Manikarnika Movie Review: Manikarnika Is Grit, It Is Determination, It Is KANGANA RANAUT

Movie: Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi'

Starring: Kangana Ranaut, Danny Denzongpa, Suresh Oberoi, Jishu Sengupta, Atul Kulkarni, Ankita Lokhande, Edward Sonnenblick

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 

My Verdict: It was an out and out Kangana Show; she literally OWNED EVERY FRAME! A Must Watch only on the Big Screen!

Manikarnika Tambe aka Manu’s (Rani Lakshmi Bai) life story isn’t just a part of the history lessons in our part of the world, people of every age group is aware of it and the famous couplet – “Bundele Harbolo Ke Mooh Humne Suni Kahani Thi, Khoob Ladi Mardaani Woh To Jhansi Waali Rani thi” (We heard the tale of a certain Queen of Jhaansi from the Bundelas and the Harbolas (folk singers of Bundelkhand), who gallantly fought like a man against the British intruders) is part of our upbringing.

We Indians have read about her, we have adored her, many of us have even aspired to be like her. In a quest to see what her life was like; a 1953 film as well was made on her. However, Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi is one of a kind. It really is!

The very first reason being, Kangana Ranaut is playing the lead role. The fact that she is, has already soared up expectations. She is a TERRIFIC actress and there is no dilemma in admitting it.

The fact that young Manu too had to face the discrimination of being a girl without getting affected by it; is somehow semblative to the way Kangana stands up against any kind of discrimination that is meted out to her, therefore, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to state that the film and its lead character was in a way an extension of Kangana’s real self; that added the extra zing in her portrayal.

Laxmibai was someone who always defied the set norms and conditions. She did what she thought was righteous at a given point in time. The fact that she was a woman and the generalised notion of women being the weaker sex never quite came in her way! Who else could have done justice to the role other than the Queen of Bollywood herself? Miss Ranaut has proved time and again with her performances that she is one of the best actress that we have in Bollywood today and this film is yet another reinstatement to that fact and a very powerful one at that!!

And how ethereally beautiful, my heroine looked in every frame! She took my breath away every time she smiled, or with the twirl of her dupatta, she looked dynamic in that commanding gait, she looked ferocious with the blood-shot eyes and blood-stained teeth as she wielded her sword potently to cut through the skull of the enemy! SHE LITERALLY OWNED EVERY FRAME! It was a Kangana show out and out! The look in her eyes, the varied tones in her voice that kept changing in accordance with the change in the mood of the scene. The soft and romantic tone with her husband, the sweet innocent tone of a daughter, the ferocious baritone of a warrior and the wailing of a mother who lost a son! She is absolute perfection when it comes to her craft, so much so that it at times makes me wonder – what is she?

This film had its fair share of troubles before it got ready to be projected on the silverscreen. The original director of the film Krish, left midway, Actor Sonu Sood suddenly left his role citing creative differences, my heroine had to step in as the director which meant she was acting in front of the camera as well as giving instructions to the others to perform. Mind you a director’s task is herculean – the director has to take care of the shots, the costumes, the make-up, the story, the screenplay, story boarding, and even the edit of the film! Then, there are commitments of trailer release dates, press conferences, song releases, the final film release dates so on and so forth and with this film another problem was, to handle the criticism coming in from a certain Karni Sena who threatened to halt the release of the film. Notwithstanding these hurdles, Kangana was bent on completing and releasing the film on the date it was slated to be! That’s grit, that’s determination, that’s my heroine!

The other cast included masters like Danny Dezongpa, Suresh Oberoi, Atul Kulkarni who played their parts to the T. Danny’s baritone, the heaviness in his voice and the sharp demeanour was enough for the viewers to understand that he still has it in him! He was phenomenal in the role of Ghulam Mohammed Ghaus Khan aka Ghaus Baba. It was fulfilling to see the man on screen doing what he is adept at! Atul Kulkarni as Tatya Tope had the right amount of affection in his eyes for Manu and the right amount of fire for the enemies of the state! Jishu Sengupta who is also a Bengali superstar has displayed the tenacious grip he has on his craft. His Maharaj Gangadhar Rao was wonderfully done. In fact, it looked as though the role could be justified by none other than Jishu. Edward Sonnenblick as the malevolent Captain Gordon who hangs a little girl (who incidentally quenched her thirst) just because her name is Lakshmi too played his part to the T with the right amount of the barbarousness required for the role!

As has been claimed by my heroine herself, more than 70 percent of the film was directed by her and given the fact that she was a first timer, the little slow first half can surely be forgiven. But it is from the second half that the film suddenly propels into speeds of epic proportions! That’s when you realise, you already have gooseflesh, there is a shiver running down your spine and the adrenaline rush which is imminent.

The music and the soundtrack by Shankar Mahadevan, Loy Mendonca, Sanchit and Ankit Balhara was beautiful and immersive. A special mention to the track, “Mai Rahu Yaa Naa Rahu” it is soul-stirring! The costume designing has been done by ace designer Neeta Lulla - what can I say she is just the best. Lulla draped my heroine in robes that made her look beautifully imposing, poetically gallant and grand. My heroine never looked this beautiful. The cinematography by Kiran Deohans, Sachin Krishn and Gnanasekhar V.S. was overwhelmingly magnificent. The edit could have been a little better, at times, the jump in frames was too obvious. The VFX as well was a bit too under-done, but because the film was completed in the schedule it was supposed to, things had to be sped up a little and hence the small glitches - which can be overlooked for sure!

All in All A MARVELLOUS Film!