Netflix’s Thriller: Drishyam’s Poor Cousin

In Sujoy Ghosh’s “Jaane Jaan,” three talented actors, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Vijay Varma, collaborate in a story inspired by the bestselling Japanese novel “Devotion of Suspect X.”

Jeethu Joseph’s much-celebrated blockbuster, Drishyam, starring Mohanlal, was also inspired by the same novel. So, what makes Jaane Jaan different? Well, it’s a new take in a new set-up, where the place makes the story more mysterious.

Unlike the typical crime mysteries, “Jaane Jaan” quickly reveals the perfect crime, keeping the audience engaged from the start. However, the film lacks novelty, as we have seen a similar drama unfold in Drishyam.

Jaideep Ahlawat stands out with his outstanding performance, bringing depth to the character. Kareena’s downplay leaves an impressive mark, and Vijay playing a good cop with a repetition of “sultry neighbor” from Lust Stories 2 is okayish.

Despite its flaws, the movie has enjoyable moments, but the character development falls short. The narrative’s slow burn loses some impact when the twist is already known.

Jaane Jaan can be called a poor cousin of Drishyam with some loopholes. The film isn’t entirely bad or unwatchable. It’s decent, but the shock value is missing since we have seen such films in the very recent past.