Jewel Thief movie review
A master jewel thief and infamous criminal boss try to steal the Red Sun, the most elusive African diamond, from under the world’s nose. But as alliances change and a perilous web of deception and treachery transforms the high-stakes operation into a lethal game, the flawlessly planned theft spirals out of control.
Jewel Thief centres on Rehan Roy (Saif Ali Khan), a conman attempting to steal one of the rarest diamonds when a feared criminal, Rajan Aulakh (Jaideep Ahlawat), threatens to pursue the former’s family. Rehan, however, has other intentions should he fall for Rajan’s wife, Farah (Nikita Dutta).
In this high-stakes drama, directors Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal provide a fast-paced entertainment with gorgeous production and edge-of-the-seat thrills. Though the movie fulfils all the criteria of a traditional heist caper, it increases the excitement as it develops into a high-stakes double-crossing game. Rehan not only utilises his brains to steal the diamond from one of the world’s most protected museums, but also has to outsmart Rajan, an unyielding criminal boss who will kill even his most faithful subordinates, hence boosting the stakes and increasing the excitement. Rehan is also being pursued by a police squad under Vikram Patel (Kunal Kapoor).
Familiar clichés—breaking into an impenetrable vault, a hapless love interest, and an estranged family dynamic—help the potboiler rely on. It also leaves certain storylines open. Though never fully developed, the suggested past between Rajan and the dark overlord Moosa (Dorendra Singh Loitongbam) is addressed. Rehan’s assistant Nikki Taneja (Meenal Sahu) also shows up just to help him; there is no past or background to anchor her presence in the narrative. Still, the conflict between power and intelligence—and outsmarting anybody in the way—keeps the action interesting.
Finesse defines the sequences of practicing for the theft and the drama in the sky. The movie has its fair share of flaws; some plot elements seem too convenient and implausible—for example, a much-sought-after conman like Rehan being chased by two inept officers. The story is still fast-paced and Jishnu Bhattacharjee’s photography gives it a high-gloss appearance.
Also Read: Phule Movie Review: A Sincere Tribute to India’s Courageous Social Reformers
As the smooth con artist, Saif Ali Khan dominates the performance by perfectly capturing every detail from sleight-of-hand feats and high-octane action to emotionally charged moments with his estranged father, Dr. Jayant Roy (Kulbhushan Kharbanda). As the scary antagonist, Jaideep Ahlawat is pitch-perfect and even in quiet times he manages to send shivers down the spine. The supporting cast—including Kunal Kapoor as cop Vikram Patel and Nikita Dutta as Rajan’s wife—holds its own.
Jewel Thief is an interesting movie since it’s a sharp robbery caper with excellent performances and high-stakes drama. Its smooth execution, tense confrontations, and twists, driven by the charming conman, will keep you interested all the way through.
