Reportedly the most expensive Indian film
ever made, Padmaavat lives up to expectations
of a visually spectacular mega mythological/historical epic of feudal India. Drawing
on its rich history of legendary figures that have invaded and influenced Indian
culture over thousands of years, Padmaavat
is the Bollywood equivalent of Kingdom of
Heaven (2005) and Troy (2004). If
you’ve never experienced a Bollywood blockbuster this would be a great place to
start.
Padmaavat depicts the staggering opulence of 13th century medieval
India where good versus evil, heroes and villains are shown as larger than life.
In typical Bollywood fashion there are grand palaces, vast armies clashing in
full armor, over-the-top drama, a massive city siege, dazzling luxuriant
costumes, and grandiose musical dance sequences that puts Hollywood’s golden
age to shame.
Loosely based on the Hindustani epic poem
by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi, Padmaavat
is the story of Padmini (Deepika Padukone), a princess from the Kingdom of
Singhal in Sri Lanka whose reputation as the most beautiful woman in the world
eventually reached Ratan Singh (Shahid Kapoor), the ruler of a Rajput warrior
clan in Rajastan occupying the largest and strongest fortified city in India called
Chittor, built on top of a high cliff hill.
Ratan Singh, known for his proud ancestry,
honour and strong warrior ethic, travels a long way to meet Padmini who he soon
learns is not only beautiful but also strong and intelligent. While hunting one
day in a dark dense forest filled with wild animals, Padmini accidentally shoots
the King Ratan with an arrow while he is admiring her from the bushes wounding
him in the shoulder. While recovering from his injury at her father’s palace they
fall in love and marry, eventually returning to live together as the new King
and Queen of Chittor.
Purdah, or the seclusion of women to
protect them from the eyes and harassment of other men, was a custom of the
Rajput nobility, so when a court musician is caught spying on the couple during
an intimate moment, Ratan banishes him from his kingdom. The musician travels
to Delhi where a ruthless Muslim invader Alauddin Khilji (Ranveer Singh) has
just conquered the Delhi Sultanate.
He tells Alauddin of the extraordinary
beauty of the new Mewar Queen of Chittor, Padmini, knowing he will do anything to
conquer her and thereby gain his revenge on the Rajput King for banishing him.
Alauddin who is known for his brutal reign of terror from 1296 – 1316 collecting
precious birds and women, now decides he must possess Padmini and immediately
gathers his army and lays siege on the impregnable fortress of Chittor.
The movie has become highly controversial
in India among Hindu nationalists who have made attempts to sabotage the film because
of its depiction of the disturbing Rajput practice of Jauhar; the Hindu custom
of mass self-sacrificing of royal women who set themselves on fire to avoid
capture and enslavement by foreign invaders.
Written, produced and directed by one of
the most widely acclaimed directors working in India today, Sanjay Leela Bhansali
is no stranger to controversy. His films have won critical praise and garnered many
awards both at home and internationally. He is known for his large scale mega
musical dramas like Devdas (2002), Black (2005), Ram-leela (2013), and Bajirao
Mastani (2015) all of which have achieved mega box-office success despite
the controversies surrounding them.
Padmaavat is both historical and entertaining, filmed on real locations with stunning
cinematography and strong characters with a heightened flare for the dramatic.
Throw in a few wild mind-blowing musical numbers and you will gain a new
appreciation for Indian history that’s as epic as any Homeric poem.
JP
