Directed by : Shailender Vyas (4 episodes)

You see, America mein ho toh phenomena, possibilities pe research. Lekin hamare hindustan mein ho toh only one 'Story'. Hamara problem kya hai Shantanu, hamare desh mein Hindu, Muslim, Mandir, Masjid, Politics, Andhvishwaas se upar hum log kabhi uthte hi nahi... Agar humhe akaash mein kuch dikhayi de jaaye toh hum do haath jodh lete hai aur usse bhagwaan maan lete hai.. question nahi karte, we don't ask Why, What, How.. Never.


Spoilers ahead... 


CBI officer Shantanu (Abhay Deol) along with his colleague Gaurango (Rajesh Sharma) reaches a village of Lava in West Bengal. Expecting to find the missing plane that was carrying some important politicians, Shantanu is shocked to learn that it is instead a different plane JL50 that crashed near the village, and more so its a plane that took off 35 years ago. Is it some kind of staging done by ABA (Azaad Bengal Association) or are we talking time-travel here? 

Time-Travel in last few years has really gone up on me as something exciting, first it was Avengers Endgame and then the superb Dark series. JL50 unfortunately is neither entertaining as the former, and nor detailed like the latter. Yet you have to applaud for the honest attempt and the fact that its just a 4 episode series so despite the flaws you would end up watching it in a go. 

Two major issues I had was, firstly the characters aren't developed enough, there's too little time spent on Shantanu's back life, why his marriage fell apart, and then the time-travel when it does come is way too late. Also, the entire scenario where Shantanu tries to change the events going back in time, felt hurried and not exciting enough to me. The sci-fi effects aren't good but that could be low budget thing. 

Love the scene where Professor Subroto Das (Pankaj Kapur) talks about why we Indians won't believe something unique can be invented by our own people, there's a genuine true frustration felt in those words. Pankaj Kapur is easily the best performer in the series, a reason why his sudden change in final episode didn't go well with me, maybe I wanted him to stay a positive character but still its a good twist. Abhay Deol was expectedly good, a tad overstretched maybe when it comes to 'I don't believe time-travel is possible', otherwise you enjoy his act or the revelation when he learns how Bihu Ghosh (Ritika Anand) is related to him. Again, not proper character development made this scene not having that much impact as it otherwise would had. 

Rajesh Sharma is fun, only character who is all the time wanting Shantanu to believe its definately a time-travel. Piyush Mishra strangely was too hammy, and rest cast didn't quite work for me specially Ritika. 

Even though I found the attempt to connect time-travel with Hindu Mythology little odd with the narrative of show, I liked that small part specially how propaganda is used by big leaders like Hitler shown or a certain person from our own country these days. The climax where Shantanu doesn't burn the papers properly was a clear case of very lazy writing, when you know how not only his life or people he knows will get affected but the country could suffer, why would he be so silly and stupid!

Some fun moments definately includes when Shantanu offers 10rs Coin in the time-travel to a bus conductor of 1984, it was really hilarious to see him being told 'nakli paisa deta hai'. The songs are used well as backdrop, though none of them has 'listen again' appeal to it. 

JL 50 I feel had the potential to be much more, let down in many departments, yet being a 4 episode series, you can still give it a chance. 


My Rating : 5.5/10