Jalwa (1987) – Movie Review
📌 Overview
- Release Date: June 29, 1987 mubi.com+13digit.in+13en.wikipedia.org+13
Director: Pankaj Parashar en.wikipedia.org+6en.wikipedia.org+6mouthshut.com+6
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah (Inspector Kapil), Archana Puran Singh, Pankaj Kapur, Johnny Lever, Saeed Jaffrey, Dalip Tahil, Rohini Hattangadi reddit.com+7en.wikipedia.org+7mouthshut.com+7
Rating: IMDb 6.6/10 reddit.com+3imdb.com+3digit.in+3
Genre: Action-comedy / thriller, loosely adapted from Beverly Hills Cop scroll.in+4en.wikipedia.org+4reddit.com+4
🧭 Plot Synopsis
Inspector Kapil (Naseeruddin Shah) is devastated when his brother dies of a drug overdose. After joining the police force, Kapil sets off to Goa to investigate the murder of his friend Albert Pinto. Facing resistance from local law enforcement, he goes rogue, battling criminals and uncovering a drug racket mouthshut.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4imdb.com+4.
⭐ Strengths
1. Energy & Pacing
Directed by Pankaj Parashar, Jalwa moves at a brisk pace, rarely letting the audience feel the runtime, despite its ~134-minute length mubi.com+9mouthshut.com+9letterboxd.com+9.
2. Naseeruddin Shah’s Mass Appeal
Known for his serious theatre work, Shah surprised audiences with his transformation into a buff, chest‑baring action hero. Viewers appreciated this new side of him scroll.in.
3. Catchy Soundtrack & Background Score
Remo Fernandes’s track “Dekho Dekho Yeh Hai Jalwa” became the film’s anthem. The film even gained tax-exempt status thanks to its anti-drug messaging scroll.in+3mouthshut.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3.
4. Blend of Comedy and Action
With Johny Lever, Satish Kaushik, and Pankaj Kapur delivering memorable comic relief, the film strikes a balance between laughs and thrills mouthshut.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
⚠️ Drawbacks
Predictable Remake: The movie follows Beverly Hills Cop beat-for-beat, which may feel uninspired to some .
- Occasional Slumps: Certain scenes (like the Raksha Bandhan sequence) feel slower or misplaced imdb.com+13mouthshut.com+13reddit.com+13.
🎭 Cultural Legacy
Jalwa continues to hold nostalgic value through frequent satellite re-runs. Producers have even explored a restoration and re-release, citing that the film “doesn’t seem one bit dated” .
🎯 Verdict
Jalwa remains a vibrant mix of celebratory mass comedy, energetic performances, and pop‑rock music. It may not break new cinematic ground, but its charisma, tunes, and nostalgic Goa‑backdrop make it a cult classic of 80s Bollywood entertainment.
Final Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) – Entertaining, fun‑loving, and a nostalgic ride with attitude!