BOY ERASED

Imagine you were left handed. Though it is not very common but there is nothing really harmful about it. You are not causing any physical on mental problems for the people in your life. It could be family, friends or acquaintances. Then you realize that it is forbidden because your religion doesn’t approve of it. Not just disapprove, but declares you abnormal and tags you as the devil. You and your parents are called sinners and as people who are against God. But for you it is a very natural thing. Being left handed is a natural as breathing and walking. Under your family’s pressure you have to go through conversion therapy where you are addressed as someone who is a sinner and a criminal. You are psychologically brainwashed and treated differently when you don’t exactly know what’s wrong with you.

Boy erased is a real story about a gay teenager who had to suffer Conversion therapy.  This is an intense film and psychologically testing. It is a brilliant portrayal of a normal young adult become a victim of prejudice and religious bigotry. Gerrard Conley suffers conversion therapy which is the most inhuman and the gravest tortures anyone can go through. It is worse than Nazi concentration camps because the victim’s own family force the victims to go through it. In this film one can experience the psychological and emotional trauma the victims have to go through in an extremely hostile set up where every move of the individual is judged and examined with disdain and hatred. A person’s self-worth and self-respect are completely destroyed forcing him/her into an abyss of depression and negativity. There is no escape for him/her because he is dependent on his family and the only way for him to survive is to obey them.

I felt suffocated several times in this film. There came a point where I could not handle it anymore and was on the verge of walking out. To be able to create and communicate the severity of the issue is extraordinary and laudable. To be able to do complete justice and portray the depth of the hostility that the Christian faith has against the LGBT community is a great achievement. Lucas Hedges has nailed the character and acts out Gerrards feeling and mental state perfectly. Joel Edgerton has done great service to the community and mankind as a whole by making a film that exposes the torture that 77,000 Americans, who have gone through the Conversion Therapy. Many still do as most states in the US still allow it.

Rating – 4.5 / 5

Thugs of Hindostan

Thugs of Hindostan should have been promoted as a children’s film. The plot, characters, screenplay and a lot of the dialogue is something children would enjoy. And  the adults children with them would have found it appealing too since they would have a different mindset while watching the film.  While watching this film I was reminded of the funny and childish hero stories that would be shown in Doordarshan long back. The characters would have special powers to defeat a villain. The villain would be greedy and powerful. There would be some funny characters thrown in to bring in some humor. The costumes would be fitting for a TV fiction. There would be a certain ridiculousness to the simple plots and the dialogue would be immature.

Thugs of HIndostan is slightly more complex in its make. But the ridiculousness is still there. In heaps. The background music for certain characters and some animal or bird announcing the protagonist’s arrival is typical of the Ali baba stories.  Aamir Khan plays a complex thug like character, actually the only real thug in the film. He is that peculiar verbose joker kind of a guy who converts to a hero from a thug. He keeps vacillating between the good and the evil. The evil beings played by the British against the good guerilla pirate type Indians. The struggle for freedom ensues after a princess loses her parents, kingdom and freedom to the British.

Amitabh has a great presence and strong purposeful performance. The atrocity called Katrina Kaif continues to torture. She is for cinema what Rahul Gandhi is for politics. Fatima Shaikh looks dull and boring. Her part is mostly shooting arrows in mid air and exchanging glances with Amitabh. The sets and locales are straight out of a pirate film with ancient ships near tropical islands. Overall it’s a predictive and boring experience. There is no entertainment. Maybe the directors were banking on the star cast. This one can be missed.

Rating – 2 / 5

Badhaai Ho

Humor has the key to unlock difficult social situations. Badhaai Ho takes up an unusual circumstance of a central Delhi family and sings their story in funny jokes and one liners. The underlying prejudice and patriarchal stubbornness are dealt with light and quirky jokes.

All people everywhere and more so in India live life by a code created by society. A boy must behave a certain way, do certain things, do a certain kind of job, fulfill certain responsibilities at certain age and then die. This stereotype mold is more rigid and strict for women. Any slight deviation from this set pattern will attract the scorn. mockery, gossip and ridicule from the extended family and society. We as a nation are fanatic about ‘log kya kahenge’ and keeping up with the rules, terms and conditions set up by the society. In that obsession we give up our love for our parents, family and friends. And then when you are bang in the middle of Delhi where most of the life is invested in making a great impression in front of the unforgiving ‘samaj’; things get tough. The clothes one wears, gaddiyaan kitni hai – ek tho hona hi hai, beta kitna kamata hai, beti ki shaadi kyun nahi hui etc etc.; are all indicative of your status in the samaj. It is like a pressure test on every social function under the minor scrutiny of the ubiquitous samaj.

Badhaii Ho soaks all that up and delivers a deviation from the norm in two hours of entertainment. But when love for the family takes over then nothing matters. The lead kinda takes charge and transforms lives of his family. It would be unfair to say that Ayushman Khurana plays the typical Delhi Jat boy in most of his films. On the flip side, I don’t think anyone else can do it so well. He is the best when it comes to that particular character and he has proved it many times. In an emotional second half Surekha Sikri delivers goods that one does not see coming. The proverbial saas turns the tables to shut everyone up. The chic Sanya Malhotra plays South Delhi girl minus the show off. She has a unique quality about her on the screen that stands out as original. Though the plot of the story is humorous, the extra dose of emotions in the second half was necessary to tie open threads. A nice watch.

Rating – 3.5 / 5

Tumbbad

Some films have a strong story. Others have a powerful narrative. Then there are films which work because of the star cast. But there are very few films where the cinematography and art direction are the champions. Tumbadd is a brilliant example of this genre of films. The dialogue is minimal and the story happens in the cinematography and engrossing visuals. Each frame has been meticulously designed to add to the theme. The artistic sets and costumes will delight your vision.The whole film has an eerie and cold feel to it. A story based on ancient folklore to produce an allegory; is a welcome change after being bombarded with realistic and desi cinema. Even though it is not a horror film the prophecy and mythology are captivating and entertaining. The whole film resonates with the age-old fable of the hen that laid golden eggs. We all know what happened to that story. A great experience is revealed in a hidden treasure and the quest of a man to acquire it. Consumed by greed and lust everything is lost and a moral is born.

Not loud, not pompous with just enough characters,  the narrative is dense, subtle and extremely artistic. The director gets us completely involved in the story by creating a suspense in every scene. As an audience you will eagerly wait for the next scene. Each scene has an interesting camera angle that gives movie buffs something different to savor. The background scores and the sets have never communicated like this before. The camera work, production and VFX teams have created some extraordinary work on film that should probably be reminisced as an inspiring kind of film making.

 Its like having exotic rural delicacies after having tasted junk food for ages. The taste not only mesmerizes you but wakes you up to a new experience. You savor the dish and enjoy the moment.  The actors’ expressions and movements speak to you. The minimal dialogues convey maximum meaning. Kudos to director Rahi Anil Barve and creative director Anand Gandhi. Sohum Shah keeps up with the creative director’s vision and gives a contained and wholesome performance as a lead. This is a film that HAS to be watched in the theatre. You won’t enjoy it when it is aired on TV after a month.  

Rating – 4 / 5

Sui Dhaga

Yash Raj Productions makes a film about the struggles of a lower middle class Indian family. The words don’t sit together. Has the Indian audience developed an appetite for realistic desi stories ?  Why would a production house that captured the goddesses in chiffon sarees floating in swiss alps change to bahus in small gallis of apna desi gaon. The films now recite stories of small time chokras and their ‘mad’ in india dreams. From the foreign locales where everything was picture perfect to Indian towns where everything is below average. Yes, we have matured and are confident of our own stories. Maybe we no longer crave to see posh foreign buildings and love our nukkad and naka.

Sui dhaga takes us straight into the heart of a lower middle-class Indian family in a small town. A young woman Mamta inspires her dunce like husband Mauji to change his life and write his story. To give up the ghosts of his past and relive his life using his gift for sewing. The story behind the humble sewing machine is far reaching. From an idea to be independent to a brand that competes in a national fashion design competition, the story travels an arduous path. ‘A Mad in India’ brand breaks the shackels of English speech and posh education. The friend, the worker and even the parents walk the ramp while Mamta and Mauji are the show stoppers leading the new path at the competition.

 

Another film with a great story and an engaging narrative. Sui Dhaga will connect greatly with the audience. With its great timing for humor and witty one liners, the film very nicely blends in the romantic relationship between husband and wife based on respect and team work. The romance builds up as the husband wife team build a business with sui and dhaga.  Varun Dhawan has worked hard on his role. And though he is not a natural instinctive actor he does a decent job of the naïve small time guy. Anoushka shows poise and control in her role as she silently creates a revolutionary in her husband. Many films seem to have this desi ghee personality to them these days. The typical shudh vernacular hindi and the innocent characters with naïve thought may lose their charm if repeated. However, lets enjoy it while it lasts, though I feel it won’t be long.

Rating - 3.8 / 5

MULK

“India is being divided into Us and Them. Them, who have many offspring and are underprivileged are accused by the Us”

“Terrorism is a criminal offense, not a communal offence”

“The definition of terrorism is ‘The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians in pursuit of political aims’”

“The entire blame for terrorism on a community is based on prejudice”

“ Terrorism has no religion. A religion is being used to fulfill terrorists’ political motives”

“If you cannot differentiate between my beard and the beard of a terrorist like Osama bin Laden, then question the reason for this and not me”

“Whenever someone wants you to divide based on religion, take a good look at how far the election dates are”

“If we start discussing what happened 500 years ago it will take us 5000 years back”

“Societies are not built by caste, creed or religion. They are built in the minds of the people. People in your family, relatives, friends and neighborhoods".

Quotes that you will remember for some time. These quotes define this film and it’s impact. Another simple yet ground breaking story unfolds itself in the courtroom. The prejudices and the thought thereof are spoken out aloud and brought forth in the sacred hall of the courtroom. These prejudices against their facial hair, number of children, food they eat, literacy etc,   are hidden in our conscious and subconscious minds. And these prejudices are leading us to suppress and ostracize that community by labeling them as terrorists. At a time when there are strong under currents of communal disharmony and violence that can erupt and cause serious damage, this film is a warning to people of the imminent danger. It reflects the mood of our society and how our leadership is silently causing havoc by bringing in communal tension. How bonds of friendship and camaraderie are broken at the slight provocation of communal baggage we carry.

Mulk is a subtle film in which the story is the champion and the message, the crown. A rare film in which one cannot single out an actor for an exceptional performance or a pivotal role. Every actor just acts as a means to fulfill a story that aims at sending out a strong message. The film brings forth instances of shock and dismay during the film that bring forth the condescension and hostility against Muslims. And disagree and deny you may, but we all carry this prejudice against this particular community. You may or may not belong to it but this false prejudice lives and thrives within all of us. And we need to separate it from reality. Terrorism has no religion nor does not belong to a community.

Rishi Kapoor, Tapsee Pannu, Rajat Kapoor and Ashutosh Rana give subtle and engaging performances holding the story high. The narrative and making of the film have a natural feel to it which was necessary to imitate reality. A great watch. Should not be missed.

Rating : 3.8 / 5

Dhadak

There may be very few or no remakes that are successful. I mean commercially successful. They are also extremely unsatisfying for the viewer. That is because the remakes lose the essence of the story. The context changes and that changes everything. We have seen many remakes of Hollywood films. Most of them have been unsatisfying. That’s because the philosophy and psyche associated with Hollywood films is very different from that of Hindi or Bollywood films. But Dhadak and Sairaat are Indian, desi film. The only difference is the language. It was a simple cut, copy paste job. Had it been literally copied and pasted it would have been a better watch. I will not say that this film is completely unwatchable. There are many good things about it for the viewer. But the director has lost the essence and context of the film.

       There are going to be comparisons with the original Marathi film “Sairaat”. This film will always remain an epic in Indian cinema. The reason being the director’s vision was singular and the context was very strong. The execution was exceptional and original in every frame. Dhadak loses itself because the context of social hierarchy is lost. The intensity of the social divide between the rich upper caste and the poorer lower class is lost. The director fails to convey the power of the elitist society and the way they exercise it on the lower social classes. Also, this divide is severe in the rural and semi rural areas. Not in a city like Udaipur, which is a tourist spot. Here the hierarchy and class difference wouldn’t matter as much, and hence, change a lot in the film. When the film loses its personality then the embellishment does not matter.

       The film has taken almost all of the dialogues, scenes, music and songs from the original Sairaat. The puppy love and emotional roller coaster is a good ride. I enjoyed the romance between the teenagers. It is passionate and soul stirring. The camera loves and enjoys Ishaan Khattar. He is passionate in the film and shows great promise. Janhvi is not as convincing and looks pale in comparison. The theater was empty on the first day of the film which explains a lot. There was a bunch of Marathi girlfriends who were hooting and mocking the film. They were loud and made their disapproval very  obvious. I guess the Marathis will always feel Sairaat to be their jewel and not like to share it with anyone.

Rating – 3

Sanju

Sanju is a biopic based on the life of actor Sanjay Dutt. The film gets into minute details of the life of the actor accounting his life as a youngster to his release from jail on charges of possession of weapons. Hence it is a long film of almost three hours giving detailed account of the actor’s innocence. He was wrongly accused under the TADA act for being a terrorist and went through great suffering and pain because of these accusations. The film drains you emotionally as it is very tragic and sad. It shows how fame and wealth are not immune to wrong publicity. How media destroyed the life of an actor who was imprisoned on wrong charges and the pain his father went through because of media massacre. We know how celebrities’ lives are affected by media, who manipulate stories to increase TRP and readership. This film accounts the worst-case scenario portraying the destructive effects of wrong publicity.

This is a very expressive film and Raj Kumar Hirani has communicated minor details very distinctly. Though the story is tragic, the progression of the film is captivating and holds you through the duration. The leads journey through drug addiction and the father son relationship are the focal points of the entire film. A great story has been woven around these focal points with rich characters. It is the story of a celebrity whose life is saved by a father and a friend. Ranbir Kapoor’s performance is such that the actor is lost and his character and role stand out. He has blended so well into Sanjay Dutt’s personality that it is difficult to distinguish. Paresh Rawal’s act is classy and emotional. Vicky Kaushal is sensational. He deserves an award for his role. The film is long, heavy and tiring. But it is definitely worth the watch. It has all the makings of an epic. If the events depicted are true then we as a nation have done great injustice to an innocent citizen.

Rating – 3.8 / 5

Evening Shadows

Sridhar Rangayan has done commendable work by bringing a gay themed film into mainstream cinema. His latest film "Evening Shadows" has all the ingredients that is commercially viable and capable of competing within the genre. So far there have been very few LGBT films which have the complete story feeling to them. Most have been very specifically related to the aspect of sexual orientation. But Evening Shadows is a complete story with the traditional Indian family set up and all the drama that comes with it. The extreme emotions that are associated with acceptance of a family member who is gay, have been expressed accurately. As someone who comes from a tradition south indian family, the movie was as real as my own life. And to be able to achieve that connect shows that the director has great vision and guts to implement. Mona Ambegaonkar has a pivotal role and her undying passion for performance is at its peak. Anant Mahadevan is a class apart and makes your blood boil. Devansh Doshi is sweet and likeable. They all make you emotional several times during the film.

Though I feel there was an effort to include a lot of aspects related to the community, they weren't necessary, They do not add to the story and are oblivious.The ending is abrupt and one cannot see it coming. However , this film is complete and satisfying. It is a must watch and will be one of my favorite Indian LGBT film.

Rating - 3.8 / 5

October

Its great to see Hindi cinema graduate from the mold of hero, heroine, villain, dance and dhishum dhishum to a variety of new genres and themes. We see so many new stories. Different from the old, rusty and repetitive films. Films that have variety that cover human emotions other than love. And even if it is love the story is the champion and not the plain vanilla puppy love. October is light, simple, modest and drama free. It is a story that could happen to any of us. The film is as easy as any of our lives or our friend’s lives happening in front of us. 

A sweet story of an unusual character who is given in to the possibility of love. A character so plain and naïve that he goes on to do everything for that tiny possibility. Mocked at and ridiculed by the “regular” world for his nature and actions, Dan is that eccentric friend we all have who does not easily fit in. He has his own outlandish and childish ways and a belief system that is almost faulty. And he gives up everything for that belief.

The best part of this film is the importance of not so important things of life. The carpet of night jasmine fallen on the green grass. It’s delicate yet captivating smell that can drive a person to live and not die. The small favors of friends which tell you how much they care. They do it even though they do not have to. The tiny issues and small misgivings which blow out of proportion and get people into fights. Its like that lovely faint breeze that makes the evening beautiful. Like the small waves at the lake which do no more than lightly kiss your feet. This film may be boring for many , but the best part is its soft feathery feel that will warm you and make you feel complete.

Varun Dhawan has given a great performance but it is so obvious he is trying very hard. Does he lack confidence? If he does he should not. Because he is a good actor. Banita Sandhu gives a convincing performance. This is a good film if you are the kind who can simply gaze at the sky or watch rain for hours together or just sit on a park bench doing nothing.

Rating – 3.5 / 5

HICHKI

We humans are designed to not accept anything that deviates from normal. We sideline and marginalize those few because we do not understand them. We are designed to be comfortable in the majority and suppress minority. It could be anything from having a physical impairment or a mental disability or following a life style and path that is not “normal”. We fail to realize that this deviation from normal was the deliberate doing of nature to allow the extraordinary to flourish. Most scientists, inventors, innovators and pathbreakers had a disability of some form. It was this disability that made them unique but unacceptable by the society. Hitchki is a story about such people who were rejected and humiliated by the society because they did not fit the mediocre majority. They were marginalized because they had huge potential hidden behind a disability, an abnormality. It’s an interesting couple of hours about a teacher with Tourette’s syndrome who changes the lives of the poor, under privileged children. Both of them are marginalized and ostracized for their respective shortfalls. Both manage to outshine and win by discarding the norm and inventing new paths.

 

The skeleton of this film is borrowed from the Hollywood film, Remember the Titans. However, the flesh and blood is all Indian. The idea maybe similar but the story, execution and emotions are shudh desi. This is a complete film with gripping narrative and continuity. The emotions expressed are strong and captivate you during the entire duration. The stories of students in a privileged Indian school coming from different backgrounds makes for a great symphony of experiences. The strong, the weak, the class and the mass all together bring forth an emotional experience of a good film. Its wholesome and satisfying. I was surprised when I learnt that this is a Yash Raj production. No beautiful goddesses in flowing chiffon sarees, no sweet candy love stories and no foreign locales. This film is on earth, in India with a grounded and strong realistic story. Rani is one of the most intelligent actors we have, who balances her craft to perfection. She truly knows her talent and also knows how to use it. The child actors give great performances far beyond their years. This is a complete film for the entire family and will entertain audience of every age.

Rating – 4 / 5

3 storeys

The duration of this film is 1 hour and 40 minutes. The 1 hour and 30 minutes of it are simply fabulous. But the last 10 or so minutes completely destroy the great hour and half before it. Its so sad that something so amazing be destroyed by 10 minutes of disappointment. It’s like having a royal, absolutely perfect muti course meal be ruined by dessert. Three strong stories which will remain in my memory forever for their great narration and strong script. I remember Jeffrey Archer’s short stories, especially “Twist in the Tail” after watching this film. His stories were brilliant and had great twists at the climax. Same are these stories which build up to a brilliant climax and the climax leaves you enthralled and joyous. For you would never expect those endings.

 A great film to watch, but just try to walk out before Richa Chhada starts spoiling everything at the end. Every character gives a gripping performance. Renuka Sahane outdoes herself. Masumeh Makhija is brilliant and so are the two teens who play love birds. Pulkit Samrat looks dapper with the perfect body and great looks, but his acting is depressing. His desperation to imitate Salman Khan is pathetic and miserable. The nuances and intricacies of a chawl neighborhood has been brought to fore intelligently. The director has woven wonderful stories without compensating the charms of the Mumbai chawl. One can never fathom the secrets a human being carries and the untold incidents they have experienced. This film is about those stories buried deep inside.

Rating – 4 / 5

Gulabjaam

Film Review :

Foodgasmic ! This film is about the love for food and cooking. It is about the emotions and passion that one feels for food and cooking. It was a very emotional experience for me since food is my first love. I have always dreamt of owning a restaurant and maybe I will someday. But my relationship with food is one of passion and deep love. If God asked me for one reason to be alive, it would be food. The sensations of exhilaration and satisfaction that comes with every morsel of tasty food cannot be experienced by anything else. A sense of satisfaction and greed at the same time; leaving you nourished and excited after the meal, food is one of the greatest gifts of God to mankind. All these thoughts and sensations come to life as you watch this film. There are other films too based on food and cooking. But this film will be special because I am from Mumbai and have grown up on Maharashtrian cuisine. Even though I am south Indian, my palette is more accustomed to Marathi cuisine. Of course, South Indian food is a different and wonderful story in itself. 

But this film is about traditional Maharashtrian food and two beautiful stories about people who love food. Aditya and Radha are two souls lost in their journeys are brought together by food. Aditya’s story is the cliché MBA grad wanting to answer the call for a creative career. Radha’s past has left her scared and resentful. They find themselves through each other as they cook to forge strong bonds of friendship. Sensuous cinematography comes alive as we witness these two souls cut, shape, fry and boil. A medley of delicious food in front of eyes with emotions playing over the screen at the same time, this film is a great teaser for your senses. One can savor every frame which has a hundred different items on the banana leaf making the traditional meal. The twists and turns in the story add to the lovely sensations the visuals of the food produce. Sonali Kulkarni gives an exemplary performance outshining Siddharth. Though Siddharth gives a natural and easy performance, he cannot match Sonali’s craft. This is one of those rare films which you can watch many times and never get enough of it. Slurrp Slurrrp.  

Rating - 4.5 / 5 

Aiyaari

I feel a little lost after watching this film. I still don’t understand what exactly the film was about. I mean yes, it is about the Adarsh Housing Society scam. The building in the posh south Mumbai area on a plot reserved for the families of defense martyrs. But, there are many lose ends to the story. There is an element of surprise at the end which is very difficult to understand.  Is it about a mentor and his protege facing off though they seem to be on the same side ? Was this a plot by a secretive team of highly specialized defense personnel? Or is it all about wearing masks and changing disguise to remain camouflaged? 

The story is way too haphazard and random. There is this whole effort to give the film a Jason Bourne, Mission Impossible look and feel. The weapons and the high-end technology show off to make it impressive is childish. The 3 D projection technology of weapons is like a useless ornament usually worn to cover up something ugly. But without the story and acting it is useless.  

What makes it worse is when you cast an expressionless and stony actor like Siddharth Malhotra. You are definitely driving in the last nail in the coffin. Good looks and toned physique do not a good actor make. The only interesting part that kind of holds you till the end is Manoj Bajpai’s acting and intensity. It’s because of him that you might be able to make some sense out of this confusing crazy knotty mess. The film needed a lot more suspense and intensity. Neeraj Pandey could have built up the story with more action and movement and give the story depth.

All those weapons and hunky guys could’ve engaged in serious combat with the goras. A little more boom and bang would’ve added to the impact making the hidden aspects more interesting when revealed. Anupam Kher is completely wasted I don’t understand who he exactly was and what he is doing in the film. I don’t understand the role of Adil Husain. He barely has any dialogue. It is a great story with a good plot but the elements haven’t been given a thought and are laid out haphazardly.

Rating : 2 / 5 

Pad Man

Padman is a biopic film based on the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham who is a social entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu. He is known for invention of machines that can make sanitary pads at one third the cost making it available for women at cheap rates. This film is a documentary film that followed all the rules of Bollywood commercial film making. With dollops of emotion and a great narrative Pad Man is less of entertainment and more of celebration of a legend; a legend who understood the extent to which a woman’s life is in danger due to poor sanitation.  The physical pain a woman goes through every month is nothing compared to the excruciating pain she has to face due to the taboo and stigma associated with mensuration; especially in rural and semi-rural India. It’s the story of a man who took upon the challenge of fighting strong prejudice and a narrow mindset to address a very important issue of sanitation. He did not give up in spite of being uneducated and fought his way through bigotry and social stigma. 

The film’s narrative is interlaced with strong emotions indigenous to India and Indian culture. This film makes a strong connect with most of Indian audience making it a memorable watch. Though long and typical of a biopic, this film blends the characters into the story easily. There are no shocks, twists or turns in the story proving great direction and a meaningful script. 

Akshay Kumar gives a sweet performance and wins your heart with his speech at the UN in the film. Radhika Apte proves her mettle once again with superb character acting. She completes the story of a society that harbors shame, guilt and contempt successfully. Sonam Kapoor has an oblivious presence in the film. Director Balki has taken the risk of making a long film in order to showcase all aspects of the life of lead character Laxmi Prasad Chauhan. That risk has paid off. The triumph after the turmoil is poignant and dramatic. It was surprising to see many young people watching and enjoying the film. This is a story that Indians will like.

Rating – 3.5 / 5

PADMAVAT

A magnanimous presentation of drama through symbolism and personification, Padmavat is brand Bhansali overdone.  Sajay Leela Bhansali is the only director in Hindi cinema that seems to be fanatic about the opulence of ancient Indian royalty and romanticizes it on celluloid boundlessly. Padmavat is a long film of humongous extrapolations of a directors imagination and artistry. It showcases the great opulence of the famous Rajput royalty and finer nuances of the culture and sensibilities. It sketches the director’s imagination of the evil and good on the screen. The story, dialogue and narrative are pictorial and visual. He does these with extreme symbolism for the two sides. Symbolism in the form of colors, costumes, get up and presentation of the characters and their surroundings in every frame. The behavior and rituals of these characters strongly attach to good and evil. The long bearded, evil looking Allaudin Khilji is shown to be eating meat all the time and murdering innocents. A womanizer who is always wearing black and silver, speaking in the language of barbarians which are not that royal even though he is a king. His ways and methods are treacherous and wicked. Hopelessly selfish and bloodthirsty he is a menacing villain. His songs and dance moves are pirate like and the only thing lacking was a chain made of skulls around his neck. But it is replaced with the black get up and shiny jewelry. One cannot miss the desperately trying to be effeminate character speaking Hindi in a strange accent. It is sad that queer is associated with the evil and his character in the film is contemptuous and scoffed at.

On the other hand we had the Indian royalty shining in gold and red. The characters of Padmavati and Rawal Ratan Singh display oodles of poise, grace and dignity. In their actions and dialogues they convey the godly goodness and behavior is royal blue. The fort, court rooms, verandas, temples and bright red sarees covering women’s faces, all symbolize everything that can be good and pious. The costumes and jewelry are a treat to the eyes.

Ranvir Singh gives a good performance as he acts out the frivolity and madness of the evil side and does it alone. Deepika shows great poise and understanding of the royalty and eminence of a queen famous for her beauty. A lot of effort has been invested to make her look beautiful. I personally liked Shahid because of his consistency and strong expression. This is a film that can be watched once, and because you are watching it for the first time you will endure the dreariness.  I have promised to take my mother for this film but I don’t think I have the strength to go through that drama which is too much even on the large screen.  A one-time watch for its larger than all our lives experience. SLB should give us 5 years before his next film so we can wear out this one.

The coincidence of the drama before the release of the film with the drama IN the film is uncanny.

Rating - 3/5