Jubilee Web Series – Review

Jubilee is a new Web Series on Amazon Prime OTT directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. It’s available with Hindi and Tamil audio, among other languages.

The name of the director is the reason why I decided to watch this series, and I was not let down. The first 8 episodes were sheer class. The last two episodes are a disaster – not technically, but with the type of message it propagates.

I know I ought not to expect a message from a work of fiction, but I expect some sort of an aspirational feel from drama. I got that aspiration in both the lead characters – Jay Khanna and Madan Kumar (and even other actors) abundantly.

Jubilee is a web series based on the movie industry (dominated by studios) set in Bombay during the late 40s and early 50s, just after India attains freedom. It’s about aspiration, stardom, over-confidence, and the eventual downfall of a new Indian industry (then) – Cinema.

The first eight episodes are a treat to watch. The characterization is as brilliant as the cast selection and acting. There is ample interconnectedness between characters and they were portrayed realistically. The story and visual treatment are just too good. This movie just brings the bygone era to life.

I found myself rooting for Jay Khanna, the underdog, who battles multiple hardships to make it big in the movie industry in spite of being a refugee from Karachi just after partition.

But once the main characters become successful, they develop overconfidence and start thinking they are infallible, just like what happens in real life. The series does a great job of bringing out the greys in all characters. There are no good guys and bad guys – everyone is good and bad, just like in real life.

The problem starts at the end of the show. I don’t get why they had to make it so depressing by making everyone lose everything – well, almost. There is no one to root for, but the end of the first season. It’s realistic alright, but difficult to digest – at least for me.

Do yourself a favour and watch the first seven or eight episodes because they are brilliant. The moment you feel depressed, switch it off and don’t watch the remaining. I just wish the ending was very very different.

Destination Infinity