Joggers’ Park is a 2003 Indian drama film made in English and Hindi. It is directed by Anant Balani and written by Subhash Ghai. It stars Bengali actor Victor Bannerjee, Perizaad Zorabian and Divya Dutta. It was filmed on location in Mumbai’s Jogger’s Park.
The film released in 2003 and did well at the box office, opening the way for a new genre of films like Mumbai Matinee and Morning Raga.
Plot
The film opens at a Rotary Club function to honour a retired Justice Jyotin Chatterjee. The judge has served the profession all his life with honour and spotless integrity. As he is about to retire, he recognises there will now be a void in his life. His wife remarks to reporters that neither he nor she knows what he would do after he retires.
Retired life is not easy for the ageing judge. The younger generation is bolder and quicker than he was in his time. He is invited as the guest of honour at many functions. But he finds that his stump speech about the venerable and time-tested legal profession falls flat. The youngsters wish to know when the law will relax its grip on their issues (principally around love, romance and sex). The judge admits that love makes the world go round and urges the youngsters to enjoy their youth but to do so responsibly. The judge also agrees (after some initial reluctance) to a suggestion from his family and visits Joggers Park to get some exercise. He finds that the Park moves at the pace of its younger regulars, much too quickly for him. He wonders if he will ever catch up.
Around this time he meets Jenny Suratwala at Joggers Park. Jenny is a young and vivacious freelance model and event planner. One of his speeches had made an impression on her young mind, and she wishes to learn more about him. They become friends. As their friendship deepens, they discover a new world in each other. Jenny learns from the judge’s vast experiences, and the judge uses her perspectives to enter and appreciate the younger generation. Jenny brings an element of need. She is faced with a legal problem around the ownership of her late father’s apartment, and the judge helps her fight and win her case.
The friendship deepens. The judge is taken by her exhilarating views and wishes to see more of her. She, too, pines for him when they are apart. Around this time, some of Jenny’s younger male colleagues are perturbed by this relationship. It thwarts them from pursuing Jenny, and it is not socially acceptable because of the conspicuous age difference. They resolve to find a way to end it, and settle on stalking the couple and taking pictures of their intimate moments. (The film is not clear about any sexual activity, but the pictures are sufficient to destroy the judge’s reputation and marriage.) On one occasion, Jenny discovers them taking pictures, and she angrily berates them and destroys some of the pictures. Jenny finally admits she is in love with the judge.
Meanwhile, the judge is faced with a family problem of his own. His son has been caught having an affair. His daughter exposes the incident and asks the judge, the vanguard of honour, to deliver judgement. The judge strongly reprimands his son and orders him to end the affair and seek forgiveness from his family. The family honour comes first.
Jenny has an upcoming birthday. One of her friends is planning the party. She invites the judge to attend the party and openly profess his love for her. If he truly meant his speeches, then he must act accordingly and express his feelings without fear or remorse.
On the day of the party, a strange man shows up at the judge’s house. He is Tariq Ahmed, the editor and publisher of a local tabloid. Jenny’s jealous colleagues brought the photos to his tabloid, and Tariq intercepted them just in time to avoid publication. It turns out that Tariq owes a debt of gratitude to the judge for having helped him with a difficult case several years ago. He turns the photos over to the judge’s daughter. The daughter confronts the judge. This incident also involves the family honour. The judge is compelled to end his relationship with Jenny.
Several years later, the judge runs into Jenny at the airport. Jenny is now married and has a child. They greet each other warmly and Jenny introduces him (her fourth boyfriend, the one she loved very much) to her husband. They fondly remember their previous association as the film ends.
Cast
Victor Banerjee as Justice Jyotin Prasad Chatterjee
Perizaad Zorabian as Jenny Suratwala
Girish Karnad as Aman Joshi
Divya Dutta as Chatterjee’s daughter
Khalid Siddiqui
Hiten Tejwani as Akash (Jennie’s friend)
Manoj Joshi as Tariq Ahmed
Bhavna Ruparel
Raju Kher as Sneha Ruparel
Abha Dhulia
Rajesh Jais
Dinyar Contractor as Dinshaw
Anant Mahadevan Special appearance
Vivek Vaswani Special appearance
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