If you are reading this review. You must be one of the few who are still thinking if they should see RAMLEELA- poora naam GOLIYON KI RASSLEELA- RAMLEELA. Then this review is just for you.
Why such a late review. As I am not Sanjay Leela bansali- I will give you a simple answer, It is genuine unlike many you would have read in the newspapers. I write when I see a movie. I do not hurry through the after-effects. I allow the movie to sink and check for the aftertaste that it would leave in my subconscious mind.
So if it’s SANJAY LEELA BANSALI, you could be sure of the largeness of canvas. An idea, an interpretation of someone else’s original work. Rich grandeur. Minute detail taken care of and a well cast characters. He has demonstrated that in past and in this he takes it to another level. Be it the new hot property in town RANVEER SINGH ( RAM) or DEEPIKA (LEELA) or SUPRIYA PATHAK ( BAA). Each character is part filmy, part fantasy and part real—making the mix volatile. Its never a smooth flight.
I would avoid talking whether it is a good adaptation of ROMEO & JULIET or how much it borrows from RAMAYANA. Or if it is really different than ISHQZADE. To me what matters is the time I spend in movie hall and how deeply the movie engages me.
This time RAMLEELA is really ISHQZADE, set in the northwest part of Gujarat. The white sanded KUTCH. Love emerges almost instantly between Ranveer ( son of chief of Rajadis) who has just returned from his 12 years in Ahmedabad and Deepika ( Daughter of the matriarchial clan Sandela’s) . The love is deep vibrant and passionate. Ram ( of the 6 pack fame ) whiles away his time with friends, runs a Adult film parlour, carries a gun wishing he should never be forced to use. Deepika is fulto deep in love too. But her mother has different plans for her. She wants to marry her to a NRI return. She is in a hurry but would wait for future son-in-law to demonstrate his manliness by handling a gun.
Like most of the earlier Hindi films, love story to become a movie must have problem. In this case it’s just the simple old fact fact that the clan they belong to has been at warring ends for some past 500 years. They pick fights and Bullets literally fly at a drop of pagadi. You as an audience halfway through the film rightly guess the ending. So how is it different?
It’s the direction- the grandeur and the lively almost silent passion that Deepika demonstrates for Ranveer. The music and the dances ( at least one of them was unwarranted – but so what it places the character in context- and more importantly keeps one of the crucial segment, the front rows happy ). And here I am not referring to a silly ITEM SONG by PRIYANKA. That definitely had no reason to be in this film. It really the time when the film stagnates. It adds nothing to the story. This item number could be seen as THE BIGGEST FLAW in RAMLEELA.
But where Bansali really scores high, other than the Characterisation , the Music & dialogues, the direction and the make believe world of the warring clan – is the overall grandeur , costumes and rich riot of heavily charged colours. The cinematography stands out as world class. Every frame has some element to hold you.
Ranveer is in his elements having done a role of his life. Playing the role of carefree RAM and later on as the CONFUSED RAM (once he is appointed chief of his clan). Deepika is heightened sexuality. She is fully immersed in love and swims with the feeling. The only place she looks out of place or somewhat uncomfortable. It’s the time she is the newly crowned matriarchal chief ( in place of injured BAA) and has to deal with RAM ( Now the chief of Sandela’s) . The contrast required between one in love and one who had to take an action that is not just, this is another weak moment of this highly entertaining film.
It’s unfortunate that due to some silly set of people objecting to the name RAMLEELA, he was forced to adapt a longer name. Not only that, he even carries a disclaimer at the start. I would imagine and believe that this is an aberration and the Government is not so weak to bow to fanatics. The Censor Board has its own mind and can see when there is a misguided appeal. For Bansali to do that ( name change and the disclaimer) is not a weakness but purely a business decision and you can’t blame him for bowing to the demand.
Even if you hate the director’s guts, believe numerous reviews and are not sure whether you should watch it or not. LET ME PLACE MY COMMENT IN STRAIGHT LANGUAGE, If you do not watch this- you could miss out on one of the movie that really glorifies the grandeur of Hindi Movie through a rich riots of colours- subtle dialogues spoken in silence through crafty use of light and intense physical expressions.
