Padmaavat or Let’s play Dress up.
Post Bajirao Mastani Sanjay Leela Bhansali (SLB) probably had some free time on hand. I am guessing he watched GoT, 300 and even Bahubali. Supercharged by them all he decided he would make something similar, an extravagant costume drama, but with an Indian Twist.
Rani Padmavati was the name that came to mind. Her beauty, her valour, her sacrifice would be the perfect setting for a costume drama would have been the thought.
The main character was cast, but hey, this is a Hindi Movie plot! A heroine without a hero and a villain is like a Vada Pav without the Pav and fried Mirchi, Edible and delicious by itself but better with accompaniments. So history was plundered, apologies, history books were plundered and the Mr and a Villain were chosen.
Now for the casting.
With the seasonal changes and viral flu in the air SLB probably was down with a cold and conjunctivitis when he cast Shahid Kapoor as King Ratan. My heart went out to Shahid as he tried his best to fit into a role clearly NOT meant for him. Shahid is naturally slim and he looks puny and nowhere what a Rajput should look like. Worse still, being cast against the Amazonian Deepika.
Ranveer is aptly cast, but took the role way too seriously. There is a fine line between being villainous and being a buffoon. Ranveer crossed both, to achieve ridiculous. Over exaggerated facial expressions and annoying mannerisms had me rolling my eyes and thinking, ‘Yeh aa gaya phir se pagal!’ each time he appeared on screen.
Deepika Padukone playing the title role holds the film on her able shoulders, despite a weak script. She looked good, despite watering eyes in every close up shot. I also wondered what happened to the dusky complexion and the unibrow in the posters as she is milky white with a whimsical unibrow that appears and disappears in the film.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali set out to make a costume drama and he succeeded in getting the costume bit right. The drama was to be found only in the concluding scene- the Jauhar scene that brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. The grandeur and the emotion in that one scene is awe inspiring.
Otherwise Padmaavat is just a story we read in the papers everyday, about an uninterested woman being stalked by a paramour who refuses to take no for an answer.
P:S: If you are wondering about the dropped ‘I’ in the title, it signifies the lack of intelligence is making what could have been a movie to remember. I suggest you leave yours behind as well before you watch it.
P:P:S: I am a HUGE Sanjay Leela Bhansali fan and I was heartbroken when I finally saw the much awaited Padmaavat.
2 ** Stars for Padmaavat
*M’s Rating Chart.
* I want my money back + a fully booked and paid 3 month trip to _________(please fill in a destination of choice)
** I don’t want my money back even though I didn’t like the movie, but director/producer may please pay for my popcorn/samosa/parking.
*** Time and money both well spent!
**** Loved it!
***** Whistle, clap, even smile at irritating neighbor-who-kept-talking-on-cell phone and extol virtues of the movie.
Oh I was planning to watch it in theater this week end. I think, I better save my money. Thanks for the review Mayuri.
Glad to have saved you your time and money, Anagha:)
That’s an honest, unbiased review by a Ranveer Singh fan. I never intended to watch it and am glad I didn’t miss anything. I’ve had way too much of heavy costumes and grand sets somehow mashed up and woven into a half-baked story.
Thank God you felt the same as me. Many people actually liked the movie and we’re all praises for it. That’s why I went and saw it. But was disappointed. Great and honest review as always.
And I am glad you agree, Deepa! Thanks for reading!
Haha. That was so funny. Btw, not sure if you know but there was a Tamil movie in the 1950’s based on the same story called “Chittoor Rani Padmini”. Despite the days of no special efforts and little razzle -dazzle, the lead pair of Shivaji Ganesan and Vaijayanti Mala did a fab job.
Let me find out about Chittoor Rani Padmini, Lavs. Thanks for letting me know, and for reading:)
Your logic behind dropping I is probably the most hilarious and reasonable one I have read so much about the jauhar scene that maybe I will find some videos and just watch that scene. Deepika and shahid! Who on earth would pair them… We we have an answer now enjoyed reading your review.
The Jauhar scene is the only one worth watching! Glad you enjoyed the review, Raj!:)
So much political drama and furore was unnecessary. Only if they would have seen this movie and passed it as below mediocre.
Lovely review Mayuri, as always you hit the cord bang on.
Seriously, Dipika!Complete waste!
That’s a cool review and leaves me in two minds whether to watch it or not? ..and I so damn agree to your point on casting Shahid in the Rajput king’s role. Sanjay went wrong with many things in this. From someone who made black, I desperately await classics.
Thanks for reading, Roma!:)
Hahaha.. that neatly sums it up. Yesterday on TV, there was a Shahid Kapur interview in which he was detailing how he studied the role and prepared for it. Merely for standing in beautiful clothes, he need not have done anything. It was plain modeling.
Wonder what he prepared for? He looks uncomfortable throughout the film!
Not a single person I know has praised the film they saw! My cousins panned the film and coaxed me to stay away even if someone gifted me with free tickets! Tch tch…what a waste of money, time and energy..SLB could have made five low budget, sensible movies and gained some more fans. No?
Loved loved loved your review, Mayuri!
I am of the same view as your cousins, Shilpa! 🙂 Thanks for reading! 🙂
A movie not on my radarlist to watch even if I die. I am not a fan of such epic fictions that undertone the story itself. A Game of Thrones episode watched back to back for 3 hours will give me a better feeling.
#nohardfeelings!
Grinning at your response, Hemal:))) Thanks for reading:)
Yes Mayuri. This movie was not that good as we expected and unnecessarily stretched to such long hours. But One thing I want to say is the whole movie was about Allaudin Khilji (Ranveer Singh). He carry forwarded it. Else this movie would be a disaster. And there is no role at all of Sahid Kapoor.
I guess you are right, Swarupa. Thanks for reading:)
That’s a wonderful review, Mayuri. I couldn’t watch the movie because well… I’m living in a God-forbidden place with no theatres 🙂 But watching the clips and songs, I agree with you – Ranveer looks hilarious! Over the top!
nice review
Haha! We just saw it yesterday and I told my husband that probably SLB saw Bahubali and took an offence thinking ‘i have to make it bigger’.
Oh I disappointed I have been after watching such a waste of money and effort
One of my friends asked me yesterday to make a plan to watch this movie…i replied that i will inform him and now i will never inform him…
Very honest and creative review,thanks for saving my money and the time which could irritate or make me angry on myself.
Enjoyed reading this review.