Ram Leela
Sanjay Leela Bansali’s much-awaited
film ‘Ram Leela’ did not turn out to be the masterpiece that a die-hard romantic
like me wanted it to be. The subtlety of love, it’s elusive nature and all the
pain and joy that goes with it was truly lost in the din and pompous display of
costumes and gun battles. What could truly have been a masterpiece was reduced
to a road-Romeo kind of story with vulgar display of dance and music that neither
pulled at your heart strings, nor evoked any sympathy for the main characters. I
do love raunchy numbers and typical Bollywoiod films; but this epic love story
did not deserve this treatment.
Although Deepika Padukone and Ranveer
Singh have put up a great show, the melodramatic nature of the plot and the
accompanying noise and drama took a lot away from the essence of this love
story. The sizzling hot chemistry between Deepika and Ranveer is being much
talked about; however, it was for me, too hot to handle. A more subtle romance
would have made this a treat to watch.
Instead, the in-your-face dialogues and the physicality of their love and
vulgar dialogues made it more a sex story than a love story. It wasn’t love at
first sight at all. It seemed more like lust at first sight. I was truly
disappointed by the mindless melodrama and vulgar moves and dance numbers that
so took away from the great epic love story that this film could have been. Not a typical Sanja Leela Bansali film. To be
fair, I would say almost all the actors in the film have put up a great show,
despite the contrived nature of the plot. Supriya Pathak is outstanding. But
for these great actors, this movie would have fallen flat.
I do love music, extravagant sets and
the spectacular settings that a Sanjay Leela Bansali film always offers. But if
it’s not matched by a consistent story-line and convincing dialogues, it
appears contrived. Eventually, what did the film prove? That two people, who
were so deeply in lust, had to lose their lives to keep two clans at peace? A
wrong message for the younger generation-that lust is love and that you have no
hope when two warring clans are involved. Especially in the times that we live
in – honour-killings and all. If this is what’s lapped up by the masses, I
would say, bring it on.
Poornima BV
