A slow-burn thriller that is not only intriguing but also very well articulates human complexities & emotions and more than that, the ecosystem we live in. Vidya does what she does best but Shefali Shah is the show stealer!

Jalsa starring Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah in the lead is a fantastic thriller revolving around a modern independent journalist who is the emblem of truth for the public. However, she follows a path of lies and corruption when she accidentally hits her maid’s daughter with her car.

The best part about this thriller is that there is no suspense. The crux is given to the audience at the very beginning and yet you are kept on your toes till the climax. You know the destination, but it is the journey that you enjoy more. The screenplay is very sharp with great dialogues. The characterization is very nicely done. Human tendencies and emotions have been very well captured both in the writing as well as the performances.

Vidya Balan is known for her abilities of adding authenticity and rawness to the characters she plays. This time too, she plays Maya Menon with comfort. She plays a modern mother who has just committed a murder and holds anxiety and guilt up and apparent on her face. But this time, she isn’t the show stealer. It is Shefali Shah. What a fantastic actress she is and deserves all the accolades. With minimum dialogues, Shefali paints a magical picture and you not only relate but sympathize with her character, feel her pain and towards the end, will probably make you cry too!

On the whole, more than anything else, this film very nicely portrays human tendencies and the disparity between the upper and the lower class, the politics of living in India. It also manages to thrill and contains fantastic performances. Jalsa did go unnoticed and under-appreciated than what it should have been due to The Kashmir Files wave. However, it is definitely a good watch for everyone.

Watch the trailer here :