#ManikarnikaReview
This review is a week late, and truth be told, it almost never got written, as I almost never saw the film. The controversy around Kangana’s incendiary comments and the mud slinging on all sides that have come to define the lady kept me away from the hall. Besides, what is new to see in a story we all know so well. ?
Ajit decided he wanted to watch the film and so we all went. The first pleasant surprise that 8 days on, the movie hall was still relatively packed.....which removed my initial apprehensions. Post Bahubali, Bollywood filmmaker’s are all jumping on the Indian Mythology/History marries superhero films format. Manikarnika falls squarely in that genre, adding an extra level of predictability by depicting a story we all think we know ‘woh Khoob ladi mardani’ . This is a very hard film to pull off and it is to Kangana’s credit that the film is eminently watchable, inspire of being completely predictable. Female superhero’s are still a novelty outside of the Marvel and DC universe, so it is still fascinating to see Kangana pull off looking deeply credible in an incredulous role. Remember that women doing superhero roles walk a much tighter fine line : they need to look appealing and feminine even as they portray warrior like characters. In addition, they lack the benefit of physicality that their Male counterparts enjoy : they cannot bulk up and look muscular, so have fewer tools at their disposal to be superhero-like : facial expressions, dialogue, body stances. And I personally thought Kangana pulls it all off really really well. Yes the war scenes lack the grandeur of a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film, or of Bahubali, and honestly the last 20-25 minutes are a bit of a drag, but all in all, Kangana had the star power, acting finesse and screen presence to keep me glued to watching her, and my inner feminist danced with joy listening to her rousing dialogue and see her mobilise her kingdom. Yes the film is all about Kangana without much role or screen time to the supporting cast, but isn’t that how it is in any film where the protagonist is larger than life ?. As I walked out of the hall, what stayed with me was the striking similarity between Kangana the actor and the role she has portrayed with outstanding finesse : a lone warrior taking on the powers that be, who are out to get her, to defeat her and see her fall. Fall she did in the movie, and fall she might too in real life , but nobody will be left in doubt that this lady is a fighter. I give the movie a 3 : totally worth your popcorn once. See it if you like Kangana and like superhero films, you won’t be disappointed.
PS. A special word for the stunning costumes.
This review is a week late, and truth be told, it almost never got written, as I almost never saw the film. The controversy around Kangana’s incendiary comments and the mud slinging on all sides that have come to define the lady kept me away from the hall. Besides, what is new to see in a story we all know so well. ?
Ajit decided he wanted to watch the film and so we all went. The first pleasant surprise that 8 days on, the movie hall was still relatively packed.....which removed my initial apprehensions. Post Bahubali, Bollywood filmmaker’s are all jumping on the Indian Mythology/History marries superhero films format. Manikarnika falls squarely in that genre, adding an extra level of predictability by depicting a story we all think we know ‘woh Khoob ladi mardani’ . This is a very hard film to pull off and it is to Kangana’s credit that the film is eminently watchable, inspire of being completely predictable. Female superhero’s are still a novelty outside of the Marvel and DC universe, so it is still fascinating to see Kangana pull off looking deeply credible in an incredulous role. Remember that women doing superhero roles walk a much tighter fine line : they need to look appealing and feminine even as they portray warrior like characters. In addition, they lack the benefit of physicality that their Male counterparts enjoy : they cannot bulk up and look muscular, so have fewer tools at their disposal to be superhero-like : facial expressions, dialogue, body stances. And I personally thought Kangana pulls it all off really really well. Yes the war scenes lack the grandeur of a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film, or of Bahubali, and honestly the last 20-25 minutes are a bit of a drag, but all in all, Kangana had the star power, acting finesse and screen presence to keep me glued to watching her, and my inner feminist danced with joy listening to her rousing dialogue and see her mobilise her kingdom. Yes the film is all about Kangana without much role or screen time to the supporting cast, but isn’t that how it is in any film where the protagonist is larger than life ?. As I walked out of the hall, what stayed with me was the striking similarity between Kangana the actor and the role she has portrayed with outstanding finesse : a lone warrior taking on the powers that be, who are out to get her, to defeat her and see her fall. Fall she did in the movie, and fall she might too in real life , but nobody will be left in doubt that this lady is a fighter. I give the movie a 3 : totally worth your popcorn once. See it if you like Kangana and like superhero films, you won’t be disappointed.
PS. A special word for the stunning costumes.
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