Ok Great! The blog is still around :) Let me hope 2018 encourages me to keep writing. After my long hiatus [about 4 years to be precise], this is a review of a movie which took quite sometime to hit the screens amidst lot of protests and violence in India - Padmaavat.
Genre: Period Drama
Cast: Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor
Direction: Sanjay Leela Bansali
Padmaavat, erstwhile named as Padmavati is an epic period adaption of the poem of the same name by Malik Muhammed Jayasi about the story of Rani Padmavati (aka Padmini), the princess of Singhal Kingdom who was married to Maharawal Ratan Singh of Chittor and the rage and brutality of the king of Delhi Sultanate, Sultan Alauddin Khilji whose sole motive was to get his hands on Rani Padmavati at any cost.
I am perplexed about the protests by Karni Sena against this movie for offending the Rajput Sentiments. This movie is a epitomization of the Rajput valour, their courage in the battlefield, their strict political and social culture and Sanjay Leela Bansali [SLB] has left no stone unturned when it comes to dialogues, songs or intricate sequences where Rajput glory can be pottrayed in the big canvas.
SLB, with proven credentials in directing epic Indian history movies after Bajirao Mastani, has notched it up a few steps higher with Padmaavat. With the story set in late 13th- early 14th century, the grandoise of the Rajput kingdom of Chittor, the rough plains of Khilji Dynasty and the tropical kingdom of Singhal are depicted with utmost flair. Art Direction & VFX have done a herculean task to bring SLB's vision to screen.
But what are sets, props & CGI, if there is no story and strong characters to the tale. The crux of the story was already there in the poem Padmaavat, SLB showed his acumen in roping in the best in business and transformed them into living characters.
The three protagonists - Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji have given their lives' best performance till date. I have added Alauddin Khilji to the protagonist as he was more than just an antagonist, he was the lifeline of the movie.
Deepika Padukone (Padmavati) has scored in every single occasion in the movie right from the encounter with Ratan Singh in Singhala till final act of committing Jauhar (Yes, this is not a spoiler! Everyone knows this by now). As the movie reaches the climax, you don't see Deepika Padukone but Rani Padmavati on screen.
Shahid Kapoor (Maharawal Ratan Singh), most probably in his first role as a Rajput King, has made sure he is up for the task right from the word 'go'. Though his lanky frame makes a less-convincing statement for a Rajput King, his dialogue delivery and agility in action sequences more than compensates for that.
And, finally Ranveer Singh (Alauddin Khilji). What to say about this guy? If anyone want to know how Alauddin Khilji would have been during his prime, they need not think beyond Ranveer. Alauddin Khilji can never be portrayed more ruthless, brutal of a monster as Ranveer has done. He had made sure to make people believe Alauddin is what Padmaavat is all about. This could not be possible unless he was living the character throughout the movie. The brutality in the war sequences, the scheming mind in trickier situations and landing decisive blows whenever it demands - Best actor, by far, in the whole movie. In line with KB sir's remark to Director Shankar on Endhiran, "Ranveer has made Alauddin look bad, beautifully bad".
Jim Sarbh as the eununch slave general of Alauddin, Malik Kafur, had delivered what the script demands but it makes you feel that the character Malik Kafur was reduced to just a loyal slave and a (implied) homosexual partner to Alauddin. People who knows the history can recollect the stories of his raids especially to Kakatiya & Pandya Kingdoms. He is equally barbaric and ruthless as Alauddin but was clever enough not to confront him while Alauddin was alive and quick to establish his control after Alauddin.
Raza Murad as Jalaluddin Khilji and Aditi Rao Hydari as Jalaluddin's daughter and Alauddin's Begum provide decent cameos. Was surprised to see screen space for Amir Khusrow. Would have loved to see a cameo of Ghengis Khan in the mongol war sequence. A historical accuracy that didn't miss the eye was the final war sequence where there was no cannons on either side. This story pre-dates Babur & the mughal kingdom who introduced cannons to indian warfare.
And finally for the accusations of glorifying Jauhar, this is the final act of the movie and it is historically documented that Rani Padmavati did commit Jauhar with other women in Chittorgarh fort. While agreeing to the fact that these are regressive and dangerous idealogies which are less relevant today, history cannot be modified at one's will and the end is justified with the fact that Jauhar was still prevalent during 13th-14th century.
This should be one of the best movie experiences on big screen and you won't forget Alauddin Khilji for a long time.
Rating: 4/5
Verdict: A Sanjay Leela Bansali grandeur with rocking performances by the three protagonists.
Genre: Period Drama
Cast: Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor
Direction: Sanjay Leela Bansali
Padmaavat, erstwhile named as Padmavati is an epic period adaption of the poem of the same name by Malik Muhammed Jayasi about the story of Rani Padmavati (aka Padmini), the princess of Singhal Kingdom who was married to Maharawal Ratan Singh of Chittor and the rage and brutality of the king of Delhi Sultanate, Sultan Alauddin Khilji whose sole motive was to get his hands on Rani Padmavati at any cost.
I am perplexed about the protests by Karni Sena against this movie for offending the Rajput Sentiments. This movie is a epitomization of the Rajput valour, their courage in the battlefield, their strict political and social culture and Sanjay Leela Bansali [SLB] has left no stone unturned when it comes to dialogues, songs or intricate sequences where Rajput glory can be pottrayed in the big canvas.
SLB, with proven credentials in directing epic Indian history movies after Bajirao Mastani, has notched it up a few steps higher with Padmaavat. With the story set in late 13th- early 14th century, the grandoise of the Rajput kingdom of Chittor, the rough plains of Khilji Dynasty and the tropical kingdom of Singhal are depicted with utmost flair. Art Direction & VFX have done a herculean task to bring SLB's vision to screen.
But what are sets, props & CGI, if there is no story and strong characters to the tale. The crux of the story was already there in the poem Padmaavat, SLB showed his acumen in roping in the best in business and transformed them into living characters.
The three protagonists - Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji have given their lives' best performance till date. I have added Alauddin Khilji to the protagonist as he was more than just an antagonist, he was the lifeline of the movie.
Deepika Padukone (Padmavati) has scored in every single occasion in the movie right from the encounter with Ratan Singh in Singhala till final act of committing Jauhar (Yes, this is not a spoiler! Everyone knows this by now). As the movie reaches the climax, you don't see Deepika Padukone but Rani Padmavati on screen.
Shahid Kapoor (Maharawal Ratan Singh), most probably in his first role as a Rajput King, has made sure he is up for the task right from the word 'go'. Though his lanky frame makes a less-convincing statement for a Rajput King, his dialogue delivery and agility in action sequences more than compensates for that.
And, finally Ranveer Singh (Alauddin Khilji). What to say about this guy? If anyone want to know how Alauddin Khilji would have been during his prime, they need not think beyond Ranveer. Alauddin Khilji can never be portrayed more ruthless, brutal of a monster as Ranveer has done. He had made sure to make people believe Alauddin is what Padmaavat is all about. This could not be possible unless he was living the character throughout the movie. The brutality in the war sequences, the scheming mind in trickier situations and landing decisive blows whenever it demands - Best actor, by far, in the whole movie. In line with KB sir's remark to Director Shankar on Endhiran, "Ranveer has made Alauddin look bad, beautifully bad".
Jim Sarbh as the eununch slave general of Alauddin, Malik Kafur, had delivered what the script demands but it makes you feel that the character Malik Kafur was reduced to just a loyal slave and a (implied) homosexual partner to Alauddin. People who knows the history can recollect the stories of his raids especially to Kakatiya & Pandya Kingdoms. He is equally barbaric and ruthless as Alauddin but was clever enough not to confront him while Alauddin was alive and quick to establish his control after Alauddin.
Raza Murad as Jalaluddin Khilji and Aditi Rao Hydari as Jalaluddin's daughter and Alauddin's Begum provide decent cameos. Was surprised to see screen space for Amir Khusrow. Would have loved to see a cameo of Ghengis Khan in the mongol war sequence. A historical accuracy that didn't miss the eye was the final war sequence where there was no cannons on either side. This story pre-dates Babur & the mughal kingdom who introduced cannons to indian warfare.
And finally for the accusations of glorifying Jauhar, this is the final act of the movie and it is historically documented that Rani Padmavati did commit Jauhar with other women in Chittorgarh fort. While agreeing to the fact that these are regressive and dangerous idealogies which are less relevant today, history cannot be modified at one's will and the end is justified with the fact that Jauhar was still prevalent during 13th-14th century.
This should be one of the best movie experiences on big screen and you won't forget Alauddin Khilji for a long time.
Rating: 4/5
Verdict: A Sanjay Leela Bansali grandeur with rocking performances by the three protagonists.
1 comment:
Great Stuff Param, you inspire us all the time.
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