| |
|
 |
|
| RAAVAN(AN)
- AN ANALYSIS |
|
| Home
> Visitor
Column |
|
| By
Behindwoods Visitor HEMADRI |
|
| The
views expressed in this column are that of the visitor.
Behindwoods.com doesn't hold responsible for its content. |
|
Raavan(an)
- you have read the review, now read the
analysis
In the era of intellectually lazy film
making Raavan is a superior modern exploration
of psychological interactions. The reason
why it has possibly disappointed the masses
is because it is not a kidnap-rescue story
or a terrorism story (just like Kannathil
Muthamitaal was not a story about the
Sri Lankan war; like Roja and Dil Se were
not about terrorism. Raavan(an) like the
rest of Mani Ratnam's stories is about
complex human emotional relationships.
The already much praised visual poetry
is apparent all the way through, hats
off to Santosh Sivan. What is also true
is the effort put into every frame by
every actor. The physical effort is also
very visible all the way through. Having
said that, it is out and out a director's
movie. I have never believed Aishwarya
Rai to be the most beautiful woman (hot
- yes; but beautiful?), I always thought
Abishek was over-hyped but they have performed
exactly to Mani Ratnam's specifications
and have done exceedingly well. Vikram's
is an award winning performance. AR Rahman
is of course a guarantee for a musical
feast each time but this will not set
the charts ablaze. The flow is indeed
slow at times, some situations are contrived
but hey, it’s a movie.
Mani Ratnam would have failed himself
if he did not give his personal twist
to the Tamil Dravidian
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
version of the Ramayana. For the benefit of those
who are unaware or those who have forgotten, the gist
of that version (courtesy RS Manohar's Elangeswaran)
goes like this - Sita is Ravana's daughter and the
destiny is that if they lived together Ravana's entire
clan would die; hence Ravana plants Sita in Janaka's
gardens to ensure that she grows as a princess that
she is; when Sita is living in the forest being constantly
attacked by various demons it is to rescue her from
a terrible situation that Ravana takes her away -
father's love to protect offspring. Perceptions overtake
reality, honor overcomes reason and Ravana dies. This
is a version that remains unacceptable for most Indians
including Tamils.
Using cinematic license with the Dravidian Ramayana
threads, Mani Ratnam uses the theme of 'protection'
while changing the relationships. Another excellent
use of artistic liberty is the reversal of 'Indru
poi naalai vaaraai' situation. Bad heroes prevail
and good villains perish, makes one wonder if good
and evil are really as polarized as we always thought
it was.
When the Stockholm syndrome or reverse Stockholm syndrome
(Lima syndrome) is denied or portrayed in men or foreigners
it would have been acceptable to Indians. But in the
case of an Indian married woman and that too a policeman's
wife and a forest brigand with its social class differences
along with some shades of romance thrown in, is obviously
too hot to handle even when implied and anathema when
explicit. So understandably the mental resistance
to see the film with the usual suspension of disbelief
is very high much before the titles are shown. Get
over it, grow up and Raavan(an) becomes actually enjoyable.
A particular genre of Indian commercial film making
these days consists of uninteresting variations of
the formula in which melodramatic metaphorical eunuchs
hanker after committed yet confused birds right up
to the altar, mistaking their exaggerated puppy crushes
for love which is spewed out as a psychotic roller
coaster of songs, hyper-hormonal dancing, trashed
villains and repeatedly predictable endings in international
settings. Well, that is enjoyable too, if one wants
to switch off from their busy lives and tune into
some mind-free movie viewing. The problem is we are
used to doing this too often that when a movie is
made like it ought to be made we are losing the ability
to recognize it.
If you did not like Raavan(an) and are wondering why
it did not rock the box office, look into the mirror
and not at Mani Ratnam. Raavan(an) is for grown ups.
HEMADRI
mr.hemadri@gmail.com
|
| Tags
: Raavanan,
Priyamani,
Vikram,
Mani
Ratnam |
|
The
visitor claims that this column is his/her own. If
the column infringes any copyrights that you hold,
please email us. If
you would like your own articles to be published,
please send them to  |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
