Hai Junoon Ft. Neil & Jacqueline: A Surreal College Tale That Leaves You Wondering, “Um… What Was That About?”

The title of Hai Junoon asks something, and my answer couldn’t be more direct: it’s a no. Read our full review.

 

• Director: Abhishek Sharma
• Star Cast: Kunwar Amar, Anusha Mani, Shazahn Padamsee, Boman Irani, Priyank Sharma, Siddharth Nigam,
  Sumedh Mudgalkar, Jacqueline Fernandez,and Neil Nitin Mukesh 
• Hai Junoon Movie Review Rating: 1.5 stars*
• Runtime: 20 episodes, each of 40 minute duration 
• Available On: JioHotstar
• Language: Hindi
• Watch or Not?: No!

 

Navigating the entertainment scene is no joke. Hai Junoon is streaming on JioHotstar, a seemingly never-ending series starring Jacqueline Fernandez, Neil Nitin Mukesh, and a few more familiar faces.

The plot of this seemingly engaged web series follows two student factions in a college named the Supersonics, who specialize in choir performances, along with the Misfits, a passionate dance group.

Both teams have their eyes set on the ultimate stage: the GOAT college fest, a prestigious event that everyone’s desperate to enter.

 

 

Hai Junoon Review: A Closer Look at the Storyline

The show hits a rough note in episode one itself. Neil Nitin Mukesh’s character, Gagan, is a star singer and proud alumnus of the college, with Boman Irani as his musically inspired mentor.

When Gagan gets the opportunity to perform for British royals, he shockingly says no, all thanks to a sudden bout of patriotism straight out of ‘Ye Jo Des Hai Tera’.

Once Gagan joins the college, he begins preparing the students for the big event. I can’t say if this depiction is accurate.

But it gives the impression that today’s youth only care about becoming influencers or talent show stars. Genuine, varied goals? Hardly visible anywhere.

 

What Went Wrong in Hai Junoon? A Critical Review

To get there, they huddle with their teams after dark and brainstorm, but the issue is, their “plans” are made under the influence, acting way more drunk than they actually are.

Neil Nitin Mukesh and Jacqueline Fernandez lead the singers and dancers, but the overall feel of the series is akin to a reality show’s behind-the-scenes footage.

You may like to think of it as an extended torture or a light spin on Bandish Bandits, though those shows were serious, and this one isn’t. Watching it felt like a 20-episode peek behind the scenes of Dance India Dance, spotlighting youth challenges, yet it fails to deliver anything compelling.

 

Hai Junoon Review: Evaluating the Lead Performances

Packed with plenty of stars, including popular social media personalities and fresh young faces, the show features Sumedh Mugdalkar, who famously portrayed Krishna and won over fans. However, he looks noticeably older than the typical college student.

Because of their appearances, the boys, including Priyank Sharma, and Siddharth Nigam don’t quite fit the college vibe. Despite the cast’s efforts to inject life into the series, it drags on lethargically across 20 episodes without delivering any meaningful message

 

Hai Junoon Review: The Highlights That Shine

Although the web series isn’t a total disaster and has moments of brilliance, those instances are not enough to salvage it. It brings up important themes but ultimately leaves all of them unexplored and unresolved.

 

Hai Junoon Review: The Takeaway

Well, the misery deepens with the abundance of cover tracks that spoil some legendary songs.

Being passionate about music, I found it hard to tolerate, and even Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s involvement didn’t prevent these disappointing covers from falling flat.

Although Hai Junoon hints at a question in its name, I’m here to say my answer is simply NO!

Also Read: Bhootnii Movie Review: A Flat Attempt At Horror-Comedy That Fails to Deliver On Both Fronts