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Jersey movie review: Nani delivers a sublime performance in Gowtam Tinnanuri's emotional tour de force

There’s rarely a wrong note in Jersey, and it’s even more rare to come across a Telugu film which feels so real without being melodramatic

To say that Jersey  is a labour of love would be an understatement. This film isn’t just about cricket and how beautiful the game is. It isn’t just about how one man breaks all preconceived notions about ageing sportsmen. It isn’t yet another sports drama about fulfilling dreams. Jersey is the story of a man, who’s scared that he might accept his own reality and the idea that he isn’t special. It drives him crazy, and he sets out on a journey to rewrite his own legacy. It’s hard to pinpoint why Jersey works like magic. It is as sublime as Sachin Tendulkar smashing a six or Federer hitting a backhand slice.

The film has Nani playing Arjun, a swashbuckling cricketer who has his eyes on the Indian cricket team. However, when his name is dropped from the list, he decides to quit playing cricket and settles down as a government employee. His wife Sara (Shraddha Srinath) and his son Nani (Ronit) are his world now; however, a decade later, his life goes downhill. Having been suspended from his job, he struggles to make ends meet, and has to depend on his wife for his expenses. Amidst all this, the only thing that remains intact is his love for his son, Nani (Ronit). The rest of the story is about how Arjun goes back to being a cricketer.

There’s rarely a wrong note in Jersey, and it’s even more rare to come across a Telugu film which feels so real without being melodramatic. There’s a wonderful scene in the beginning of the film where Sara tells Arjun to pay the electricity bill and gives him hundred rupee note. When Arjun asks her for Rs 500 to buy a gift for their son, she rejects his request bluntly. Resigned to his fate, Arjun accepts his reality and lives with the guilt of being an unproductive member of the family. Arjun is remarkably restrained as a person, and he never lets his emotions overwhelm him, except for one sequence where he wants to scream his lungs out out of sheer joy. He’s a silent fighter, who will not speak up even if it means having to undergo humiliation and rejection. But on the cricket field, Arjun is a different person. He feels so alive that nothing else matters to him, and after resisting the idea of going back for too long, he finally convinces himself, and also the world, that he still has a lot of fire in his belly. The contrast between this two phases in Arjun’s life is uplifting to watch. That the film gently pushes you to root for Arjun, despite not knowing how good a player he was, is testimony to some wonderful writing and a stellar performance by Nani.

Gowtam Tinnanuri’s vision of Jersey is a triumph in itself. The film is set in the 1980-90s, and the muted colour tone gives Jersey an other-worldly feel to it. It turns the wheel of time to an era where the gap between dreams and reality was too big to bridge; where spending Rs 500 for something would be too much of a financial burden for a middle-class family; where accepting their fate and not wanting to fight back was normal. Several films claim to be ‘honest’ and ‘real’ in their depiction of their characters’ lives. Jersey shows us what that looks and feels like. Its beauty lies in how un-cinematic the whole film feels because Gowtam draws us into the lives of the characters of Jersey instead of just showing them on screen. In the end, their dreams become ours, their triumph becomes our collective joy.

As Arjun, Nani hits a lots of boundaries and at times, he smashes the ball out of the stadium, but that’s not all. With Jersey, the actor has catapulted himself into the stratosphere of his acting prowess, and delivered a sublime performance that will be talked about for a long time. It looks like all those hours of playing cricket have come in handy; however, it’s his performance as a father of a young boy that takes your breath away. Shraddha Srinath makes an impressive debut in Telugu with Jersey. As Sara, Shraddha brings in a lot of authenticity to her character and whether it’s her confrontation with Nani or the tears that she holds back, Shraddha stands out with her performance. Ronit, who played Nani’s son, is a brilliant casting choice and the young boy takes you by surprise every time he’s on screen. Sathyaraj delivers another wonderful performance as a coach in the film.

Anirudh Ravichander lifts the story to another level with his music while the cinematography by Sanu Varghese is stunning. Gowtam Tinnanuri brings in a different flavour of storytelling with Jersey. It could have been an inspiring story about a cricketer, whose presence inspires others in the team; however, the film isn’t about how Arjun got back on the field. It’s about why he wanted to get back and the price he was willing to pay. And there lies the masterstroke of Jersey. At a run-time of 160 minutes, Jersey packs in so many emotional moments that it’ll leave you with a heavy heart and loads of tears. It’s a blessing that this film exists in Telugu. Watch it, cherish it, and soak yourself in the world of Jersey. They don’t make such films so often these days.

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‘Jersey’ review: A uneasy walk back to the crease

Gowtam tinnanuru’s official remake of his telugu hit ‘jersey’ stars shahid kapoor, mrunal thakur and pankaj kapur..

Shahid Kapoor delivered one of his career’s biggest hits with Kabir Singh , the remake of the Telugu-language Arjun Reddy . Kapoor’s new film Jersey is also from Hyderabad. Gowtam Tinnanuru has remade his film of the same name from 2019, barely tinkering with the source material and even adding some minutes to the running length.

The 171-minute Hindi version is the saga of Arjun (Kapoor), a talented batsman who is on the edge of a promising career when he steps back from the game. Suspended from his government job after being falsely accused of corruption and forced to depend on his wife for money, 36-year-old Arjun has all but been turfed out of the sport and, it appears, from life itself.

This ticking time bomb, who is ripe for psychological counselling, is forced into action when his son demands a jersey of the sort worn by the national cricket team. Unable to afford the sum of Rs 500 – the film is set mostly in the 1990s – Arjun finally begins the steep climb towards glory.

Arjun’s long-time coach Bali (Pankaj Kapur) is his biggest advocate. Having declared that Arjun is the best Indian batsman in the annals of the game, Bali waits for his protege to get his act together.

The chronicle of heroism needs a villain, and should have found it in Arjun’s self-doubt. Tinnanuru’s screenplay half-heartedly explores Arjun’s crippling self-doubt, poor anger management and prickly pride. Somewhere along the feel-good arc of this typical sports drama is hidden a potentially curious film, one in which we better understand men like Arjun – flawed and egoistic but also vulnerable and endearing in their stubborn idealism.

Instead, Tinnanuru heaps some of the blame at the feet of Arjun’s wife Vidhya (Mrunal Thakur). Circumstances have transformed Vidhya from Arjun’s biggest cheerleader to his biggest detractor. Understandably fed up of her sulking husband and anxious about their precarious bank balance, Vidhya is nevertheless portrayed as the main obstacle that Arjun must navigate during his triumphant march back to the pavilion.

Arjun’s misery occupies nearly half the film’s runtime. It’s a downer all the way until Arjun begins swinging a metaphorical bat that sends the ball to the boundary.

But Tinnanuru isn’t done. He saves for the end a secret about Arjun so big that it has escaped his cricket handlers and has even evaded his biographer. So much for her reporting skills.

Despite operating in a realistic register, Jersey is frequently prone to exaggeration. Arjun’s advanced age – one of the key reasons for the doubts about his comeback– vanishes as soon as he begins to re-connect bat to ball. Sidharth-Garima’s dialogue actually trots out the cliche that “age is only a number”.

A charity match assumes as much importance as a World Cup event. When Arjun tries to borrow money from Vidhya, she hands over her entire jewellery collection.

It always keeps coming back to Vidhya. The relationship between husband and wife is as inconsistent as Arjun’s bond with his son is rock-steady. The Hindi remake ignores the opportunity to course-correct the punitive attitude towards Vidhya in the original Telugu film.

Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur are admirably committed to a narrative that goes on for far too long but says little about the challenges faced by older athletes. Kaun Pravin Tambe? , the biopic of the bowler who made his Indian Premiere League debut at the age of 41, did a far better job of portraying its lead character’s struggle for validation.

Kapoor broods well and wields the bat with confidence too. Mrunal Thakur, despite being saddled with a poorly written character, ably conveys Vidhya’s anguish. As Arjun’s buoyant coach, Pankaj Kapur lends much-needed lightness to a film that sometimes feels as heavy as its self-pitying hero.

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Release date : April 19, 2019

123telugu.com Rating : 3.5/5

Starring : Nani , Shraddha Srinath, Sathyaraj, Rao Ramesh

Director : Gautam Tinnanuri

Producers : Suryadevara Naga Vamsi

Music Director : Anirudh Ravichander

Cinematographer : Sanu Varghese

Editor : Navin Nooli

Nani has been super confident about Jersey right from the day it was launched. Directed by Gautam Tinnanuri, this film has hit the screens today. Let’s see how the film turns out to be.

Arjun(Nani) is an ex Ranji player who leads a depressed life with his wife Sara(Shraddha Srinath) and son Nani. This life style of his does not go well with Sara and especially his son who at a crucial moment edges Arjun to do something in life and become his real life hero. Rest of the story is as to how Arjun changes his life style and embraces cricket back and becomes an inspiration for many.

Plus Points:

Jersey is a film which has some of the best performances in recent times. Every character in the film is so well enacted that you get carried away with all the emotions throughout the film.

Nani is loved by one and all when he does relatable roles and the same happens in Jersey. He gives his career best performance as Arjun and drains you emotionally throughout the film. The pain he showcases is superb. Be it the scenes where he goes to the railway station and brings out his joy after getting selected or the manner in which he handles scenes related to his son with the Jersey, Nani was exceptional and gave an award winning performance.

Shraddha Srinath makes a solid debut and looks like a super performer. The manner in which she showcases different variations in her character is amazing. Her chemistry with Nani was too good. The small kid who played Nani’s son was decent. Satya Raj once again plays a pivotal supporting role and he is best with his emotions.

What makes Jersey so special are the realistic emotions. Director Gautam should be praised highly for keeping the emotions real which will connect to many. The manner in which the film goes back and front in time has been showcased well. Also, the climax is superb as the manner in which the twist is revealed is good and leaves you teary eyed.

Minus Points:

The length of the film is a tad long and there is a chance for the film to be trimmed for at least 8 to 10 minutes.

The second half of the film is also good but becomes a bit predictable when the cricket is showcased. Routine cricket scenes bring the pace down a bit.

Technical Aspects:

Though Anirudh and his songs sound normal, they fit perfectly in the narrative. His BGM is on another level as the elevates the emotions completely. The production design needs a special mention as the different time frames have been showcased superbly.

Lyrics are meaningful and so were the dialogues which are realistic and on point. Production values of the film are really good and camerawork is amazing as the middle class set up and Ranji matches have been shown superbly. Shraddha Srinath has been designed quite well.

Coming to the director Gautam Tinnanuri, he showed glimpses of his brilliance in Malli Raava but his game in Jersey is on another level. Without falling prey to the commercial aspects, he narrates the story of a loser with such beautiful emotions that every member in the family can relate to. The twist he has chosen and the manner in which he uses it to narrate the goal of the hero is so well thought. He is an amazing talent and Jersey will put him in top bracket for sure.

On the whole, Jersey is a realistic sports drama which moves you emotionally. Nani once again proves what an actor he is and single handedly takes the film to greater heights. Realistic narration, relatable characters, great performances and above all, honest emotions will make your heart heavy. If you ignore the slightly slow pace, this film will be liked by one and all and makes for a great watch as honest films like Jersey come rarely. Watch it without fail.

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click here for Telugu Review

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Users' Reviews

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Samarth Gopuwar 121 days ago

Chethancn 599 days ago.

Wonderful amazing movie

raghu6300386775 raghu 1084 days ago

Nani makes the proud to TFI.He makes a classic masterpiece.

esicsandeepkumar 1235 days ago

Best Inspirational movie I have seen ever in the history of bollywood.

Ramu singam 1334 days ago

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Jersey movie review: Shahid Kapoor hits a century in a film that's just too long

Jersey movie review: shahid kapoor delivers one of his best performances. however, the film's length works against it..

After Kabir Singh, Shahid Kapoor returns to the big screen with Jersey, almost after three years since his last film released. And you don’t feel he has changed one bit, at least as far as his look is concerned. However, his Arjun Talwar in Jersey is far calmer and restrained that the rowdy, angry Kabir Singh. Playing a talented but failed cricketer, a doting father, and a husband trying hard to save his marriage from falling apart, he carries the film on his able shoulders. While he hits it out of the park each time he’s on the field, the film shines in patches and with a disrupted narrative, often loses pace. (Also read: Jersey celeb review: Shahid Kapoor gets praises from 'lil bro' Ishaan Khatter, Varun Dhawan and more )

A Hindi remake of the 2019 Telugu film by the same name, Jersey has been written and directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, who also helmed the original. And no prize for guessing, the remake is a scene by scene copy of the original, much like most other south Indian films that get remade in Bollywood.

Jersey traces the tale of an exceptionally talented Ranji player Arjun Talwar (Shahid Kapoor), who quits cricket at the age of 26 and after 10 years, decides to revive his career and return to the game. In the process, Arjun wants to fulfil his son Kitu’s (Ronit Kamra) desire for a jersey and dream of seeing his father play cricket. Along this journey, Arjun goes through emotional turmoil and confrontations with his wife Vidya Talwar (Mrunal Thakur) who bears all the financial burden of the family.

But despite all helplessness, nothing seems to stop Arjun from following his dream of playing for the Indian national cricket team. He finds support in his coach Madhav Sharma (Pankaj Kapur), who also acts as a father figure to him.

High on emotion, Jersey lacks on the intrigue value that would keep you hooked. And the nearly three-hour runtime of the film makes it only worse.

To begin with, Arjun and Vidya’s romance and their struggle to convince her South Indian father to marry her daughter into a Punjabi household gets a bit too stretched. Even as the director tries to infuse a slight humour in these scenes using typical tropes of differences between North and South India cultures, the jokes fall flat.

In the entire first half, we only get to hear two things over and over again - son wanting a jersey and the father struggling to arrange ₹ 500 to buy that. It’s only the second half that story starts moving forward. Also, the film’s only big reveal that comes during the climax didn’t really overwhelm me. I wish the makers had thought of a different twist to make the story stand out from the original.

More than sports, Jersey highlights the dynamics of relationships - between a father and a son, a husband and a wife, a player and a coach, a failed cricketer and his friends. And that, I felt, lent a beautiful depth to the film. The endearing performances while displaying these bonds actually take the cake.

Shahid doesn’t go overboard with his performance and stays understated. His expressions of anger, frustration, helplessness, happiness and victory strike the right chord. I felt the Punjabi touch spread rather unevenly and tediously in his dialogues, could have been avoided. Nevertheless, this would definitely be among his finest performances.

Mrunal as the working wife and mother does her job well and doesn’t look forced in the script. The film gives ample scope to her to perform and she lets her expressions and eyes do most of the talking. Mrunal’s chemistry with Shahid isn’t superlative but works to an extent that they don’t look odd.

Ronit Kamra as Shahid and Mrunal’s onscreen son is the same kid from the original, and is as good in the Hindi remake, too. His scenes with Shahid are just delightful and you can connect with the bond this father-son duo share on screen. And then there’s Pankaj Kapur, veteran in the truest sense and a character that you instantly fall in love with. Even in the handful scenes he has, he picks up little nuances and brings the much-needed comic relief, too.

The scenes on the cricket field have been beautifully shot and cinematographer Anil Mehta captures the game in a magnificent way.

To sum up, Jersey stays true to the sports drama genre it belongs to and it strikes a fine balance between the game and emotional side of a sportsperson. Only if the makers had worked a little harder on the editing table and brought it to two-hour something, it would have been an ideal and crisp watch.

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Jersey Movie Review: An Almost-Identical Remake Of A Rousing Saga

Director:  Gowtam Tinnanuri Writer: Gowtam Tinnanuri, Siddharth & Garima Cast:  Shahid Kapoor, Mrunal Thakur, Pankaj Kapur Cinematographer: Anil Mehta Editor: Navin Nooli

As I watched Jersey , I wondered if OTT platforms had rendered the frame-to-frame remake obsolete. In 2019, writer-director Gowtam Tinnanuri made Jersey , a rousing saga about a failing, frustrated Ranji cricket player who makes a comeback at the age of 36. The story moves back and forth from 1985-86 to a decade later and we see two distinct versions of Arjun – the brash, flamboyant cricketer whose signature move is stretching his hand out with the bat and rotating his shoulder. And the defeated, aimless, washout who has been suspended from his government job. The star athlete now dulls his anguish with cigarettes and the company of deadbeat friends.

Nani , who plays Arjun in the Telugu film, is superb. He nails the spectacular highs and abject lows of Arjun's life. Jersey is a three-hankie weeper with child artist Ronit Kamra, who plays Arjun's seven-year-old son, dialling up the emotions with his dimpled smile and innocence. He reminded me of Jugal Hansraj in Masoom – his face is enough to make you want to hug and protect him. Jersey won two National Awards – one for best editing and one for best film in Telugu.

Which brings me back to my original question – why did we need a retread? Jersey , the Hindi version, is also directed by Gowtam. But he doesn't enlarge or significantly alter the story. He merely transplants it from Hyderabad to Chandigarh. The original and the remake are almost identical, including dialogue, situations and even frames – like the aerial shot of Arjun at the interval, declaring his intention to play cricket again and stepping out into the cricket field. The relocation of city, language and culture isn't explored in any deeper way. Punjabi colloquialisms like mai ave and chak de phattey are sprinkled throughout. There is a line about Daler Paaji ke gaane but the Punjabification of the narrative is largely superficial. There is little sense of a story rooted in that soil.

Shahid Kapoor 's last release, Kabir Singh , was also a nearly frame-to-frame remake of a Telugu film, Arjun Reddy . But there, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga managed to effectively translate the disturbingly sexist but seductive love story of a damaged man. Jersey is more like a xerox copy – exactly the same as the original but with less colour, vibrancy and soul.

Which stems more from the generic storytelling and less from Shahid's lack of trying. The actor does a fine job. Gowtam brings Ronit back as Arjun's son, perhaps hoping for a replay of the earlier magic. Shahid's scenes with the child actor are some of the best in the film. The father-son story is what gives this underdog sports story its beating heart. There is a lovely scene in which Kittu first watches his father play and does a bowing-down gesture from the stands. Later in the film, when Arjun asks him whether he should continue to play, Kittu says he should and adds that when his father is on the field, he looks like a hero to him. Arjun's cricket becomes his path to redemption, especially in the awestruck eyes of his son.

There is also the pleasure of the other father-son pairing – watching Shahid work with Pankaj Kapur , who plays coach Bali, Arjun's biggest cheerleader. Pankaj is a veteran of the less-is-more school of acting and his sheer presence saves the character from becoming a supportive coach cliché. Mrunal Thakur is Vidya, Arjun's wife, who is struggling to understand the man Arjun has become. This is the least convincing character in both films. Despite Arjun's success, she staunchly opposes his return to cricket – she dismisses it as an impractical dream. Why? Playing cricket gives Arjun a sense of purpose – it feels inconsistent that her character, who starts out as a fangirl, can't see that. The film also suffers from a sense of déjà vu. The cricket matches will take you back to ' 83 . Like in that film, here too, a windshield breaks because Arjun knocks a ball that far. But Anirudh Ravichander 's background score and Sachet-Parampara's songs, especially Maiyya Mainu and Mehram, help to heighten the drama and lift the storytelling.

The second half is stuffed with match sequences as the Punjab team moves up the Ranji Trophy table and soon enough, these become eye-glazing. The matches are accompanied by commentary which insists that tension is building, that there is tremendous pressure at the moment, that this is a nail-biting finale and that there are goosebumps everywhere but we as spectators, feel little of it. Thankfully, the emotional drama is heightened and the twist at the end, about what happened to Arjun, will make you tear up.

Especially if you are unfamiliar with the original. It's very likely that if you haven't seen that, this one will work better for you. But for admirers of Nani's Jersey like me, this Jersey isn't fresh or invigorating enough. You can watch the film at a theatre near you.

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Jersey movie review: A glorious father-son film amped up by good cricket

Starring shahid kapoor, mrunal thakur, and pankaj kapur in important roles, jersey is the official remake of the 2019 telugu blockbuster of the same name. it’s playing at a theatre near you..

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Jersey (U) 19/Apr/2019 Biography, Sports 2hrs 40mins

Critics Review

Nani starrer 'jersey' is a heart warming sports drama that lovingly blends the genre and human emotions.

Like every sports film, there is a failed sportsman returning to his game. There is a family that struggles to understand him. There is an ego clash inside his team. There is an adrenalin rushing last match to be won. But the success of this film is in the way it gets to those moments! The narration is organic! The performances are real! And the story has all the life! (more)

Source: Suhansid Srikanth, MovieCrow

A while into the film, Nani simply ceases to exist and it is only cricketer Arjun you see.

Watch this one this weekend if you're an ardent fan of cricket, for you will sit on the edge of your seat during the sporting scenes. Watch this one for Nani and the rest of the cast, who will make you fall in love with their characters by the time the end credits roll. But especially watch this one for Gowtam Tinnanuri, for it's not every day that a director manages to pull off a sports drama like this with ease. Jersey will make you laugh, cry and cheer out loud. (more)

Source: Neeshita Nyayapati, Times Of India

A film to savour

Apart from a few niggles like these, Jersey is endearing. It moves away from the oft-repeated trope of playing to win for the country. It's a deeply personal journey. Therein lies the difference and its triumph. (more)

Source: SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO, The Hindu

Emotion at its best

Jersey is a realistic sports drama which moves you emotionally. Nani once again proves what an actor he is and single handedly takes the film to greater heights. Realistic narration, relatable characters, great performances and above all, honest emotions will make your heart heavy. If you ignore the slightly slow pace, this film will be liked by one and all and makes for a great watch as honest films like Jersey come rarely. Watch it without fail. (more)

Source: 123telugu Team, 123telugu.com

Nani and Shraddha Srinath sparkle in excellent sports drama

Jersey is a film that celebrates the gift of life and teaches us to take life with a pinch of salt. It will move you, inspire you and make you look at your own life in a different way. Director Gowtam Tinnanuri's Jersey is not just your regular sports drama. It is an emotional film that talks about a disgruntled cricketer's life, his ever-supporting wife and what it is like to be back to doing what you once considered your life. Watch Jersey. (more)

Source: Janani, Indian Express

Hits the Ball Out of the Park

"Jersey" is an inspirational sports movie that tells the triumph of the common man and teaches you to never give up. Aided by natural performance of Nani and heart-warming moments, "Jersey" is a winner. This will appeal to audiences who like classy movies. (more)

Source: Janani, greatandhra.com

Gowtam Tinnanuri delivers a rewarding sports drama

Not just drama, Jersey has enough cricketing moments to draw you to the edge of the seat. Gowtam exactly knows how much of cricket should be shown at a given point in the narration, so that the game doesn't overshadow the human drama. The majority of the first half, we just get a few scenes of Arjun showing off his batting skills. Gowtam Tinnanuri saves the best-choreographed sporting moments for the second half. I can easily say that Jersey is one of the best sports dramas of the decade. (more)

Source: Manoj Kumar R, Indian Express

Nani delivers a sublime performance in Gowtam Tinnanuri's emotional tour de force

Gowtam Tinnanuri brings in a different flavour of storytelling with Jersey. It could have been an inspiring story about a cricketer, whose presence inspires others in the team; however, the film isn't about how Arjun got back on the field. It's about why he wanted to get back and the price he was willing to pay. And there lies the masterstroke of Jersey. At a run-time of 160 minutes, Jersey packs in so many emotional moments that it'll leave (more)

Source: Hemanth Kumar, Firstpost.com

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