BAJIRAO MASTANI MOVIE REVIEW

Mise-en scene, the ‘grand undefined’ term by film critics, is the hero of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani. The director’s mere thought to convert this simple yet intense love story of the Maratha warrior Peshwa Bajirao and his second wife Mastani, into an artful audio-visual content is to be appreciated. For Indian film buffs, who have seen many movies based on regal affairs, this film will look fresh as it throws light on a warrior who is a Brahmin by birth but a warrior by practice. This very knot routes the entire narration to an undiscovered social and cultural background.

Ranveer Singh as the lead looks extremely convincing to play the stimulating part of the entire narration. His efforts and dedication to the art is evident in every frame he appears. From the very first scene, one gets to see Bajirao and not Ranveer; from that point we see the performer Ranveer triumphing. Deepika on the other hand is without a second thought becoming one of the finest artists of our land. She looks real, alive and striking. Priyanka Chopra as Kashibai has understood her part well and that has made the process of assimilating her character by the audience easy. Classic performance by all other artists makes this film transcend beyond our eyes and ears.

When a film chooses visual metaphors, symbols and signs, the movie watching experience becomes a session for semiotics; it should be noted that it also turns out to be an enjoyable session. Seamless transition of time, through the story helps to retain the attention of the audience.

If one decides to describe the set design, cinematography and grandeur of the film, one is sure to have trouble finding suitable adjectives to do so. Only a glossary of adjectives holding the superlatives can come to your rescue. Such is the brilliance exhibited in these aspects and that is the reason why this review opens by calling Mise-en scene as the hero of the film. Though few portions are CG supported, they are almost seamless and aesthetic.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s songs or the usage of songs is a step more than being efficient. They entertain us and simultaneously take the narration forward. Special mention to the costume designer, Anju Modi who has had extreme clarity in her work.

The first half of the film, though longer than the second half, is much more engaging than the latter. As the maker is on a mission to narrate a real story; scrutinizing the story or the commercial elements it lacks, is unfair. The same holds good to the religious ideologies portrayed in the film.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani is testimonial to reiterate that “Love conquers above everything”