Plato once said: ‘True lies in the middle, not in between left or right.’ Junge seeks out Jung Bahadur in the center. They represent him in gray color, not in black and white. Character and circumstances are right in the modern adaptation of Jung Bahadur Rana.
The thought of Jung Bahadur started from the ‘Kotparba’ massacre on 19 September 1846 which is still sustained in modern times. Almost all Nepalese are au fait with the exponential rise of Jung Bahadur, the originator of the Rana dynasty in Nepal, and conspiracies interlaced against the monarch and courtiers in palaces.
And based on the historical events on the rise of Jung Bahadur, director Utkal Thapa has successfully unknotted those conspiracies in Junge, through the modern-day character adaptation.
Junge, played by Suraj Singh Thakuri, is a frantic youth of Birgunj, who wanders around pointlessly and does whatever comes his way. There is an impulsive change in him after his father is killed in a crossfire. Silently drawn from provocation to revolt, he escalates in the power ladder. With the present-day storyline, the movie exposes how machination is prepared and how people tussle to gain power.
Director Thapa has effectively submerged historical events with modern-day crimes such as smuggling of drugs, and red sandalwood among others. Presenting historical facts in the modern context is not an easy job, but Thapa as a director has done the job realistically.
As per the cast, Nazir Hussain steals the show with his role as a drug addict. His witty declamation skills make you laugh out loud even during the intense storyline. Naresh Poudel in the role of a powerful king of Birgunj is resounding. His movements as a king, his expressions — gratified and confident — are worth mentioning.
Reecha Sharma has tried her best to fit in the role of the queen. Her dress-up, eye contact, and devious nature are aptly presented.
Thakuri, however, can’t get into his character’s casing. He is more like the celeb ‘Suraj Singh Thakuri’ rather than Junge on screen. He is bulky, his body should have toned down a little to give that imprint of the olden times Jung Bahadur Rana. The latter half of the movie is more powerful and with Junge in the central of the plot. To sum up, Thakuri could have delivered an even more commanding enactment.
The background score during the fighting scenes is loud and irritant to your ears. You can feel inspiration from ‘Singham’ or ‘Dabaang’ at times, especially during the songs.
Junge is a blend of thought and entertainment. If you are interested in politics, monarchy, and historical occurrence, then is for you. Having an outline knowledge of Jung Bahadur Rana and his life story would make it easier to draw logical interpretations of the narrative.
