LONDON: Vibrant and action-packed, Mani Ratnam’s classically themed epic Raavan brings together the mythology of Indian culture and the flair and fun of Bollywood with tremendous flourish. Cinematographers Manikandan and Santosh Sivan teamed up with production designer Samir Chanda and editor A Sreekar Prasad and provided Ratnam with images, settings and vitality that take one’s breath away.
The film’s success is inevitable throughout India and with expat audiences. But such is the flare of Indian filmmaking that international audiences are also expected to respond positively. The 130-minute film opened in Britain on Friday.
The story is drawn from the legend of Ramayana where Raavan, a 10-headed demon-god kidnaps Sita, the wife of Lord Rama. Rama must hack off all the heads of the demon to recover his beloved. One of Bollywood’s top actors Aishwarya Rai plays Ragini, the ravishing wife of police inspector Dev, portrayed by Tamil actor Vikra. Dev has just taken charge of policing a remote part of Northern India filled with jungles, ravines, imposing cliffs and waterfalls. Abhishek Bachchan plays Beera Munda, a multifaceted character whom some regard as a criminal but others revere as a benefactor.
When Munda’s family is brutally victimized by the police during a wedding, he retaliates by kidnapping Ragini and taking her deep into the mountainous outback. Dev sets out with his men to bring her back safely.
The film was shot in two different languages; Hindi and Tamil, with the Hindi version airing in most international territories.
The film’s innovative producers have managed to make the drama both intense and enjoyable to watch, with dynamic musical sequences enhanced by the irresistible music of A R Rahman, the Oscar-winning composer of Slumdog Millionaire. These musical sequences are set against a rugged and beautiful landscape and include a splendid war dance at a jungle temple, a romantic portrait of domestic bliss and a celebration of impending nuptials with the choreography being as bold and striking as the music.
Wearing dark glasses, Vikram cuts a strong figure as the police officer, while Bachchan clearly enjoys playing a character who is fierce, passionate and dangerous but also comic in his self-doubt over whether to kill his captive or make love to her. As for Rai, the camera simply adores her and she manages to bring to life the confusion her character faces as her feelings towards her abductor change, all the while managing to live up to her reputation as one of the most beautiful women in the world.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2010.
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