Genre : Historical
Year : 2018
Running time : 2 hours 44 minutes
Director : Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Cast : Deepika Padukone, Ranvir Singh, Shahid Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari, Raza Murad, Jim Sarbh, Anupriya Goenka
Kid rating : G
I’ve finally seen Padmaavat, and post-these-3-hours of my life, I remember why I didn’t want to watch this film in the first place. I do think director and film-maker Bhansali is very talented – Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is one of my favorites. That film had a plot, romance, humor, ups and downs. Not so with his more recent products; the “style” seems to have swallowed up the substance in his films. Plus he also seems to be in love with his own work. Ergo, problems with the editing. The film goes on forever (e.g. Ram Leela); 2.5 hours or more.
Padmaavat follows a similar pattern – long, long film full of exquisitely designed sets, intricate costumes and jewelry and grand, sweeping locales. There is however only so much stupendousness that the eye can take before you start to zone it out, and long for a real film sans the fripperies. Bhansali seems to be missing the forest for the trees.
You’ll know that this film is loosely based on Queen of Chittor, Rani Padmavati’s Jauhar upon Alauddin Khilji’s attack and Chittor’s imminent defeat. Gorgeous Deepika Padukone plays Padmaavati, Shahid Kapoor plays her husband Maharaja Ratan Singh and Ranvir Singh is the marauding, savage invader Alauddin Khilji. While Padukone and Singh are well suited to their characters, Kapoor is miscast, because he appears to not have the stature or the commanding presence which you’d think he’d have as this brave warrior king. He seems so much better suited to “modern” films like Kaminey. Singh is all kohl-laden eyes, scarred face, clad in shaggy fur, and brings a ferociousness to this role.
Deepika is lithe and luminous as the almost-monastic huntress of deer, when she first encounters Ratan Singh. She succumbs to the charms of this already-married man, and post-marriage prefers to remain safely ensconced in the palace dancing the ghoomar to hunting. Bummer! That’s the other problem with this film – yes, freedom of speech and expression and all, but it is still troubling to think that despite all the disclaimers, this film does glamorize Jauhar/Sati. It does! Indeed, it’s a downer to think that Rani Padmini/Padmavati, well-versed in dance, music, and warfare, fearless and fancy-free ends her life by jumping into a fire, to protect her honor, per social diktat.
However, credit where it is due: Bhansali is a genius. He brings a unique vision, artistry and execution to make larger than life films. Now if only he could go back to his roots and make films which aren’t just grand spectacles steeped in patriarchal story-telling, that would be nice.
Kidwise: Nothing really troubling for the younger set, although I doubt that younger kids could sit through this almost 3 hour long self-indulgent extravaganza.
