Ram-Leela Review and Box office thread

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Posted: 11 years ago
#1
priya gupta @priyaguptatime

TOI movie rating of 'Ram Leela' is 5 stars...#RamLeela, #@RanveerOfficial ,@deepikapadukone @RichaChadda




Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela
By Taran Adarsh, 14 Nov 2013, 19:44 hrs IST
With every film, Sanjay Leela Bhansali [SLB] takes the audience expectations to a higher altitude. The expectations from GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA are no less. The effervescent colors, the attention-grabbing visuals, the intense drama ingeniously intertwined in the screenplay, the alluring soundtrack and the electrifying chemistry between the lead pair has caught the attention of one and all. With GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA, SLB, one of the finest storytellers of our times, is all set to outclass himself... and also prove the skeptics and cynics wrong, who may've felt that he has lost his way while trying to court triumph.

You do know what to expect from an SLB film, since the supremely talented storyteller emits the right signals via the promos of his films. It's no different with GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA: SLB has stirred the audience imagination by attempting a love story amidst guns and roses. Sure, SLB is inspired by William Shakespeare's love saga 'Romeo and Juliet', but SLB makes sure he narrates the passionate love story of star-crossed lovers from warring families in his trademark individualistic style.

Set in Gujarat, GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA is SLB's most 'commercial' film as a director. Also, his best work so far. Undoubtedly! It's the kind of film that you carry back with you. The hi-octane drama, the blazing guns, the passionate romance, the haunting melodies, the heart-melting emotions... SLB is an exceptional director with a remarkable vision and GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA only bolsters the actuality.

GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA narrates the story of Ram [Ranveer Singh] and Leela [Deepika Padukone]. The hostility and resentment between their families is an open secret, but as luck would have it, Ram and Leela fall in love. When truth dawns upon the respective families, a storm ensues, their worlds collide and a bloody battle occurs... Can Ram and Leela carve their destinies amidst abhorrence and slaughter?

Agree, we have witnessed Shakespeare's adaptation of 'Romeo and Juliet' innumerable times in the past, but SLB makes sure the execution of the written material -- also the way the screenplay [Siddharth-Garima and SLB] progresses -- is way diverse from similar storylines helmed by dream merchants here. The unconventionality he brings to every sequence, the colors he infuses in his frames, the aggressive lingo his characters mouth, the passion and sensuality he brings about in his characters, GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA not only has a spellbinding effect, but it ships you to an unfamiliar world absolutely. You may have an inkling of the plot, but you definitely don't know how SLB will give an altogether innovative twirl to the premise.

Celebrated for being a stickler for exactness and meticulousness, SLB makes sure his vision of narrating a story belonging to two warring families is never diluted by unwanted sub-plots or characters. One can gauge the premise at the very outset, but SLB never loses the focal point or deviates from it till the culmination. What unfurls is certainly going to catch a lot of people unaware, for sure.

Hiccups? Yes, the length could've been controlled, towards the latter reels specifically. However, it's a minor hiccup when one looks at the kind of effort that has gone into making every frame come alive.

One of the highpoints of GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA is, without doubt, its musical score [SLB, again]. Known for delivering musical gems in the past, the soundtrack of GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA is mesmeric, to put it in one word. Each of the songs befits the setting of the film, besides being seeped in melody. The fact that the tunes are on the loop says it all. 'Lahu Munh Lag Gaya', 'Nagada Sang Dhol Baaje', 'Ishqyaun Dhishqyaun', 'Tattad Tattad', 'Ang Laga De' and 'Ram Chahe Leela' are sure-fire hits already. Visually too, each of those songs is distinctively resplendent, with the choreography catching your eye as well. The background score [Monty Sharma] is top notch.

The DoP [Ravi Varman] captures SLB's vision exquisitely and every frame has the unmistakable stamp of flawlessness. The production design [Wasiq Khan] is striking. Action [Sham Kaushal] is absolutely in sync with the demands of the script.

Who would've ever imagined Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone to set the screen ablaze when GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA was announced? But the chemistry between the two is defining in every sequence, with the actors complimenting each other fantastically. Ranveer, seen in a completely new avatar, had impressed in his earlier endeavors, but he outshines himself in this one. He has surfaced as a much better actor than he ever was, letting himself free of his inhibitions and experimenting with a role that's actually intricate. He's simply flawless.

This is Deepika's year, for sure. Post RACE-2, YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI and CHENNAI EXPRESS, Deepika pulls yet another ace this time. Looking gorgeous as ever and cast in the most demanding role of her career thus far, she wins you over with an act that's unblemished. Actually, the confidence she radiates while portraying this part makes you wonder whether SLB and his writers Siddharth-Garima had penned this character keeping Deepika in mind. The audience is sure to go into raptures while watching Deepika in GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA.

Every actor in the supporting cast is simply wonderful. Supriya Pathak [outstanding], Homi Wadia [super], Gulshan Devaiah [brilliant], Richa Chadda [fantastic], Abhimanyu Singh [first-rate], Sharad Kelkar [competent], Barkha Bisht [very good] and Raza Murad [competent], each actor gives his/her best to the enterprise. Priyanka Chopra sizzles in the item number.

On the whole, GOLIYON KI RAASLEELA RAM-LEELA ought to be watched for multiple reasons: the electrifying chemistry between its lead actors, the strong dramatic content, the scintillating musical score, the violent streak in the narrative and of course, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's execution of the material. This is Sanjay Leela Bhansali's most accomplished work to date. It's a work of outstanding artistry. No two opinions about it. A masterpiece by the master craftsman Sanjay Leela Bhansali!





Viki .Rajani @vikirajani

Just saw @Ramleela_Movie . Its amazing ! All the best to @deepikapadukone @RanveerOfficial and the entire team pic.twitter.com/Opwp8u2h6x Retweeted by Ranveer Singh





  1. priya gupta @priyaguptatimes

    'Ram Leela' ...outstanding performances by Deepika, Ranveer, Supriya Pathak, Richa Chadha..#ramleela

    Retweeted by Ranveer Singh
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  2. priya gupta @priyaguptatimes

    'Ram Leela' absolutely outstanding. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's best work. Deepika and Ranveer outstanding! @deepikapadukone @RanveerOfficial

Edited by LangdaTyagi - 11 years ago

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923901 thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#2

DAMN YOU BEAT ME TO IT

Johnny.Balraj thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#3

Bollywood review: Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh play an epic romance in 'Ram Leela'

Sanjay Leela Bhansali gives Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet' a befitting Indian twist

By
  • Sneha May Francis
Published Thursday, November 14, 2013

Bursts of colours fill the frame as a young man and woman lock eyes, while flirting with their weapons - one a loaded revolver, the other a loaded water gun.

Their gaze remains unwavering, despite the madness that erupts in coloured patterns around them.

There's a flash of their menacing, yet passionate personalities. One smirks while pulling the trigger of his water gun, while the other pumps a bullet into the sky.

Those few seconds are in essence what encapsulates Sanjay Leela Bhansali's epic romance Ram Leela'.

Wild. Inexplicable. Passionate. Dreamy.

Although Bollywood has predominantly survived on a staple of romance, what with numerous Romeos' and Juliets' fighting against all odds, including angry parents, conniving aunts and uncles, and prying society, for love, many have skipped the Shakespearean tragic end, for the "happily ever after".

There have been exceptions like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak' and Ishaqzaade', which adapted Shakespeare's love story sincerely, so Sanjay's Ram Leela' isn't novel in thought, but he has tweaked it with incredible passion and intensity, making it one of the most befitting adaptations ever.

And, he's got the ravishing Deepika Padukone and the boisterous Ranveer Singh to thank for making this epic love story soar to great heights.

They lend impeccable passion to Ram and Leela, leaving us routing for them even when life plays out cruel jokes.

Sanjay and writers Siddharth-Garima have flavoured it with such ferocity and flamboyance making it deeply invigorating.

There's Sanjay's trademark opulent sets and extravagant dances (an item number even), but those speed-breakers do not dilute Ram or Leela's fiery romance, which unfold in a land notorious for its trigger-happy people.

A place where owning or selling a gun is not illegal, but loving one's enemy is.

Despite belonging to warring clans in the rustic Raajaar, where people pump bullets or shatter bottles to celebrate victory or defeat, Ram and Leela strike an intense bond that simmers and rages through life's numerous tragedies and a bloodied past.

Even when they are forced to abandon their dreams to indulge their feuding families, the two remain deeply connected and refuse to allow different circumstances to influence their heart.

An untypical "finger sacrifice" is just an indication of how volatile their love is.

They are seen secretly enjoying, and even cursing the irony, when references, like that of the traditional art form (Ram-Leela), link their names.

Cinematographer S Ravi Varman textures and tones the Ram-Leela love affair with immense colour, unlike Sanjay's earlier gloomy tales Guzaarish' and Black'.

Apart from the mushy sequences, which are accentuated by Siddharth-Garima's lines riddled in poetic bliss, the gun battles are equally arresting.

The sequence, which captures the Rajadis and Saneras, sitting across each other and playing with their guns as drinks and bottles come crashing down, is visually impressive. The consequence, equally dramatic.

Ranveer and Deepika make the perfect Romeo-Juliet, lending charm, beauty and vulnerability to the epic saga.

Ranveer bursts into the scene by flashing his well-chiselled bod and killer dance moves, and plays the robust Ram, who unlike his violent family, prefers to ditch the blood battle to pamper his heart.

He's pitch-perfect as the Ram, who is unabashed about his illegal pursuits as he is about being ridiculed a romantic.

It's interesting to watch him switch from a charming bloke, who cashes in on people's hidden desires, to one who fiercely battles the world to own his ladylove.

Deepika lends him the perfect balance as his Juliet. She's remarkable as the impish Leela, who willingly surrenders her heart to her enemy, and remains loyal even when the circumstances change.

The supporting cast is equally remarkable, with Sanjay giving seasoned actress Supriya Pathak one of her career's most impactful characters. She breathes menace and lan into playing the raging queen of one warring group. Her kohl-smeared eyes and ornate costume add up the terror extraordinarily.

Even few-films-old Richa Chadda gives an outstanding performance as Leela's wounded sister-in-law.

While Sanjay's indulgent script, which runs into two-hours-and-thirty-five-minutes might appear a bit tedious, we forgive him because what he eventually spins out is an enchanting love story.

Edited by LangdaTyagi - 11 years ago
Johnny.Balraj thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#4
  1. MissMalini @MissMalini

    #ramleela reminding me of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo Juliet for the fresh unexpected vibe! Brilliant stuff @RanveerOfficial @deepikapadukone :)

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  2. MissMalini @MissMalini

    Deffy loving Baa. Brilliant & intimidating matriarch @Ramleela_Movie #MMReviews she has great dialogues! @RanveerOfficial @deepikapadukone

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  3. MissMalini @MissMalini

    Haha love that all the village bells have smartphones :) @Ramleela_Movie #MMReviews @RanveerOfficial @deepikapadukone

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shadesofme thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#5
Kamaal R Khan - KRK @kamaalrkhan

Just watched #RamLeela The Story is same like #Ishaqzade n #Issaq but @RanveerOfficial n @deepikapadukone are at their best so I give 2.5*

923901 thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#6

Less than 16 hours I'd be watching it

It might be good. And if it is... then look out for my review tomo
MR.KooL thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#7

Originally posted by: you2


Fahad@Fahidfd

@Ramleela_Movie Just Finish #Ram-Leela Awesome Movie, great acting #Ranveer #Deepikapic.twitter.com/chbFXzA5BF

MR.KooL thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#8
Sherika Antao @sherika28

#Ramleela: Go for it! Amazing work by the entire cast!

Johnny.Balraj thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#9

Originally posted by: MR.KooL

Sherika Antao @sherika28

#Ramleela: Go for it! Amazing work by the entire cast!


  1. RAMLEELA @rriddllerr

    @sherika28 what did you like about the film..as you are the first one to eet ,fans are eager to know more:)

  2. Sherika Antao @sherika28

    @rriddllerr the acting, music, story and Ranveer's and Deepika's chemistry! Great watch! :)

MR.KooL thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#10

Originally posted by: you2

Does 'Ram Leela' live up to the hype? City 1016 RJ Lokesh Dharmani gives his review

by Lokesh Dharmani
Ram Leela
Ram Leela

previous 1 of 3 next

Directed by: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Supriya Pathak, Richa Chadda
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Aave ni aave Juliet ben ne Romeo bhai ke liye dhoklo banva che - Ram Leela

Let's start with understanding the difference between a normal Hindi film and a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film. In a normal Hindi film, if a woman has to walk out of the house, she just walks out of the house. In a Bhansali musical, there are no houses, only hawelis. The woman runs down a spiral staircase, 90 yards of fabric trailing behind her, sweeping the floor getting stuck in 79 chandeliers, 84 doors and 71 windows. She gets hysterical without a reason and pulls down a few curtains (adding more fabric), tumbles over candles, so her dupatta catches fire, it's doused in the verandah's fountain and finally she reaches the wrought iron gate of the haweli to... haggle with the sabziwala.

Amidst all these visually appealing shots, do we have a story? HELL YEAH! A story never heard before that will blow your mind away; a story of two peace-loving individuals belonging to two warring clans (oooh sooo sad!!) who fall in love with each other (really??!) and can't be together because mummy, papa, didi, bhaiya, Pinky aunty and Chadhdha uncle won't agree (tough life I tell you). If names like Romeo Juliet, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Ek Duje Ke Liye and most recently Ishaqzaade don't ring a bell in your head, then clearly sarcasm is wasted on some people.

The songs in the film have a simple story in between. The movie begins with a market scene where it's established that Rajaadis (Ram's family) are at loggerheads with Saneras (Leela's family). And a song is inserted. We meet Ram's family . We meet Leela's family . Then Ram meets Leela, followed by a song. They fall in love instantly. Why? Gosh, how dare you ask for some logic in a Hindi film! They are about to run away but their family members are murdered in a fun let's-play-a-point-and-shoot-game in the market. Why? Dude, you are way too demanding! Despite moaning families, Ram and Leela run away. Now it's been a full seven minutes and they haven't inserted a song. Damn. There is a song for every occasion in the film, sorry correction, every moment, every action and every eyebrow lift in the film!

The actors in this costume drama have performed pretty well. Supriya Pathak as Leela's mother is menacing. The only problem is the Hansa hang over (from Khichdi). One could almost hear at the end of her sentences- "Prafulll, what isss...khana kha ke jana haan."

Cheap, loud, raw and rambunctious define Ram's characters and Ranveer pretty much lives it like he is on home territory. The lines between the character and him don't blur, they simply merge. He has got the Gujarati accent down pretty well and his histrionics are worthy of a Sanjay Leela Bhansali's opulence. The only thing I couldn't bear was his oil massaged bare body that flashed every second and the hideous rupee sign tattoo on his arm.

Deepika Padukone has finally got something different' to play. After playing a strong-headed girl based in Australia ('Bachchna Ae Haseenon') to playing a strong-headed girl based in England ('Love Aaj Kal') to playing a strong-headed girl based in London ('Cocktail') finally gets to play - hold your breath for this one - a strong-headed girl based in Gujarat in 'Ram Leela'. Tada! And you thought strong-headed girls only lived in phoren lands. But it doesn't take away from her performance. There is a certain sense of ease and confidence that one sees in her act.

In one of the scenes Ram makes it to Leela's bedroom (alarmingly, exactly 6 minutes after their meeting, India shining I tell you!), happily spread across her bed and she looks at his chest and is surprised to see no hair. Madam, please look up. You haven't focused on his face. There's one full Gir forest, the kind that would give Pritamda a run for his money.

Pritam brings me to the music of the film. It's not enough these days to say- "great music" unless you word it in fancy words. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has composed culturally nourished songs dipped in Rajasthani flavor blending in with Gujarati folk in soulful renditions of a myriad of new singers' soulful voices. Pause. Do you really need great music when you have Deepika and Priyanka on the big screen? They could be dancing to Twinkle Twinkle and it would be a numero uno!

To give the film due credit, it looks beautiful. Bhansali is an artist and manages to capture stunning visuals in his lens. The cinematographer Ravi Varman (of 'Barfi' fame) has done a fine job too. However, Sanjay makes a big mistake in shifting from his sister Bela Sehgal to Rajesh G Pandey as the editor of the film. The film is painfully long and abounds with clichs, misunderstandings, cheap family politics, disrespecting women and my favorite - I-am-an-absolute-duffer-and-I-shall-sign-these-papers-because-I-trust-you!

Brevity is definitely not our filmmaker's virtue. The film is like Deepika Padukone - sundar hain par bahut LAMBI hain. In a desperate attempt to show passion, some of the scenes are so badly written that it makes you laugh rather than evoke empathy. In an intense scene where Leela has an argument with her sister-in-law, giving logic as to why she should be with Ram. "Namkeen nani, Nanu naam ka, Leela ki maang mein Sindoor Ram ka." This was the moment when I thought I had had enough. The GPS of my mind was then locating a medical store in the mall.

At the end of the film I thought to myself - which idiot would choose a film like 'Ram Leela' over Sachin's historic match at Wankhede. That WOULD BE ME!!!!!

Edited by MR.KooL - 11 years ago

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