Alia Bhatt’s much-anticipated film Jigra premiered in theaters on Friday. Directed by Vasan Bala, the movie features Bhatt as a sister who is determined to rescue her brother from a foreign prison where he faces a death sentence. While the action drama is garnering positive feedback from audiences and some critics, its storyline has sparked curiosity among viewers. The film takes place in an East Asian country named Hanshi Dao, an island nation characterized by its authoritarian regime.
In Jigra, Hanshi Dao serves as the backdrop for the characters Ankur, played by Vedang Raina, and his cousin, who visit the island for a business venture. Unfortunately, they are arrested for possessing drugs, and Ankur is falsely accused of drug trafficking. Various legal professionals depicted in the film mention that Hanshi Dao’s only penalty for drug trafficking is death. Furthermore, Alia’s character, Satya, reveals that the country imposes fines for actions such as laughing and crying, illustrating its oppressive nature. Brief scenes also indicate that terms like “revolution” and “dissent” are prohibited, emphasizing the country’s dictatorial regime. The characters communicate in Mandarin, indicating the East Asian setting and Chinese influence.
Hanshi Dao is portrayed as an island located south of Malaysia, off the coast of Southeast Asia. However, it’s important to note that Hanshi Dao is a fictional creation and does not exist in reality. Its depiction draws inspiration from several Asian countries. While there is no actual island nation adjacent to Malaysia, the two neighboring countries are Singapore and Indonesia.
The architecture seen in Hanshi Dao resembles that of Singapore, as the film was shot there. The stringent penalties for drug-related offenses reflected in the film echo Indonesia’s strict laws regarding drug trafficking. The festivals and authoritarian traits depicted align more closely with the political climates of Hong Kong and North Korea. A similar storyline of an Indian being imprisoned in an Asian country for drug offenses and subsequently rescued was previously explored in the 1993 film Gumraah, set in Hong Kong.
Directed by Vasan Bala and produced by the production houses of Alia Bhatt and Karan Johar, Jigra has received a mix of reviews but is primarily praised by audiences. On its opening day, the film collected ₹4.25 crore, indicating a somewhat modest start at the box office.
