The trailer successfully gives the tip-of-the-iceberg feeling, with long shots of forts, retinues, caravans, and battles. There's also a fantastic shot of a single horse-rider riding into a dust storm.
Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's films have always been equated with visual grandeur. The trailer for his latest film, Padmavati, promises nothing less.
The three-minute trailer, released on Monday, is a burst of vibrant colours -- from the bright red of the Rajputana women's skirts, all the way to the ashy grey of Alauddin Khilji's tents.
It opens with a long Rajput retinue walking up to a fort, presumably the Chittorgarh fort. It is headed by Rawal Ratan Singh (Shahid Kapoor) and behind him is a moving wall of cloth containing Rani Padmavati (Deepika Padukone). We are shown several tender moments between the lead couple before disaster strikes -- Khilji is here.
The trailer successfully gives the tip of the iceberg feeling, with long shots of forts, retinues, caravans, and battles. There's also a fantastic shot of a single horse-rider riding into a dust storm.
Shahid looks a little more stoic than one would have liked, and Deepika looks like the role was tailor-made for her. However, it is Ranveer Singh as the diabolical Khilji that catches your eye. He gets the best entry in the trailer and even though he has no dialogue, one can't help but want to see more of him.
The use of colour is telling. While Chittor is given the happiness and prosperity treatment, the world of Khilji veers towards black, grey and sepia. Ranveer looks like he's walked out Game of Thrones, rocking a heavy Khal Drogo vibe, but that's about it. The rest of his frames are cloaked in desolation -- his tents are tattered and dusty, his retinue just as cheerless. It is a look that's very reminiscent of the Kalakeya army in Baahubali.
The film has already faced protests and shooting was stalled on several occasions after the film sets were vandalised and set ablaze. Union Minister for Information and Broadcast had to go so far as to assure the industry that law and order would be under control.
Bhansali's music is irresistible in the trailer. The film also stars Kim Sarbh and Aditi Rao Hydari and is set for release on December 1.
Jodha Akbar
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