At the outset, I would like to warn you guys. Do not go to
this movie expecting a rustic romcom like what was shown in the trailer. The
truth is that all the events in the trailer unfold into a much more macabre
atmosphere as the movie passes on. Years ago there came a man called
Shakespeare whose inimitable style of writing created a genre in his own
namesake. Many of his plays are known for their morally ambiguous characters,
dark plots, violent times, human hatred and maddening passion. This flick helmed
by Anand L Rai with a script by Himanshu Varma and starring Dhanush(or the
Kolaveri guy), Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar, Mohammad Zeeshan Ayub and Abhay
Deol(in a short but pivotal role), is a true to its roots member of the
Shakespearean genre.
The Plot:
The plot is of romance rife with strife. Kundan, a Tamil
brahmin boy living in Varanasi falls in love with Zoya, a Muslim girl. But his
love is challenged by various elements which seem to be deigned by the almighty
himself to tear both his love and his life apart. Zoya, who reciprocates the
love in childhood, forgets it in adulthood, scoffing the former as mere
immaturity is also tested by her own selfish motives, Kundan’s persistent
stalking and her love for Akram, a student leader in her college. Woven into
this mesh are Kundan’s childhood friends who try their level best to support
him and dissuade him appropriately. What is the result of all of this, is what
the rest of the story is about.
Screenplay and Direction:
Now, the review has to be split into two parts. One, for the
first half, which is essentially the half that covers most of the entertainment
in the movie. It is a set of cleverly sequenced events that unfold in a manner
most quirky and full of wit. The writer must be commended for his whiplash
dialogue work and fast moving screenplay. It is sure to bring claps and
whistles in addition to making you go “wah wah”. The other, for the second
half, which is the one where Shakespeare kicks in full on. In this half, you
feel a sense of the gloomy and the macabre. Though the writer has not
compromised on the dialogues, the story tends to sag and become a little
unbelievable. One may feel that the writer has compromised on both logic and
reason in this half, where some sequences seem quite unrealistic and ludicrous.
Yet, that is just a verbal description of how Romeo and Juliet, Othello and
Hamlet were. So true to the earth are the myriad emotions in play on screen,
that some viewers might feel devastated for the characters on screen. A near
commendable writing job. The director has improved significantly to his
previous outing (Tanu Weds Manu). His effort this time seems much more mature
and melancholy this time, much unlike the Tanu Weds Manu.
The Performances:
Among the actors, debutante Dhanush (a national award
winner) gives a cracker of a performance. It is like he never runs out of fizz
throughout the movie. His expressions, voice and rustic appearance are his
prime allies. His work is whistle, clap and award worthy. Swara Bhaska
r and
Mohammad Zeeshan Ayub as Dhanush’s friends are effervescent. They get the lion’s
share of humorous situations and carry them off with elan. They equal Dhanush's role in terms of entertainment quotient. Sonam Kapoor and
Abhay Deol give understated performances suiting their characters perfectly. On
the whole it is a powerhouse ensemble.
The Technicalities:
A R Rahman, needless to say, is another hero for this film.
His songs are salt of the earth stuff. All of the songs in the movie are purely
situational. Yet, one feels that the movie could not have done well without the
maestro’s melodious and folksy tunes. The Camera work by Nataraja Subrahmanyam captures
the various colours of Varanasi life effectively. The other technicalities like
Editing, Sound design etc are adequate.
It can be safely said that Raanjhanaa is one of the best
films to come out this year and one of the most solid Romance sagas in the
recent times. It is sure to make it big in the critics circle and the awards season. While the movie is likely to entertain you, it may even sometimes
make you feel why the events in the second half are so illogical. Yet, this
flick deserves a lot more than any movie in the Rs 100 Crore club. Raanjhanaa is
the return of Shakespeare style melodrama with that slight dose of daft and sometimes
stupid plot elements exclusive to the Shakespearean genre. Those with no taste
for the myriad and stupid combo will abhor this film. As for me, I love
Shakespeare...........
