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The Story
Frame:
Bajirao Mastani is the story of the 18th-century Maratha Peshwa Bajira
Ballal Bhat, who fought valiantly to matrialize his dream of a unified Hindu
Kingdom. It is the return of Sanjay Leela Bhansali with yet another intriguing
epic story with all its cinematic extravaganza. The film doesn't claim to be
historically accurate and it depicts a disclaimer saying that it has taken
creative liberties in portraying the life and times of the warrior. Based on the Marathi novel 'Rauu' written by Nagnath
S. Inamdar, the movie narrates the love between Bajirao and his second marriage
with a half Rajput and half Muslim princess Mastani.
Cast: Ranveer Singh (Bajirao), Priyanka Chopra (Kashibai),
Deepika Padukone (Mastani), Tanvi Azmi (Radhabai), Aditya Pancholi (Shilpat
Rao), Milind Soman (Advisor and Friend), Vaibhav Tatwawdi (Chimaji Appa), Ayush
Tandon (Nana Saheb, son of Bajirao), Mahesh Manjrekar (Chhatrapathi Shahu Maharaj),
Raza Murad (Nizam of Deccan),
Genre: Period Drama
Direction: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Produced
by: Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Kishore Lulla
Production Company: SLB Films
Distributor: Eros International
Written by: Prakash Papadia
Screenplay
by: Prakash Kapadia
Story based on: 'Rauu' written by Nagnath S.
Inamdar
Cinematographer: Sudeep Chatterjee
Music: Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Assisted by Shreyas Paranik)
Background Score: Sanchit Balhara
Film
Editing by: Rajesh G Pandey
Theatre Release: 18th December, 2015
Language: Hindi
Duration: 158 minutes
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Reviewer's
Thumb Mark
Irrfan Khan's beautiful narration takes you through the life and times of
Bajirao Mastani till the end of the movie. Who cares for the historical
accuracy of Bajirao Mastani, what counts is the grandeur and opulence Sanjay
Leela Bhansali indulges in to present his story on the silver screen. Bajirao is yet another visual spectacle that mesmerizes
the viewers with its fabulous portrayal of the life and times of Maratha warrior
Bajirao. It is a clear take on religion and orthodoxy in the garb of portraying
a Hindu-Muslim love story. Bajirao Ballal Bhat the legendary warrior-hero is
hell bent to establish the supremacy of Hindu Rashtra across the subcontinent
and want to see the Maratha flag flutter at Dilli. Sanjay Leela Bhansali
intelligently and aesthetically handles and portray both the rise, triumph of Peshwa
Bajirao as well as his turbulence in his married life because of his love and
affection towards Mastani, the beautiful, dare-devil warrior, half Rajput and
half Muslim princess of Bundelkhand.
It won't be an exaggeration to admit that it becomes hard to even imagine
any other actor in the place of Ranveer doing justice to the role of Bajirao.
Ranveer sway you by his terrific acting, he makes you confident by his
patriotic dare-devil acts against his enemies, and more over make you fall in
love watching the romance and commitment of Bajirao and Mastani. He is
convincing in his Marathi lingo while he delivers lengthy dialogue to his
enemies, army men, family members and his ladies in love.
Ranveer Singh has undoubtedly evolved as an actor after every film and his
growth as a bankable actor is really commendable. I must say that Bajirao has
won the baaji against Dilwale and it has added more brownie points to Ranveer's
kitty. His dilemma in love between his wife and his accidental wife Mastani because
of some unknown tradition he followed in his act of chivalry and enthusiasm is
well enacted. His rise to the post of Peshawa under Chhattrapathi Shahu (Mahesh
Manjrekar) and his encounters with his opponent Shilpat Rao (Aditya Pancholi)
is quite watchable and keeps the viewers engaged.
Priyanka Chopra as Kashibai, wife of Bajirao brings elegance and grace to
her character. She makes us connect with her in her act as a beloved wife whose
world is just her husband and his triumphs as a warrior. She makes you feel
through her emotional turmoil when she comes to know about Mastani and her
husband's love for each other. She beautifully expresses through her eyes and her
mannerisms her vulnerability, helplessness and occasional victory in keeping
Mastani at bay. Priyanka is outstanding in the role of Kashibai. She is a notch
better in dancing and expressing than Deepika Padukone.
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Deepika Padukone as Mastani the Bundelkand Princess is good as a warrior
pricess but fails to generate the off-screen chemistry with Ranveer on screen.
She may have to hone her dancing skills. The 'Pinga' act fails to match the
beauty and energy of Devda's 'Dola re' of Aishwarya and Madhuri Dixit. Nevertheless,
Deepika to a greater extend manages to pull through as Mastani because of an
ensemble of talented actors around her. She does evoke feelings at certain occasions
but then fails to hold on in the act.
Tanvi Azmi as the widowed mother of Bajirao has done a commendable job.
Tanvi as a tonsured lady calling the shots and trying all means to control her
strong-willed son Bajirao from breaking the traditions of Peshawas comes out so
well that the viewers love as well as dread the lady. She is compelling as
Radhabai in her power-packed performance.
The movie has some awesome performance from Vaibhav Tatwawdi as Chimaji
(Brother of Bajirao), Ayush Tandon as Nana Saheb (Son of Bajirao), Milind Soman
as the friend and trust worthy advisor of Bajirao.
Sanjay Leela Bansali has beautifully portrayed the role of religion and
the clergy in politics then. And it reminds us that there is nothing to be surprised
of the role they still play in the contemporary society too and the kind of manipulation
they do to safe guard their power and say in the day-to-day conduct of
governance.
In short, Bajirao Mastani is a must watch, not to know the historical
facts of who and what Bajirao was but to see how historical characters can be
fictionalized and made to be so interesting to watch on screen. Kudos to Sanjay
Leela Bansali and his filmmaking abilities. The songs are too good. You can give a miss to 'Dilwale' dilse
and watch 'Bajirao Mastani' masti se at a nearby theatre because it is for sure
a paisa vasool film.
Life Connoisseur Movie Rating: 4/5
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