Soumik Sen and Vikramaditya Motwane’s Jubilee has been creating quite a hype since its trailer launch. And with an impressive star cast, stunning visuals, and an intriguing storyline, this one looked promising. Set in the 1940s and 50s, Jubilee is an homage to the early years of the Hindi film industry. And it loosely refers to actual Bollywood stories which makes it even more captivating to watch. So, here’s our review of Jubilee.

An homage to old cinema and all the dirty deets

We’ve always known that there are deep dark secrets behind the shiny image of Bollywood. From scandals to plotting schemes, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes in the industry. And Jubilee is a tale that narrates this story a little too well. Roy Talkies is one of the biggest production houses which closely resembles Bombay Talkies in its said glory. It is run by Srikant Roy (Prosenjit Chatterjee) and his superstar wife Sumitra Kumari (Aditi Rao Hydari). Srikant is all set to find a new face for his movies and Jamshed Khan (Nandish Singh Sandhu) is his latest catch. But Jamshed needs to be Madan Kumar to be more relatable for the audience. Fun fact, he is also Sumitra’s new affair. And when it comes to retaining Roy Talkies or his wife, Srikant makes it clear he will choose his work over her.

Jubilee also shows the dark and cutthroat side of the industry as Srikant tasks his left-hand Binod (Aparshakti Khurana) to do all his dirty work. He sends him to get his wife and Jamshed to Mumbai as Jamshed has also promised to work for a drama group. And Srikant wants to close him as it is hard to find a good actor. But Binod has bigger dreams and is not afraid to get people out of his way to achieve them. He’s a passionate artist and wants to be recognised for his work on the big screen, but will he get his chance?

A special mention to sets and costume designs

One thing about Jubilee that is really appreciable, besides everything else, is the visual appeal. The short wavy hair with the net blouse sarees and structured fitted dresses on Sumitra bring out her character even more. And the sharp suits, berets, suspenders, and dhotis transport you directly to the 40s and 50s. The vintage vibe of the series is enhanced by the set designs that are immaculate and bring out the old glory of Bollywood. The lighting and angles of certain scenes also add great detail to the overall picturisation, making it an absolute visual treat.

Commendable casting and acting

Jubilee is a great story, but what makes it stand out is the casting of the characters. With a very promising star cast, every actor has done admirable work that adds depth to this drama. Prosenjit Chatterjee as Srikant Roy is firm and has a clear vision of what he wants and plays his part to perfection. Aditi as Sumitra Kumari is a powerful force who is let down by her circumstances but stands strong. Aparshakti Khurana as an aspiring actor and loyal employee is extremely convincing and strong. Along with him, Nandish, as Jamshed, Sidhant Gupta, as Jay Khanna, a theatre director, and Wamiqa Gabbi, as Niloufer, a dancer, have given praiseworthy performances. And not to forget Ram Kapoor as the sticky financer Shamsher Singh Walia. Flawless!

Jubilee is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The series has another five episodes which will stream from April 14, so mark your calendars as you don’t wanna miss this one.

Featured Image Source

Related: Comedy, Thrillers, Vampires, Reality Shows: April 2023 OTT Releases Have It All