Writer/Director: Mansoor Khan
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Sharad Kapoor
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actresses in India have created movies which satisfy audiences like Aishwarya Rai. Ever since her rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Rai has become a beloved actress that has made memorable movies. Whether it’s bold historic figures, doomed lovers or rebellious daughters, Rai has portrayed several strong characters. Arguably, Rai’s best strength as an actress has often been her bravery. She is one of those rare actresses which hasn’t been afraid of taking risks in her career by taking on controversial characters. Through her ability to create strong female heroines audiences can relate to, Rai has become a great actress whose work audiences value. Throughout her impressive career, Rai has made several unforgettable movies that are absolutely worth talking about without any doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Rai and adore all the films which she has made in her career. However, “Josh” absolutely stands out as being her most underrated movie. Released in 2000, Mansoor Khan’s movie offered a powerful portrait of gang rivalries. Packed with bold musical sequences, engrossing storytelling and strong acting, it’s a brilliant Bollywood gangster drama. At the centre of it all is an incredible performance from Aishwarya Rai, who embodies a young woman that takes a part in a fierce gang. Although “Josh” is a brilliant Bollywood drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from uneven pacing testing viewers’ patience. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of Shah Rukh Khan.
“Josh” tells the story of two gangs engaging in a tense rivalry. Shah Rukh Khan portrays Max Dias, a commanding leader of a gang in India. Max has always shared a conflicted relationship with the Scorpions gang that is spearheaded by a rival. However, Max’s life forever changes when he falls in love with the sister of a rivalrous gang leader. Shirley (Aishwarya Rai) is a beautiful woman that happens to be the sister of a rivalrous gang leader Max hates. Faced with a frightening dilemma, Max questions whether it is truly possible for him to spearhead a successful gang in India.
Mansoor Khan has always been fascinated with themes of rivalry. An excellent Indian filmmaker, Khan has often made engaging movies about rivals that face disaster. His iconic movie “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” offered a powerful portrait of rival families that are torn apart by tragedy. With “Josh”, however, Khan made his first action drama. It marked the filmmaker’s first attempts to capture the lives of gangs engaging in grim rivalries but he succeeded. Using stunning cinematography, Khan captures a leader of a gang engaging in rivalry. Evoking Robert Wise’s “West Side Story”, Khan successfully uses montages to capture intense rivalries of gangs. For instance, montages enhance the gang rivals scene. During this engaging scene, Max engages in a tense rivalry with gangs that cause adversity. Using stunning montages, Khan creates a portrait of gangs that’s engaging. Montages are complicated to use in films. As Farah Khan’s “Main Hoon Na” suggested, montages enhance Indian movies about college. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Using engaging visuals, Khan captures the tension that rival gangs are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Josh” which merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best Bollywood movies which you will ever watch. Inspired with Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather”, Khan effectively uses costumes to capture rivalrous gangs facing disaster. Throughout the film, Max’s costumes show his transformation into a gangs leader. For instance, costumes elevate the truth scene. During this heartfelt scene, Max uncovers a shocking secret about his lovers’ gangster identity. Using captivating costumes, Khan creates a portrait of gangs that’s engaging. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the film tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that gangs bear. Through stunning production, Khan captures gangs facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Josh” is a Bollywood film that’s engaging. The film is beautifully written, and expertly uses silence to capture individuals affected by gang violence. Evoking Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York”, Khan effectively uses silence to capture gangsters impacted with violence. For instance, the silence elevates the gang aftermath scene. During this tense scene, Max faces a state of stunned silence after witnessing gruesome gangs violence. Through stunning silence, Khan creates a portrait of gangs that audiences can relate to. Silence is a complex technique to use in films. As Karan Johar’s “My Name is Khan” suggested, silence enhances movies about terrorism. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a strong screenplay, Khan captures gangs facing a painful price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Aishwarya Rai delivers one of her greatest performances as Shirley. Rai first achieved appreciation for playing romantic heroines in classic Bollywood. With “Josh”, however, the actress took on her most complex role. It’s not easy to portray a woman that takes part in a fierce gang facing rivalry but she succeeds. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. With riveting expressions, she captures the angst, bravery and reckless spirit of a gang member facing tensions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the best actresses in Bollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Rai, the supporting cast is also superb and worthy of recognition. Shah Rukh Khan is spectacular, bringing charisma towards a fierce gang leader seeking to protect close companions in dangers. Sharad Kapoor is spectacular, bringing authority to a rival gang leader which faces intense pressures. Lastly, Sharat Saxena merits appreciation. As a police inspector, he is unforgettable.
Although “Josh” is an engaging Bollywood drama, it isn’t a flawless film. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks strong pacing. Khan’s choice to integrate subplots about politics into the movie is admirable but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty technique, scenes capturing politics of gangs aren’t as engaging as Max’s journey. Therefore, “Josh” cannot quite capture struggles of gangs which audiences adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Aishwarya Rai will definitely enjoy “Josh” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A riveting Bollywood gangs drama, it honours an act with charisma in India.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about gangs which engage in violence, it’s a strong reminder of an actress with a powerful presence that has created memorable movies throughout her career earning a big audience.
4.5/5 stars
