Shruti Ghosh

Skip this one if you love your brain cells.

The views are my personal, subjective impression and response to the film. You may or may not have to agree with them. First things first, let me clarify one thing : the film is purely a work of fiction and doesn't attempt to depict history or the historical characters in truthful light as is made amply clear by Bhansali in the disclaimer. So hold your horses before you jump the gun on Bhansali for distortion of history.The runtime is 2hrs 47mins, so you really got to have nerves of steel to not fall asleep. Now to Deepika's introduction in the film: Padmavati, a Singhali princess, in an exotic forest far away from India, with a bow and arrow, marking her kill ( which is a deer)- sounds familiar right? More like James Cameron's Na'vi people right? Yes, Deepika's opening shot is straight out of Avatar's Neytiri. Even her features and movements and the forest seem to resemble Avatar: no stroke of luck there, right? Bhansali's cinematography as always is fabulous, but the whole canvas of the movie will make you feel as if you're looking at a beautiful painting. Deepika at times reminded me of "My Last Duchess"( a dramatic monologue by Robert Browning). The first half has very little time devoted to Deepika. She is used more as an accessory in the movie, than an empowering character. Her role is deified after she rescues Ratan Singh from Khilji's capture at Delhi after which she gains the title of Devima. The only redeeming thing is that she gives an impassioned speech to the congregation of women to commit jauher( self immolation). However, for a big ticket film of this scale, you'd expect that the CGI be good, right? The ostrich of the opening shot was pretty disappointing as was the fire of the last scene. And holy hell, there were no proper war scenes. I had hoped that since the movie is an ode to Rajputs' valour and courage, it would have adrenaline pumping, blood bath of the two sides. There's only one hand to hand, actual combat between Khilji and Ratan Singh right at the end ( which pretty much recalled to my memory the famous combat between Achilles and Hector in Troy). The entire film is a paen to glorify the Rajputs and Shahid Kapoor using every possible poetic and rhetorical device to praise the Rajputs. Khilji is definitely and unequivocally the villain, - Muslim invader, debauched, infidel and a murderer, munching on raw meat. I will not bore you with the obvious resemblance that Khilji has with Khal Drogo from GoT. The GoT fans will definitely get the Dothraki vibes. Khilji is essentially shown as a character who indulges in excesses, killing people treacherously at his convenience, utterly narcissistic who says " Allah ki banayi har nayab cheez par sirf Allaudin Ka haq ha" which also translates to Padmavati as well. Ranveer did a fairly good job. You'll come out of the theatre loathing him and pitying him in equal measure. However, Ranveer also overacted turning many scenes into comedy as the theatre goers broke out into collective laughter( or else why would Jim Surbh's Malik Khafur sing while Khilji made love to a prostitute?too much, right?) Basically his dream was to see Padmavati who is a living, walking angel on earth, a nayab cheez for him to possess. Throughout the movie, his quest is to see her face but he is tricked by Ratan Singh or is unsuccessful in his pursuit. Till the last minute he is unable to see her face as she sacrifices herself to the fire. So I guess that's what makes him a tragic hero.( yes, I couldn't get Aristotle out of my head while watching it 😂). The film is a paen to the legend of Padmavati and how as the Rajputs fought with the steel of their swords, the Rajput women sacrificed themselves to the fire thereby preserving the integrity, honour and principles of the Rajputs. And boy the film is so filled with hollow, ornamental dialogues, which diminishes the effect of the film.I won't even begin to talk about how the first wives of both Khilji and Ratan Singh are quickly forgotten with the arrival of Padmavati. Also the action seems quite rushed at times.