Padmaavat Review: A Mediocre Piece Of Art

Padmaavat Review: A Mediocre Piece Of Art
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Anupriya Goenka

Ratings: 2 stars 

Amidst series of controversies, Padmaavat finally hits the theatres. The film not only faced the censor wrath but also was targeted by Rajput activists to show Queen Padmavati in a bad taste. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali proved his directorial mettle with his arty cinema for over more than a decade but failed commercially. He finally got the money making tool of revamping historical events which made him enough controversial in the meantime. His last outing Bajirao Mastani, which was loosely based on the book 'Rao' also had its share of controversies. 

One woman and two lovers, this has been the basic formula of our Hindi films. The phrase which suggests that behind every war there is a woman, is true to Padmaavat. The king of Mewar Maharwal Singh (Shahid Kapoor) travels to Singhal to buy pearls for his wife Nagmati (Anupriya Goenka) and incidentally meets Queen Padmavati (Deepika Padukone). The two fall for each other and get married in a private ceremony. In the coarse of their love making, a lusty priest sees them and the fumed Maharawal Singh throws him out of the dynasty.

A ruthless king Allaluddin Khilji (Ranveer Singh) marries the daughter of Jalaluddin (Raza Murad) and stabs him to death and conquer the dynasty. The priest of Mewar seeks revenge from Maharawal Singh and join hands with Allaluddin Khilji. He provokes Khilji to capture Mewars and achieve Queen Padmavati. In his thirst, Khilji meets Maharwal Singh and insists him to introduce to Padmavati once and then starts the ugly game of the victory over the queen. 

Padmaavat is a quintessential story of war for a woman. With characters like scary creep Khilji played by Ranveer Singh, submissive wife Aditi Rao Hydari, a strong portrayal of a Rajput queen played by Deepika Padukone, a strong headed king cum caring husband played by Shahid Kapoor or admirer of Khilji played by Jim Sarbh, SLB surely packs a punch. His characters are rich, raw and thought provoking. Like always, he definitely scores full marks in the art and costumes departments. 

The biggest hiccup of Bhansali's films is that they are just the glittery piece of art. Right from Raam Leela to Bajirao Mastani, he sketched his characters well but what more? Nothing literally! And this is the case with this one too. The plot is not accelerating enough to sit through for 2:43 minutes. Also, the blame is that SLB has a knack of twisting his plot to romance eventually barring historical events as his subtext.

The reviewer also feels that the film is pro Rajput and there should have been no offence to the activists. SLB has shown every character and event subtly. The fate of the film isn't great enough but eventually favoured it by hogging so much limelight. 

Ranveer Singh steals the show as a lusty and dominating king. He will make you feel disgusted. His scary facial expressions, his dance moves, his red eyes with kohl and his choked throat in the moment is to die for. Deepika Padukone is a very one tone actress especially while playing a queen, be it Mastani or Padmavati. She is dead pretty but nothing more to her. Shahid Kapoor is good in parts. His war sequences with Ranveer is quite a treat. Anupriya Goenka is noticeable in her short role. Aditi Rao Hydari also impresses in her special appearance. Raza Murad has been looking the same since Jodha Akbar days, wonder if he growing old ever? Jim Sarbh is too good as an admirer of Khilji. His lust and love for him is subtle and powerful. 

Overall, Padmaavat is strictly a one time watch. If you want to see good looking starcast in beautiful attires and palatial forts, then it is worth your ticket price.