Inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the director, creates an Indian adaptation which resembles Habib Faisal's Ishaqzaade in many ways. There are two rival clans, living in the same vicinity but can not stand each other. The main characters in both these movies are cocky, fearless and love defying authority. However, Bhansali is the biggest difference between these films. His unique rendition of Devdas was vividly striking and beautiful in all its glory. Ram-Leela is no different! The brilliance and attention to detail by Bhansali is well-noted. He (in my opinion) pulls out the best interpretation of Romeo & Juliet, ever, which is "the most artistically ambitious and evocative rendition of this timeless tale." The use of colours was visually creative with the pallid Rajidis to the black Saneras in the sensational jubious celebrations of festivals. He uses blurred-focus brilliantly to emphasise the importance of the scenes.
Not to forget, the music was also the genius of this legendary director, Mr. Bhansali. In my opinion, this has to be the best movie album, musically, of the year. The melodies he has come up with, though remind us of "Hum Dil De Chukke Sanam", do come into their own and set your ears on fire (in a good way). The lyrics and the entire musical aspect of the film was top level. Every song, in my book, was worth a listen, apart from "Ramleela", which was quite a disappointing track to be honest, even though this item number was performed by Priyanka Chopra.All the choreographers did a wonderful job, except the song, "Ramleela".
Cinematography was beautiful. Ravi Varman has done an absolutely fantastic job. This may seem like a pointless paragraph but the cinematographer needed to be mentioned due the brilliance in his artistry and his portrayal of it all. Bhansali and Varman have worked fabulously well. His previous works like "Barfi" and "Phir Milenge" were quite pleasing to the eye as well as this newest addition to his repertoire.
One defect with the film I thought was its audience rating. It should have been at least a 15. This film has a lot of vulgarity for the "younger generation" to see. Most importantly as an Indian film, it had a lot of scenes that were not suitable for children.
Ranveer Singh (Ram) and Deepika Padukone (Leela) gave a breath-taking performance. Especially Deepika Padukone, with her role as "Leela", the Juliet of the film. She seduces the audience as much as she does Ram. A lethal combination of grace, beauty and raw brilliance, her feisty wildcat ways engender an uninhibited performance that is utterly captivating.
While Ranveer Singh, amazes everyone by his range of acting and perfectionistic role portrayal. It's a performance that is at times exuberant, always impassioned and shows that Ranveer Singh is an exceptional acting talent. He is a comedic, vulgar casanova, and yet his vulnerability is undeniably engraved in his eyes when tragedy first strikes. His passion for Leela is fully felt by the audience as he expresses every emotion melodramatically but precisely how it should be. Especially, the balcony scene, which is beautifully interpreted, honouring the original text, but portrayed through the filter of Bhansali's vision, producing a mesmerising moment on the silver screen.
The other characters are well-constructed and well portrayed. Supriya Pathak is exceptional in her chilling portrayal of "Baahujoor", the Godmother, but her sudden "volte-face is one of the jarring missteps of the film, as is the proclivity of the protagonists to forsake love-making for an ill-timed song and dance number." With a plotline that becomes complicated, the relentless gun-firing is at times exhausting, as the romantic elements, that are Bhansali's forte, are overshadowed by the descent into violence, which is new territory for him.
"The film is aesthetically beautiful, and Bhansali's reputation as a master of his craft is beyond question, there is just so much to take in that, despite being steeped in brilliance, it becomes an almost entirely overwhelming experience."
"There is nevertheless a satisfying conclusion, and Ram and Leela's final encounter assuages the memory of all the bloodletting that went before. A riot of colour, dance, music and mayhem, the film is so compelling that you daren't take your eyes off the screen for a second, and yet at moments it's so overwhelming you yearn for some respite.Ranveer Singh is a revelation, Deepika mesmerises, and the inter-play between the two is where the magic lies."
What Bhansali has done, is give this film no genre. Ram-Leela, is a cinematic experience, in the class of his "Devdas" and "Black". A film that is worthy of the name, "A Shakespearean tragedy".
RATING SYSTEM
Performance 9/10
Direction 9/10
Story/Script 9/10
Action 7/10
Action 7/10
Music/Soundtrack 9.5/10
Cinematography 9.5/10
Choreography 8.5/10
I give this film 8.79/10 "8.79 out of 10"Rating: A Shakespearean Tragedy! Brilliant! Bhansali at his best!
(Credit to Mehwish Fiaz)
