Ram-Leela Review and Box office thread - Page 40

Expectations:

Love stories have been the most favorite genre for our Hindi film makers and its loyal audience. Many times, even the simple film with right amount of chemistry between the lead pair manages to touch your heart and turns out to be a box office ruler. But, the problem arises when the film makers decides to make a grand epic love story and ends up either making a periodic film, inter-caste film or rips of Shakespeare's classic play - Romeo & Juliet. Films like 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak', 'Janam Janam Ka Saath', 'Saudagar', 'Sanam Bewafa', 'Ishaqzaade', 'Issaq' have been directly or indirectly adapted from the classic play. While some ended up being classic or path breaking there were few which sank immediately as it got released. After every film released under this theme, the responsibility and expectation level rises up for the film maker who is trying to make a film on the same theme. The makers have to offer something new or exciting in their films to make it appealing and different from the ones seen earlier. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been known for making some epic romantic films and after two disastrous releases comes up with his new film 'Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela' which is once again, based on the same theme. So let's find out whether Sanjay Leela Bhansali might score a hat-trick of bad films or may manage to give us another classic love saga on lines of his films like 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' or 'Devdas'.

Story:

'Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela' is story of two warring communities set in lawless and fictitious city based in Gujarat. Ram (Ranveer Singh) and Leela (Deepika Padukone) belong to opposite families and fall in love at first sight. Despite of the barrier they keep meeting each other and one fine day decides to elope and get married. But the hatred between the families does not let the lovers meet so easily and the couples are separated by their respective families. What happens next is what the entire film is all about.

Screenplay & Technicalities:

Story as we all know is direct adaptation of classic play 'Romeo & Juliet'. Few months back Prateik Babber starrer film 'Issaq' too was based on same theme. One can find some similar scenes giving you a dj vu type of feeling here, too. It's the detailing, screenplay and performances in 'Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela' which sets it apart from all the films based on similar theme. The film starts off with the big bang and interesting first half with some good scenes like Ranveer answering to his brother and father, Supriya Pathak's talk with her to be son-in-law, Ranveer's first time at Deepika's house, face off between Abhimanyu Singh and Sharad Kelkar, fight between Ranveer and Deepika, Ranveer's drunk scene, Ranveer-Supriya Pathak's chat followed by Ranveer-Deepika treaty meeting and few more. The biggest problem with 'Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela' is that it is based in a non existing place with no proper detailed reasoning given behind the enmity between these two warring communities. Thus, we fail to connect with the pain, hatred and reasoning behind the happenings in the film. Also, there are some unconvincing scenes like Ranveer's accepting the leadership, Richa Chadda's initial support to Deepika, no efforts by the couple to meet again, unnecessary drama between the ladies towards the climax and many more. The length of the film too, is a major drawback making it tiresome and dragging at times. Due to this unnecessary length of the film, at one point you give a damn about these warring families, sacrifices, fights and want the movie to end up as soon as possible.

Camera work is spectacular and the sets along with outdoor locations are breath taking. Editing was perfect in the initial and middle part of the film; it was weak in pre-interval and climax part.

Music & Direction:

Music by Sanjay Leela Bhansali is one of the biggest USP of this film. The songs are melodious as well as beautifully choreographed. The best ones are 'Tattad Tattad', 'Nagada Sang Dhol', 'Ishqyuan Dhishqyaun', 'Ang Laga De' and 'Lahu Munh Lag Gaya'. They give you the feeling of watching a larger than life, type of a film. Priyanka Chopra's item song 'Ram Chahe Leela' is copied from Ram Shankar's 'Yaro Sab Dua Karo'. Rest songs were good and background score was superb.

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali sets a tough task for himself by making a film based on 'Romeo & Juliet'. He tries to shape it up in his style of cinema and at many places succeeds in big way. Every frame is like a beautiful painting created by a master painter. Sadly, his efforts get diluted due to some half baked plots and dragging length of the film. On one side he highly succeeds in setting the fiery chemistry between the lead pair with overdose of kisses, on other end as the movie progresses fails to make us connect with the pain and agony of the lovers.

Performances:

Ranveer Singh looks smashing and gives a fantastic performance. He finally breaks the barrier of the Delhite and adapts himself so well in this khatiyavadi-kutchi avatar. Right from his dressing style, dialog delivery and dialect he is flawless. Deepika Padukone is turning out to be a good actor with every release of hers. She looks gorgeous and gives another marvelous performance. Supriya Pathak is mind blowing and gives a stunning performance. Just as you start to enjoy her character and want to see more of her, she is mellowed down towards the finale. Sharad Kelkar, Richa Chadda and Abhimany Singh lend good support in their small roles. Wished their talents were explored more. Gulshan Devaiah does a decent job. Raza Murad, Homi Wadia and Utkarsh Naithani were fine in their small roles.

So bol meri "FILMI KHOPDI" iss film mein kitna hain Dum?

Dum? Well the movie has good amount of dum especially in the creativity, songs and performance part. You will love the performances along with chemistry of the lead pain and thus will be glued to the silver screen. On overall basis a decent comeback from the ace film maker, though not in his best form. But due to average screenplay, tiring length and connectivity with the theme of the film, viewers will end up with little bit of disappointment. Thus, would sum it up by saying that this time 'leela toh acchi rachi lekin ram wali baat nahin thi' (The act was good, but nothing divine about it).

• Ratings: 3/5