FAL versus Fevicol

‘Fair and Lovely Ka Jalwa’, originally just ‘Jalwa’ from the upcoming Jawani Phir Nahi Aani is quite the talk of the town these days and the item song is projected as one of the selling points of the film. Starring a blond and pretty Sohai Ali Abro, the only one in the dance track who can actually dance, it also throws light on the (lack of) agility from Humayun Saeed, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Vasay Chaudhry and Ahmed Ali Butt. ‘Fevicol Se’, featuring Kareena Kapoor along with Salman Khan in Dabanng 2, was positioned in the same way back in 2014; it was an item that aimed to pull the masses to the theatre.

THE LYRICS

Located in what appears to be a wedding setting, ‘Jalwa’ urges you to “chakh fair and lovely da jalwa” (taste the miracles of fair and lovely) which seems to apply, literally, that Fair and Lovely is a miracle product and metaphorically, that the fair girl will get the groom. If that alone isn’t enough to get women activists up in arms then nothing is. Back in India, the National Commission for Women actually did send a notice to producer-director Arbaaz Khan for offensive lyrics ‘laundiya patayenge missed call se‘ from item song ‘Fevicol Se‘.

‘Jalwa’ just doesn’t cut the impact that it attempts to, and that has nothing to do with its (lack of) soul. The problem is lack of aesthetics. ‘Fevicol Se’ from Dabangg 2 was an equally loud promotion of a brand but it worked because of its tongue and cheek undertones. ‘Fevicol’ was used as a metaphor; it’s not like anyone was actually going to stick photographs of hot girls on their chests with super glue. But ‘FALKJ’ is too literal in its interpretation.

More offensive: ‘Jalwa’

THE DANCE MOVES

‘Fevicol’ was choreographed by ace Indian choreographer Farah Khan and likewise, another Indian choreographer, Shabina Khan was flown in from India for ‘Jalwa’. Shabina Khan came to Pakistan for ten days, in which she recorded ‘Jalwa’ as well as all the other songs for the film, except for the finale song that has been performed by Ahmed Ali Butt and is being videographed by Adnan Malik.

One has to say that other than Sohai Ali Abro, no one in this dance has the moves. In fact, the men are so inept that one wonders whether they are actually trying or whether it’s a spoof of an item. Salman Khan is no John Travolta when it comes to his footwork but he has managed to assimilate an endearing quality that makes his actions cute. He doesn’t attempt to dance at all and just enacts in what has become his signature style.

Better footwork: ‘Fevicol Se’

THE LOOK

The men in ‘Jalwa’ are dressed like a train wreck and that applies especially to Hamza Ali Abbasi (in Ali Xeeshan) and Vasay Chaudhry (in Jazib Qamar). Humayun Saeed (in Deepak Perwani) and Ahmed Ali Butt (in Jazib Qamar) look tolerable but nothing to write home about. That said, Salman Khan dressed in a uniform had no great style element at all.

It boils down to the leading ladies and we have to say that we prefer Ali Xeeshan’s pink ghagra choli for Sohai in ‘Jalwa’ than Manish Malhotra’s miniscule cholis for Kareena in ‘Fevicol’. Had Kareena been as svelte as she was back in the Tashan days she would have been able to rock the look but she doesn’t here.

Kareena or Sohai, who looks better: Sohai

So, can ‘Jalwa’ hope to become the wedding anthem that ‘Fevicol’ did? We’ll leave that to you to decide!