Saturday, December 19, 2015

Bajirao Mastani



Rating : 6/10
Release Date : 4th December, 2015
Time : 158 minutes
Director & Writer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali (based on the book ‘Rau’ by NS Inamdar); Music : Sanchit Balhara;
Starring : Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Tanvi Azmi, Milind Soman, Vaibbhav Tatwawdi, Mahesh Manjrekar



The film is a visual delight – the sets, the camera angles, the costumes, the look – everything mesmerizes. Sadly, the story itself – a classic tragedy, in line with most of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s other films – fails to excite.




Deepika Padukone, Mastani, a princess from Bundelkhand, half Rajput, half Muslim falls in love with Ranveer Singh. The Peshwa. Especially after he and his army rescue her homeland from Muslim invaders. She falls for him so badly that she arrives as a ‘gift’, unannounced to his home in Pune, despite knowing that he’s married (to Priyanka) and has a kid. The conservative Maratha folk, of course, don’t accept her at all – led by the Peshwa’s mother, a sinister Tanvi Azmi and Vaibbhav (playing his younger brother).



What’s sad about the film is how two strong, fascinating characters – Mastani and Peshwa – are both shown losing their essence as they pursue their mad, crazy, unacceptable love. How a strong-willed, warrior princess becomes a weak supplicant, how a headstrong but wise ruler becomes almost an object of ridicule, not doing right by those who stood by him earlier, including Priyanka.




Deepika is iridescent. Illuminating. Flawless. Looks almost like someone not of this world. Ranveer, especially in the first half, is magnificent- his haughty walk, jerky movements and manner of speaking making his character come alive. Priyanka doesn’t get so much to play with but she does a fantastic job of the screen time she does get. Tanvi’s the show stealer – she’s ominous and exudes malevolence towards Deepika from the moment she sets eyes on her. Milind Soman is a surprise, is very good, as is Vaibbhav. The sets, costumes and colours bedazzle. The songs are good, though too many. And the second half could easily have had a lot of fat trimmed off it. However, special mention of the diction, the way the characters spoke - the lilting Marathi accent - was one of the most engaging aspects of the film.



What’s truly tragic about the story is that (if any part of it is historically true), then we lost two superb persons to petty jealousies, court politics and what is commonly practiced as religion in this country. The saddest part being, of course, that nothing has really changed in our nation.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good to see you resurface after a fortnight...

Anonymous said...

But that's what love is crazy, mad, stupid...why isn't it acceptable to some...

Anonymous said...

Deepika is covered from head to toe and looks enchanting... Divine beauty...her eyes gleam and speak of her passion for him..

Unknown said...

You have reviewed it nicely, and elaborating especially about the visual part of it. But it seems ( you have mentioned it in here ) that you are unaware about this great legendary chapter of Bajirao- and Mastani. I personally wanted to see this movie just as a magnanimously portrayed story , with all the SLB special effects ! Coz trailers are quite evident about the history part of it . Which at two points seem to be brutally attacked and killed ..! (Expected from Bhansali from his new version of Devdas!) But I believe in freedom of creativity, so personally it's not a big concern. I have not seen the movie yet, but with your review I am quite sure that it's gonna be the treat for me ! The last part that you mentioned about loosing two great personalities, I really need to see that to scale it against the history .

Anonymous said...

A song from the movie Anand...(simply humming to self) ... Kahi door jab din dhal jaaye, saanjh ki dulhan badan curaye chupke se aaye...mere khayallon ke aangan mei deep jalaaye...

Anonymous said...

Smouldering N smokey, hot N happening N handsome, passionate people's person..

Anonymous said...

Like the fragrance of Spring flowers...

Anonymous said...

In which part of the world are you in right now ? No reviews last weekend....

Anonymous said...

Kal chaudhvi ki raat thi, sabh bhar raha tha charcha Tera...

Anonymous said...

Kal chaudhvi ki raat thi, sabh bhar raha tha charcha Tera... Jagjit Singh ji left for the heavenly abode too soon...

Anonymous said...

I too believe in Happy Endings....

Anonymous said...

Hope never leaves me, you know what keeps me going - It is a poem by Sir Walter Scott that sets my imagination on fire : Oh, young Lochinvar is come out of the West,Through all the wide Border his steed was the best; And save his good broadsword he weapons had none, He rode all unarmed, and he rode all alone. So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war. There never was Knight like the young Lochinvar.... And the glorious poem goes on to tell how Lochinvar risked his life to rescue his beloved, who was forced to marry another man... So daring in love, and dauntless in war, Have ye e're heard of gallant like young Lochinvar ... Someday, a handsome Lochinvar will come, tall, elegant, charming, with a warm smile, every inch a Prince... He's out there somewhere, looking for me.. I'll be at the sink washing dishes and he'll come up behind me, put his arms around me, and whisper, 'Can I help you ?' And I'll turn around and look into his eyes, and I'll say, 'Do you dry dishes ?'

Anonymous said...

Hello....is it me you're looking for...?