Up until the point where Sitaara is struggling to find his feet as a singer, the narrative is light and shows Diljit in a comic, easy going demeanour as he strums up support for his character Sitaara. In his portrayal of a singer set in the 1980, Diljit has done a credible job in assuming his mannerisms, language and body language on stage as the jodi delivers live shows called akhadas in rural Punjab. Though poor, Sitaara is undaunted in his ambition of becoming a singer. Diljit reflects this trait of Sitaara easily, stretching his ambition only till the point where it remains humble despite the immense fame Sitaara is rapidly receiving. Playing the dutiful partner Kamaljot, on stage and in their personal life, Nimrat Khaira is the surprise package in Jodi. Though the singer has acted in Punjabi films previously, with Jodi Nimrat has begun her journey of being recognized as a versatile actor. Her depiction of a demure, yet coquettish Kamaljot, is unforgettable. The film relives the golden era of Punjabi music that had music on cassettes and lyrics were more powerful than music itself. Kudos to writer, director Amberdeep Singh for the authenticity of Punjab’s retro era, and the screenplay for capturing the essence of akhadas, and rise of Punjabi musicians as recorded artists. The music, by Tru Skool, will remain one of the strongest points of Jodi, with its folk instruments, and nostalgia for music of the era gone by. However, the climax, though tragic, takes down the film’s stellar performance a notch, as it fails to be as evocative as it should have been. Towards the end, the narrative also drags a little in repeatedly depicting the couple’s fear of being threatened for their kind of music. Yet, after a wait of three years, and an initial hiccup of release, Jodi is a musical treat that is a touching tale of a singing duo.Read more