This year's much awaited Mani Ratnam magnum opus Raavan has finally hit the theatres.The movie has been receiving mixed reviews all over the world.
I feel that the movie is devoid of soul.It tries to reinterpret Raamayana and turn it into Ravanayana.The movie attempts to reveal the true side of Raavana and state that the eliete class is not always on the side of righteousness.
Agreed that the idea is brilliant and that the making of the film reflects the intellect that Mani Ratnam is,but the script simply lacks connection and the movie becomes an ongoing repetition of itself for a very long duration.With very vague parallels to the current maoist mess and the corrupted beaurocracy in India,the movie definetly created a spark of thoughts in the mind of the viewer but it does not contain the completeness of Ratnam's other gems like Yuva,Guru,Roja and Bombay.
Abhishek Bachan gives a dissapointing performance as Beera,Vikram is comparatively better as Dev and Aishwarya as Ragini is charming but lacks genuinty.Govinda as Sanjeevni(aka hanuman) acts almost like a baffoon while Priya Mani as Jamuniya has done justice to her part.
The photography is brilliant but the problem is that very often the viewer feels that he is witnessing the "Fear Factor" show on AXN.The jumps and other stunts performed by the characters looked forced and unnecessary sometimes.
A.R.Rehman has come up with enchanting and distinct music but none of the songs have been picturised that well.The songs also seem forced into the visuals.The best number "beera beera" has also ben underutilised and has ben made the title song.
Inspite of having flaws,I do not feel that Raavan is a horrible film or that Mani Ratnam is a mediocre director.It is just that this time,Ratnam seems to have got a little lost with the script.The film definetly does raise relevant questions related to morality,class conflicts and the pseudo displays of affection between people.Even though Raavan is not this year's best movie,it definetly is better than the usual bollywood masala flicks,Karan Johar's family dramas and Ram Gopal Verma ki Aag!!
3 comments:
Ramayana is Sitayana also. The movie is focusibg on Ragini's (Sita) dilemma on the charatcter of ravana and rama. Rama is very sophisticated in Ramayana. But sophistication itself is pseudo and a masquerade of evils.He has to show off gallantry and heroism to the society. That is his identity and survival. But Ravan is acting according to his self judgements with utter sincerity. This transparency is the focal point in the character of Ravan.This subject is a point of discussion and it wil continue. Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata will be a source of inspiration for intelligent artists.Mani Ratnam is clever enough to give some wild background to his movie. It can be interpreted in many ways (Maoist or somethingelse)and he is having the last laugh. Read Aranyer Adhikar of Mahaswetha Devi. In this novel, the central character is one Verasa Munda which sounds similar to Beera Munda. Read it, defenitely you can see woderful resemblence to the movie and the film.
sukanya
this is of course very interesting blog. everybody choose their own way of blogging.
in your case your subject is different. i hardly see films, but this sort of writings makes me to see d film.
your blog id was taken from your facebook page.
best regards
jp
halo
facebookil kaanaanillallo ippol. evide poyi.
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