Pushpdeep Bhardwaj directorial 'Jalebi- The everlasting taste of love' is a film that has a heart to it but unfortunately the depth required as well as the layers to its storyline were certainly missing. The film revolves around a tour guide from Delhi named Dev played by Varun Mitra with a PhD degree in history resides in his ancestral mansion called 'Netaji ki Haveli', whereas the female lead Rhea Chakraborty essays a wannabe writer named Aisha who visits old Delhi for vacation and gets entangled in love with this 'Delhi Ka Launda'.
It is seven years down the line when a broken-hearted Aisha meets Dev's wife and daughter by fate on the train journey back to Delhi for her book launch event. Well! co-incidences happen, and when they do, the audiences are taken to the flashback to show how everything began. How their path met, how they got married, and an aspiring copywriter with so many aspirations is now suffocated in this burden of a responsible house-wife.
The writers have embedded this simple story with a tragic incident of miscarriage and how the scenario goes from bad to worst. The bitter-sweet marriage is on the verge of collapse as Aisha separates and moves to Mumbai. These complications don't fit the narrative as it should be and the shallow screenplay may be the reason to it. The script could have been treated slightly better as these backstories are not too connecting. Also, Dev's present wife played by Digangana Suryavanshi doesn't have a backstory to support as she has only got some dialogues to deliver in tears, that's all! They have a daughter named Disha a cutie whose bond with her father is inseparable. Quite a lot of things have gone wrong in terms of the character development as the two leads are not even holding a catchy dialect of their own.
Surprisingly, debutant Varun Mitra has performed well. A convincing debut slaying with a lot of emotions and the actor has outplayed this role. Rhea was a lost soul half of the time in the film she is crying, gazing, thinking about her past life and yes her performance is okayish.
The songs are the reason the film never fades and each number is compelling. Beginning with a soul-soothing number in the voice of Arijit Singh that makes us feel the pain of lost love so eloquently. The treat to the ears is the Jubin Nautiyal's special song that appears in the film's climax. Composed by Samuel and Akanksha's melancholic composition gives this number a strong feel-good essence. Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal's captivating song 'Pal' is an epitome of serene love. Being melodious in the first place, the narrative of the song features the delicate loveable chemistry of Varun Mitra and Rhea Chakraborty. Every song has its own flavour and they all are as sweet as Jalebi although the film isn't.
Director Pushpdeep Bhardwaj who has also co-written the film along with Kausar Munir and Suhrita Sengupta has missed out a lot of details in building a convincing feature film. Pushpdeep's shallow screenplay is the culprit. Although Cinematography by Manoj Soni was smooth and picturesque old Delhi is captured in detail. Production design by Sandeep Suvarna was mediocre as we could make out the sets and the real railway station. Overall Varun Mitra leaves an impact with his act but the Jalebi is not so sweet, so you may skip it.