Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are two real live wires. Without their energy and spark, this film would had been nothing but putrid.
Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are two real live wires. Without their energy and spark, this film would had been nothing but putrid. And of course thanks to Wasiq Khan’s production design, the fabulous colour riot and the aesthetically created sets are like an amazing dose of art for the creative souls. From the way Deepika Padukone is bathed in the beautiful brightness of the gulaal to Ranveer showing off his ‘harmless’ machismo , vibrant holi colours suffused on his sexy torso, the film from start to end makes you feel as if you are sitting in an edgy art gallery, with colours splashing wildly from all directions.
There is something so rustic and charmingly primitive about Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s onscreen chemistry. The two are savage in the film, ready to rip each other apart and soak themselves in the syrup of sex and passion. Unmindful of the clichéd romance rules, the couple leave practicality behind and trust their instincts when it comes falling head over heels in ‘love, lust, everything’ with each other.
Supriya Pathak plays the deadly Baa, whose sole presence gives you the shivers down the spine. The sinister aura and the authoritative tone, I take my hat off to her, what an excellent job! The significant character roles played by Gulshan Devaiah, Richa Chadda, Sharad Kelkar, Abhimanyu Singh and Barkha Bisht are also worth the mention, they are all good actors unfortunately stuck in a haphazard film.
So it is Hindi film style Romeo and Juliet and we all know what the ending is like. It dramatically starts with the two warring communities set in an ‘unabashedly gun wielding’ village in Gujarat. The Sanedas and the Rajwadis are blazing with hatred. But amidst all the violence and unnecessary loathing, Ranveer – the Ram happens to be an opinion leader, who doesn’t believe in dhishkyao dhishkyao, and has instead found his peace in selling blue film CDs. The twist in the tale arrives when Singh has to take over as the don of his community and Deepika as the ultimate ruler of her posse. The love continues to exist between the two but circumstances demand revenge and bloodshed.
The film is fast as hell in parts and slow to the extent of irritating you, in bits. Priyanka Chopra appears out of nowhere shaking her booty to an abysmal number and too many songs ruin the flow of the film (did I say flow…well, that didn’t exist after a while). Sanjay Leela Bhansali uses his imagination only to create a beautiful aura and feel, and forgets to concentrate on the most important aspect – the script and the story. Loved all the masaledar dialogues, the typical Guajarati accent and the wonderful Garba moves but what’s the point of all that, if the film on the whole doesn’t meet the simple expectations of the movie goers. SLB is yet to make a romantic masterpiece after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam that would make us say…yes, the thunderbolt has struck, again!
