Ram Leela Review

Sanjay Leela Bhansali delves into Shakespeare after delivering two disappointing films in the form of Saawariya and Guzaarish. One of the many reasons his recent films failed was because they lacked soul and feel. It was evident to one and all that he was putting in too much and caring much more about his films’ atmospherics than about the film’s story and script itself. So has he learned his lessons this time around with Ram Leela? Does the film have a good story to go along with the paintingesque setting? Let’s find right out.

Ram Leela
Ram Leela Movie Review

Story: Countless adaptations of Romeo Juliet have adorned our screens over the years in numerous languages and settings. This time Romeo is Ram and Juliet is Leela. They live in a picturesque rural village which is divided into two warring factions. As is the case with Romeo Juliet, here too Ram (Ranveer Singh) falls in love with Leela (Deepika Padukone) from the other gang. Most of us are familiar with the basic story of Romeo Juliet, but here Sanjay Leela Bhansali gives the whole story his own little touch and adds nifty little twists and plot turns which eventually work in the film’s favour.

Screenplay and Direction: SLB strikes gold with his Ram Leela. He crafts every single frame with the utmost care but never loses grip of the emotional tension in the film’s narrative unlike his previous two directorial outings. His Ram and Leela are soul sisters and his vision of a Gujarati Romeo Juliet comes true because of his sheer dedication to his craft. Ram Leela may seem boring to many because of the highly dramatic moments strewn across the film, but it is far from boring if you are paying even 1% attention to the storyline. Mr. Bhansali has made a highly engrossing film which doesn’t stop entertaining even for a few minutes.

Miscellaneous and Music: Bhansali is ably supported by his crew who help him in making his exquisite vision come true. Ravi Verma’s cinematography is nothing short of poetry in motion. The camerawork is stupendous. The sets the art designer put up makes this beautiful village come alive. The lighting, the artwork, the sets all come together and make Ram Leela extremely beautiful to look at. Sometimes you might forget the proceedings on screens and just pause yourself and admire at the framing. Bhansali composes the music of Ram Leela himself and gives the film a Gujarati folkish feel with the folk-inspired songs. Tatad Tatad and Ishkiyaon Dishkiyaon were particularly enjoyable.

Acting: Ranveer Singh delivers the best performance of his life as Ram. He has obviously worked tremendously on his physique and body, but he has also worked worked on his acting prowess. His Ram is macho, egoistic and strong-headed. Matching Ranveer step by step and actually leaving him behind in the acting department is the actress of the moment, Deepika Padukone. She is flawless as Leela. Deepika brings a sense of security and strength in her portrayal of Leela and leaves a lasting impression. The chemistry that Deepika shares with Ranveer is one for the ages. Supriya Pathak is as always, fantastic. She delivers the boldest performance in the film. Other supporting actors also do well. Sharad Kelkar, Barkha Bisht, Richa Chaddha and Gulshan Devaiyah are all fine in their roles.

Conclusion and Box Office: Ram Leela is back to form stuff from the showman of the post-Subhas Ghai era. He knocks it out of the park with his Gujarati Romeo Juliet adaptation. Ram Leela is entertaining all the way through and never forgets what it is meant to be – a highly tense, dramatic romance! It is a must watch for lovers of epic romances. Box office wise, Ram Leela will take an above average opening and I expected Ram Leela to do well and cross the 60cr mark given the quality and content of the film.

Positives:

  • Ranveer and Deepika Padukone
  • The cinematography
  • The music
  • The production design is exquisite
  • Supriya Pathak Shah’s brilliant acting

Negatives:

  • The genre of the film may seem boring to a few
  • The length of the film may also deter a few

Rating: ★★★★☆

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