Raavan Review

Modern-day Ramayan adaptation?

Haha Mani Ratnam…you got me there.

One expects certain routine things when you go for a Ratnam-Rahman combo…an awesome background score, a different topic, beautifully photographed songs, unique lighting…and guaranteed substance.

Most of the above goes same for this movie, except for the story. It ain't a 100% rewrite.

What I feel Ratnam has done by claiming a Ramayan-ripoff is a great promotion strategy for the movie. Because you have registered in your head that it is indeed Ramayan, you know what’s gonna happen to Beera(Abhishek Bachchan), and you try connecting every new character that appears on screen to the epic saga. What then happens as the movie flows, is a normal Bollywoodish narrative converting itself into one with unexpected twists and turns. I mean that it is a simple story, but it is different because you are thinking different with a foreseen ending. Now that’s an idea sirji!

Abhishek comes off again with a stellar performance. I was convinced after seeing 'Sarkar' and 'Yuva', that he’s not another actor basking in his dad’s already-carpeted glory. Aishwarya Rai(as his wife Raghini) also puts forth a fantastic performance. Vikram(as Dev, the righteous cop) does well too. But Beera’s charisma outclasses them.

Now, about the movie. It is a visually extravagant art film with a not-so-strong plot. First of all, MIND-BLAASTING CINEMATOGRAPHY…bravo SANTOSH SIVAN & MANIKANDAN! A tad similar to ‘Before the Rains’, but if you had missed that movie, then prepare to get awed by a never-before captured beauty of south India, including the forests of Karnataka(Tumkur), Kerala (Athirapilly Falls), Ooty, Hoggenakal, Jhansi, Kolkata, Mahabaleshwar and in the Malshej Ghats in Maharashtra. Even with such a diversity in locations, there’s not one moment you feel that the scenes lack connection.

I am not giving away any synopsis, but I would certainly claim that nothing is overdone.

And that I had mentioned the story’s not unique, the screenplay isn’t outstanding either. The pace is slow in the first half, which gets intriguing towards the end. At times you wonder where the movie’s heading, especially at the intermission. But Rahman’s music doesn’t allow your attention to stray(I loved "Behne De") and his score simply enhances Sivan-Manikandan's magic. Some of the shots, especially at the climax, have been taken so breathtakingly that you suspect a Hollywood hand.

About acting other than the core three, none let down. Govinda didn’t have to perform much on-screen, thank you Mani! Priyamani justifies her National Award (for Best Actress last year) by remarkably enacting a role critical to the movie. Vikram’s and Priyamani’s dialogue delivery in Hindi were more or less flawless. Choreography, costumes, make-up(they keep on smearing themselves with either turmeric or mud!) and Ash's no make-up, Beera's brothers...all deserve mention.

If you are a person who judges a character’s pursuit and the influenced decisions he/she makes in a movie (basically who thinks too much!), there will arise debates about Raghini’s feelings, Beera’s doings and Dev’s attitude…but the decision of who’s right or wrong is entirely put to you. For me, it was all Beera.

I am yet watch Vikram as Raavan in Tamil, but I am assured that he’s gonna rock it. Jealousy erupts at the very thought of Prithviraj’s luck to act alongside Ash…so definitely some points off for the Tamil version!

CONCLUSION(according to me!) : Not Ratnam-Rahman’s best work to date, but it will be definitely remembered for Sivan-Manikandan, and the quality acting.

Dussssssssssssss mein se saath! (7/10)