PADMAVAT has been on the national news for a couple of months and the anticipation and expectations for this movie have since grown manifold. After a lot of vacillation, the movie finally gets to hit the screens much to the relief of the makers.
The story of Padmavat is no secret now considering the amount of news bytes that it has consumed since its making. The movie makes a laborious start that extends beyond purpose and is bereft of any emotion. The mood of the film borders on being melancholic. Could it be because of the expected tragedy that a sense of gloominess prevails throughout the film or is it the 3D glass? The first half creaks and groans to a grinding halt for interval after a tiresome 90 minutes. The movie until then is on expected lines. The second half tries to breathe some life and salvages some pride towards the end. It is a pity that the save for the three lead characters the other characters are presented in a feeble way and make their presence on and off without any strength or conviction.
Deepika Padukone as Padmavathy is cold and frozen and walks like a ghost who has already prepared herself for the climax. Ranveer as the obsessed and savage sultan is menacing but goes overboard at times. Shahid Kapoor comes out less convincing as the Rajput king. Jim Sarbh and Aditi actually impress along with the supporting cast.
It is a Bhansali movie and technically it is a given that it would blow your mind. Production design in all SLB movies are top notch and arguably SLB is the best in this business in the country. Sudeep Chatterjee cranks the camera and does a magnificent job. Sanchit Balhara with his background score elevates the mood of the otherwise glum film. SLB’s songs have stuck a chord while editing by Jayanth, Akiv and SLB could have worked overtime in minimizing the length of this long drawn film. Direction by SLB is not at its best.
Padmavat fails to establish emotional connect as the writing is pale and withdrawn. Despite all its opulence and grandeur that is a given in a SLB film it still does not have the “heart” that is associated in such films. On a “mono” mode Padmavat does not excite nor emotes. Sadly there is more “action” on the streets than in the film
PADMAVAT – FLAT !!
2.25/5
B.U.Shreesha
