Weighted from a 2.4 average · Why?
A flat, derivative road trip saved only by Kalki Koechlin's committed turn.
Verdict tier Unfavorable, most critics didn't like it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Jia Aur Jia is overwhelmingly negative, with most reviewers awarding it scores between 10 and 30 out of 100. The performances of Kalki Koechlin and Richa Chadha drew isolated, qualified praise, with one outlier describing the actresses as effective in subverting gender biases, and another singling out Koechlin as the film's only redeeming quality. The most consistent criticisms target a weak, derivative script that offers no freshness to the road-trip genre, hollow character motivations, and an overall failure to engage emotionally. Several critics recommended skipping the film entirely.
2 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
The Monk Score is weighted from a plain average of 2.4 · how scores work
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 12 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyFrom the papers
Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
Like in most films of this genre, the road-trip in Jia aur Jia is a metaphor for a journey of self-discovery. Prejudices are overcome, dark secrets are revealed, and life lessons are learnt, but there isn't an iota of freshness in the way that the narrative unfolds.
Top critic
Film review ·
One Jia is quiet and broody, the other is bright and chirpy. One chokes and splutters, the other smokes and drinks. One wears six inch stilletoes and flouncy chiffons, the other short shorts and cool singlets. On a rugged road trip.
Film review ·
You can give it watch if you really want to watch any film, but my personal suggestion will be to save some bucks as the next two months are filled with pretty exciting films.
Film review ·
One Jia wants to die and the other is dying and before you come to the 'Babumoshai' moment you loved in Anand (Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan), you have plotted their demise several times over.
Film review ·
Jia Aur Jia has little interest in showcasing its scenic landscapes, glorious architecture or lively cafes. This same vapid approach dumbs down the talents of Kalki and Richa into pictures of hollow passions and iffy motives.
Film review ·
...this one lacks humour, heart and a story. Watch Kangana and Lisa Haydon in Queen instead.
Film review ·
Chick flick, road trip drama, slice of life, this Richa Chadha-Kalki Koechlin starrer is anything but any of these.
Film review ·
ia Aur Jia's saving grace is that it resurrects Jiya o jiya, the title song of the Asha Parekh-Dev Anand classic Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai, for its background score. The music makes the opening scenes memorable, but when the entire remix of the song is sung along with the closing credits, the effect is completely ruined: Nisschal Zaveri's Jiya o jiya reprise – performed by Jyotica Tangri and Rashid Ali – is flat in comparison with the original. Jia Aur Jia is flat, full stop.
Film review ·
Chadha is a misfit, failing to look earnestly distressed. Koechlin tries to sail the sinking ship, but doesn't succeed either. The old theory 'so bad, it's good' also doesn't work for this one. Give it a miss.
Film review ·
Kalki is perhaps the only good thing about the film. Unfortunately, the script and dialogues do not leave much scope for her. There are precisely five minutes in the film where I could actually feel the emotions onscreen. Other than that, even Kalki's acting could not save Jia Aur Jia from being an utter bore that borders on torture.
Film review ·
Two capable actors—Richa Chadha and Kalki Koechlin—are left floundering in this unending journey of a road trip movie
Film review ·
Old-fashioned but effective...You will be thoroughly regaled by the two actresses, specially in he way they reverse gender biases.
Credits
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