Once underrated, now much appreciated, Lootera is a beautiful, soul-touching, bitter-sweet piece of art. Helmed by brilliant direction, the cast render heartfelt performances. Sonakshi was a acting a tad overdramatic in the beginning, but her performance in the second half is her career-best. Very feminist, but human indeed. And Ranveer Singh with his understated acting, brings a depth to his conflict-ridden character, torn between love and duty. The agonizing choices he has to make, the later evolution of his character and self-realization elicit a sense of sympathy from the viewer. It shows how helpless people are, it shows the greys in a human being between the lines. Again, unarguably his best performance. The scene where he expresses his repentance and his unalloyed love for Pakhi brings tears to my eyes. I long to see him such an understated role again. The man is versatile.
Amit Trivedi's music is mellifluous, he is one of the most consistent good music directors out there in Bollywood today since the last decade. The cinematography brings to life the variegated scenes, beautifully highlighting the contrasts in the microcosm and macrocosm. The dialogue appearing a but muffled, the visual textures a but unclear, all to attain the desired emotional effect. I also felt the pace to be perfect. Not slow at all. Overall it is a masterfully wrought piece of cinema
Everyone may not like it. And that is fine. Some kinds of cinema are meant for a select audience who can feel as deeply and profoundly with the characters, who can appreciate the effort it. It should remain so.
A must watch film for true movie-buffs.