Ram-leela: Energetic. Exquisite. Electrifying.
Confession first - I caught myself staring at the screen with my mouth agape many times during the course of this film. The beauty in every frame is just overwhelming.
And I'm writing this review while I listen to the music of Ram-leela on loop :P
Ram-leela could have been a reverie if there were no guns or violence in the movie.
But Sanjay Leela Bhansali makes it absolutely clear that this is no subtle romance - first in the title itself "Goliyon ki raasleela - Ram-leela" and then in every frame of the film - you will never NOT see guns and if you don't see guns, you will witness some form of violence or hear gunshots in the least.
Set against this backdrop is a romance that is in-your-face and raw.
The first half of the film is just exhilarating. So fast, so thrilling, you'll be gasping for breath to catch up. The songs, the intros and the music just keep you enthralled and entertained. But come second half, the story begins to slack. All the fighting and gun battles seem unnecessary. A rather violent version of Romeo and Juliet, I'd say.
Coming to individual performances, I think Ram-leela is rife with stellar individual performances!
Let's begin with Ranveer Singh, this movie is truly his. He owned his character and was true to it right till the very end. He portrayed everything and more as Ram. I just loved the depth in his character - one who supports non-violence, but is forced to take up arms. How he's in power but still helpless. Just superb.
Deepika Padukone can take a bow. She is fantastic as the passionate Leela. The circumstances that cause her character to develop layers are beautifully portrayed. Finally what the characters become is a result of their clans and not their choices. She looks like a dream through most of the film while staying true to the character of Leela. She stood rock solid alongside Ranveer Singh's Ram - who wouldn't have turned out to be what he was, if it wasn't for Deepika Padukone's Leela.
Supriya Pathak Kapur is brilliant as the Godmother of the village and Richa Chaddha as Leela's sister-in-law, is more woman than any woman could hold a candle to, on that screen. Also a mention to Barkha Bisht, who had great screen presence as Ram's sister-in-law.
Coming to the music, there is a whole range of melody - from the catchy dance number Tattad Tattad that quite honestly I didn't like one bit when I heard it first, but it just grows on you, to Lal Ishq that is as soulful as soulful can be. The part-jazz part-traditional Ram Chahe Leela is melodious and the surprise number Lahu Munh Lag Gaya makes you go into a trance. I say surprise number because it didn't sound too promising in the first few listens. But as it catches on, it's just as the song implies lahu munh lag gaya ;)
In a nutshell, the movie is simply beautiful despite the guns galore.
My recommendation: Go watch it for the sheer beauty of it!
And I'm writing this review while I listen to the music of Ram-leela on loop :P
But Sanjay Leela Bhansali makes it absolutely clear that this is no subtle romance - first in the title itself "Goliyon ki raasleela - Ram-leela" and then in every frame of the film - you will never NOT see guns and if you don't see guns, you will witness some form of violence or hear gunshots in the least.
Set against this backdrop is a romance that is in-your-face and raw.
The first half of the film is just exhilarating. So fast, so thrilling, you'll be gasping for breath to catch up. The songs, the intros and the music just keep you enthralled and entertained. But come second half, the story begins to slack. All the fighting and gun battles seem unnecessary. A rather violent version of Romeo and Juliet, I'd say.
Coming to individual performances, I think Ram-leela is rife with stellar individual performances!
Let's begin with Ranveer Singh, this movie is truly his. He owned his character and was true to it right till the very end. He portrayed everything and more as Ram. I just loved the depth in his character - one who supports non-violence, but is forced to take up arms. How he's in power but still helpless. Just superb.
Deepika Padukone can take a bow. She is fantastic as the passionate Leela. The circumstances that cause her character to develop layers are beautifully portrayed. Finally what the characters become is a result of their clans and not their choices. She looks like a dream through most of the film while staying true to the character of Leela. She stood rock solid alongside Ranveer Singh's Ram - who wouldn't have turned out to be what he was, if it wasn't for Deepika Padukone's Leela.
Supriya Pathak Kapur is brilliant as the Godmother of the village and Richa Chaddha as Leela's sister-in-law, is more woman than any woman could hold a candle to, on that screen. Also a mention to Barkha Bisht, who had great screen presence as Ram's sister-in-law.
Coming to the music, there is a whole range of melody - from the catchy dance number Tattad Tattad that quite honestly I didn't like one bit when I heard it first, but it just grows on you, to Lal Ishq that is as soulful as soulful can be. The part-jazz part-traditional Ram Chahe Leela is melodious and the surprise number Lahu Munh Lag Gaya makes you go into a trance. I say surprise number because it didn't sound too promising in the first few listens. But as it catches on, it's just as the song implies lahu munh lag gaya ;)
In a nutshell, the movie is simply beautiful despite the guns galore.
My recommendation: Go watch it for the sheer beauty of it!
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