Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan is based on the real-life story of our second Prime Minister of the country, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. The very text-bookish format for the story-telling is the main problem here. The production is so stark that Indian extras with dyed hair and powdered cheeks are made to portray Englishmen. A phantom cow moos at the end of glycerin-fueled village scene. Looping ambience tracks seem to have been recorded at Jogeshwari Station's noisy railway crossing. Milestones are displayed with abrupt newspaper headlines, and eras are realized by varying mole sizes on faces of actors playing Lal at different ages. The casting is imperfect; none of the actors appear suitable for the role playing. On a more serious note, the screenplay is so disjointed that this film should have never been made. 

Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan is a classic example of how even the most inspiring stories can die a cruel death in the hands of a bad, horrid filmmaker and his team. Unfortunately, this film instead of bringing out even an iota of this great statesman’s inspiring story comes out with a laughably amateurish and unbelievably boring, carelessly put together film that keeps you squirming in your seats from the word go. Everything, from direction to performances to background music to editing to cinematography, contributes to making this an immensely intolerable film. If you are a Lal Bahadur Shastri fan and revere history, don’t waste your sentiments on this film. A primary school skit is put together with more finesse.

No matter how noble the intent, poor execution cannot be excused. Especially when you attempt to make a biopic, pay an ode to someone who's made a difference to the society. You need special talent to make a terribly uninspiring film on an inspiring personality. The script makes it evident that no amount of research whatsoever has gone into making of this film. It gives an impression that Shastri's Wikipedia page and history textbooks meant for primary school children were the only reference points, as it doesn't tell you anything about the man that you may not have known before. The storytelling is startlingly clichéd. For almost two hours, all you see is the protagonist suffering or making long speeches. Post interval, the film almost looks like it's a generic tale on India's freedom fighters instead of Lal Bahadur Shastri.