believes love is when one goes beyond thinking of themselves, it is love. Sumit (Saqib Saleem) love Koroli but has no qualms about loving himself too. If only, Dil Juunglee had even a little more substance than one definition winning over another, it would have been an average film, at least.

the side characters are all quite loud and unbearable

It is a good start in the sense that both the definitions sound reasonable. However, not only is the culmination run-of-the-mill, but it also goes way too wrong with the details. To begin with, Dil Juunglee stays confused between wanting to keep things light (read slapsticky) and taking love seriously. Striking a balance between comedy and romance is hardly unachievable, but it doesn’t quite go right here.

At one end you are shown in great detail Sumit’s career struggle and at another end, you have the most superficial business meetings imaginable headed by Koroli. I am not sure if a fat finger can be pointed towards sexism. In fact, I don’t think that is the issue. For, if the makers had given the writing that much thought, there would have been a reason to complain. Interestingly, I found some of the situations quite the opposite of casual sexism – where casual sexism is thrown around as in real life, but the character it is directed towards refuses to succumb to it. The lead pair infuses all their acting prowess into the film, but a weak script, weaker character sketches and the worst arcs allow only for so much. You are pretty much asked to believe what is going on rather than seeing the character through their thought processes. Also, save for Jay (Santosh Barmola) who is given a composed and controlled character, the side characters are all quite loud and unbearable.

So, save for the lead pair’s performance, there isn’t much going for Dil Juunglee. And that we have seen a lot better from both of them. Yep, that’s too little.

- meeta, a part of the audience

16 reviewers(?) - 1 yays 6 so-so 9 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, Sify Movies : ...Taapsee as Koro is brilliant and effortless. She breathes the character and is extremely convincing as the incorrigible romantic who lives in a make-believe world. Her transition in the second half is equally commendable. ... full review

So-So, by Hiren Kotwani, DNA : ...It’s old wine in a new bottle, but watch it for Taapsee and Saqib’s refreshing chemistry. ... full review

So-So, by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare : ...All-in-all, the film has a lot to offer if you’re willing to overlook it’s juvenile glitches... ... full review

So-So, by Sweta Kaushal, Hindustan Times : ...Dil Junglee is an age-old story, told with a hundred stereotypes, none of which helps it. It is only Taapsee’s charming presence and Saqib’s earthiness that keep us entertained. Taapsee looks authentic in both the avatars that she dons in the film. Saqib, too, provides ample support with his realistic portrayal of a middle-class Delhi boy. In fact, almost all the actors — Saqib’s mom, his friend, Taapsee’s friend and his fiancée — make the film lively. ... full review

So-So, by Joginder Tuteja , Movie Talkies : ...This is what one can say about the overall flavour of the film as well, which means once you step out of theatres, you do feel light and nice with a smile on your face.... full review

So-So, by Renuka Vyavahare, Times of India : ...Taapsee Pannu and Saqib Saleem are fine actors and have the ability to keep you engaged, even when their film is perhaps the most cliched romantic drama of the century. Not only is this love story unconvincing; ironically,... full review

So-So, by Rummana, yahoo! India : ...I was hoping for a nice warm little love story, more along the lines of, ‘Meri Pyaari Bindu’ or ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’, but this one left me thoroughly disappointed. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Urmimala Banerjee, Bollywood Life : ...Dil Juunglee lacks the intensity, which could make it rise above the mundane. The actors are in good form but that is about it. If you want to kill time and see some gorgeous visuals of London, the film should suffice. ... full review

Thumbs down, by ARNAB BANERJEE, Deccan Chronicle : ...Or else the film looks like listening to a bedtime story by one’s grandmother, who often loses track of the previous night’s serialised finale. Pannu stumbles through her performance with cheesy delivery and Saleem infuses all his energetic zeal to pep up the film that actually has not one or two but three forced storylines getting fused and unified together. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Anshu Lal, FirstPost : ...Supriya Shukla and Nidhi Singh have also done a good job playing their characters but their roles are not too important. In some scenes, Dil Juunglee also portrays homosexuality in a way which would make anyone (except homophobes) angry. In some other scenes, it is sexist and in some rare scenes, it even encourages violence against women. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Johnson Thomas, Free Press Journal : ...It’s obvious this film was targeted at the younger audience what with typically pithy comments and jokes coming out in spurts and jocular brazenness getting palmed off as comedy. The writing is inadequate, characters don’t have a believable arch and tech credits also leave a lot to be desired. Rest assured, there’s nothing alluring or interesting here. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Umesh Punwani, koimoi : ...All said and done, Dil Juunglee is one of those films you give someone a dare to watch. Sad for Saqib Saleem, Taapsee Pannu, and Nidhi Singh – they could’ve done so much better. Skip this one and thank me later! ... full review

Thumbs down, by Kunal Guha, Mumbai Mirror : ...Taapsee Pannu extends dignity to average writing and conveys her character’s evolution well. Saqib Saleem consistently manages the accent of an average Delhi munda but barely digs any deeper, while Nidhi Singh hits the right comic notes in her outlandish TV actor avatar. A final warning: carry ear plugs, this one gets unbearably sappy in the last 30 minutes. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...In one scene, the heroine, dismissing the possibility of her ever reuniting with her former lover, confesses that "we were just kidding, it was a joke". Indeed. But Dil Juunglee does not work even as a joke. It is more pain than fun. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Manisha Lakhe, Now Running.com : ...But one part of your brain is already dead. And no amount of cute posing for selfies by the lead pair is going to convince you that you made a good decision in buying a ticket to this ridiculous film. If you are not asleep in the theatre, you are facepalming. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Sukanya Verma, Rediff : ...It's exasperating to watch the luminous Taapsee Pannu, with all her smarts and sensitivity, strong-armed into making googly eyes at a wishy-washy Saqib Saleem. ... full review

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This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Parental Guidance:

  • Violence: None.
  • Language: A few abusive words
  • Nudity & Sexual content: A couple of lip-to-lips. A scene where a condom advertisement is being shot. Nothing explicit though.
  • Concept: Love? Or something like that.
  • General Look and Feel: Regular Delhi/London backdrop. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

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Dil Juunglee - Cast, crew, links

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125 minutes
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