Directed by : Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2215477/
A weak SLB film, only saving grace are the great visuals and electrifying chemistry between lead pair.
Read at your own risk, the post may have some spoilers.
Writing on his movies has been toughest for me, I can never do justice because its about understanding the artistic poetry he inserts in his movies, be it Saawariya or Guzaarish, and Ram Leela isn't any different, only difference being that here he uses all colors to make it look much more colorful unlike his last two films where black and blue were the main colors throughout the movie.
The plot is loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, and the reason I say loosely is the way both the characters Ram and Leela behave with each other, don't even dare to compare it with the iconic Romeo and Juliet, only similarity is that they both love (or so we are told) each other madly and destiny take them to death.
Based at a place in Gujarat, one side is occupied by Senera's and other by Rajaade (I hope I got name right). What follows is the violence between the two families, death for death and much more. The love (or lust) between Ram and Leela meanwhile blossoms knowing their families wont accept it.
SLB uses the first sequence of the movie, to tell the viewers he can show violence very well too (ala Anurag Kashyap's GOW), there's a very well done child chase scene that leads upto the entry scene of Ram (Ranveer Singh). Ranveer is given a grand entry, and he lights up 'Tattad Tattad' with his energetic dance moves even if the women behave tad over the top at his physical body attraction.
Infact, choreography of all the songs has to be applauded, even if you don't love/like film, the visuals of songs are likely to make you fall in love. Whether its 'Tattad Tattad', or 'Lahu Muh Lag Gaya', or 'Nagada Sang Dhol', these three songs SLB fills up the frame with wide shots making them look so colorful plus the Gujrati backdrop. 'Ang Laga De' is pure romance and yet very sensuous, while 'Yeh laal ishq' looked like loose version of 'Tadap tadap'.
There's a scene where Ram's brother (played by Abhimanyu Shekhar Singh) gets killed accidently by Leela's brother (played by Sharad Kelkar), and the madness reminded me of Bhope bhau tope bhau sequence of Kaminey. One of my personal fav scene in this movie.
Now the main point that decides how much you like the movie or hate the movie is the love story of Ram-Leela. If you go with Romeo-Juliet classic pure love in mind (even with slight hint given in trailer what's coming), then most likely you will feel cheated and angry at the film. But if you keep aside Romeo-Juliet, and see it as two characters grown up in a background that knows only killing, a place that's known for guns or blue films, then you can understand why Ram and Leela are so sensuous and full of lust in their initial meetings, why even Leela looks desperate to be with Ram.
Inspite of looking at the two characters differently, what bothered me was the love development never really happens, all of sudden we see them run away and then get seperated. In between, a feeling of love went missing, that is one major reason, the emotional feeling in final scene when they die gets affected. Also, using Ram-Leela last day rally so well, and then hurrying the climax was so stupid to watch. Had they shown Ram face trouble reaching Leela house or Leela trying to find Ram and in the event they realise they got no other option but to kill each other, then the impact still could had come.
The 2nd half especially takes the film down, instead of focussing on the love story, SLB diverts the narration towards family fights between both sides. Infact, I felt their running away happened way too early, and then upto the point when Leela takes over her mother's position, that entire phase made the film weak. There's a Priyanka Chopra's item song in between, badly timed and only poorly choreographed song in movie.
The entire conversation between Ram and Leela, when Leela agrees to end 500 years old rivarly on some conditions was one of well executed emotional scene.
Dialogue writing is very raunchy, and unlike any of SLB movies. 'Shabaash upar waale' dialogue I wont forget, I wanted more of these moments.
Both Deepika and Ranveer share electrifying chemistry, they just make their weakly written characters so lovable. I loved Ranveer much more actually, as much subtle and restrained he made his performance in Lootera, here he gets over the top and looked so much suited to the role. Only complaint was the irritating 'don che' dialogue.
I knew before hand, that Supriya Pathak won't dissappoint me, powerful supporting performance with the negative shade, that scene where she replies to Leela's future husband 'Shooting, killing'. Richa Chadda shines too, though one has seen her in similar dialect in GOW already. Gulshan Deviah gets only two worthy scenes, one where he takes Leela back, and other when he declares the end of Ram-Leela will happen by him.
Ram Leela has SLB visuals at many places, but its the narration and how the love story of Ram-Leela is tackled that lets the film down. Not bad film, but one expected much more. There are films that grows on you with every watch, its the opposite for this movie.
Verdict : AVERAGE
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2215477/
A weak SLB film, only saving grace are the great visuals and electrifying chemistry between lead pair.
Read at your own risk, the post may have some spoilers.
Writing on his movies has been toughest for me, I can never do justice because its about understanding the artistic poetry he inserts in his movies, be it Saawariya or Guzaarish, and Ram Leela isn't any different, only difference being that here he uses all colors to make it look much more colorful unlike his last two films where black and blue were the main colors throughout the movie.
The plot is loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, and the reason I say loosely is the way both the characters Ram and Leela behave with each other, don't even dare to compare it with the iconic Romeo and Juliet, only similarity is that they both love (or so we are told) each other madly and destiny take them to death.
Based at a place in Gujarat, one side is occupied by Senera's and other by Rajaade (I hope I got name right). What follows is the violence between the two families, death for death and much more. The love (or lust) between Ram and Leela meanwhile blossoms knowing their families wont accept it.
SLB uses the first sequence of the movie, to tell the viewers he can show violence very well too (ala Anurag Kashyap's GOW), there's a very well done child chase scene that leads upto the entry scene of Ram (Ranveer Singh). Ranveer is given a grand entry, and he lights up 'Tattad Tattad' with his energetic dance moves even if the women behave tad over the top at his physical body attraction.
Infact, choreography of all the songs has to be applauded, even if you don't love/like film, the visuals of songs are likely to make you fall in love. Whether its 'Tattad Tattad', or 'Lahu Muh Lag Gaya', or 'Nagada Sang Dhol', these three songs SLB fills up the frame with wide shots making them look so colorful plus the Gujrati backdrop. 'Ang Laga De' is pure romance and yet very sensuous, while 'Yeh laal ishq' looked like loose version of 'Tadap tadap'.
There's a scene where Ram's brother (played by Abhimanyu Shekhar Singh) gets killed accidently by Leela's brother (played by Sharad Kelkar), and the madness reminded me of Bhope bhau tope bhau sequence of Kaminey. One of my personal fav scene in this movie.
Now the main point that decides how much you like the movie or hate the movie is the love story of Ram-Leela. If you go with Romeo-Juliet classic pure love in mind (even with slight hint given in trailer what's coming), then most likely you will feel cheated and angry at the film. But if you keep aside Romeo-Juliet, and see it as two characters grown up in a background that knows only killing, a place that's known for guns or blue films, then you can understand why Ram and Leela are so sensuous and full of lust in their initial meetings, why even Leela looks desperate to be with Ram.
Inspite of looking at the two characters differently, what bothered me was the love development never really happens, all of sudden we see them run away and then get seperated. In between, a feeling of love went missing, that is one major reason, the emotional feeling in final scene when they die gets affected. Also, using Ram-Leela last day rally so well, and then hurrying the climax was so stupid to watch. Had they shown Ram face trouble reaching Leela house or Leela trying to find Ram and in the event they realise they got no other option but to kill each other, then the impact still could had come.
The 2nd half especially takes the film down, instead of focussing on the love story, SLB diverts the narration towards family fights between both sides. Infact, I felt their running away happened way too early, and then upto the point when Leela takes over her mother's position, that entire phase made the film weak. There's a Priyanka Chopra's item song in between, badly timed and only poorly choreographed song in movie.
The entire conversation between Ram and Leela, when Leela agrees to end 500 years old rivarly on some conditions was one of well executed emotional scene.
Dialogue writing is very raunchy, and unlike any of SLB movies. 'Shabaash upar waale' dialogue I wont forget, I wanted more of these moments.
Both Deepika and Ranveer share electrifying chemistry, they just make their weakly written characters so lovable. I loved Ranveer much more actually, as much subtle and restrained he made his performance in Lootera, here he gets over the top and looked so much suited to the role. Only complaint was the irritating 'don che' dialogue.
I knew before hand, that Supriya Pathak won't dissappoint me, powerful supporting performance with the negative shade, that scene where she replies to Leela's future husband 'Shooting, killing'. Richa Chadda shines too, though one has seen her in similar dialect in GOW already. Gulshan Deviah gets only two worthy scenes, one where he takes Leela back, and other when he declares the end of Ram-Leela will happen by him.
Ram Leela has SLB visuals at many places, but its the narration and how the love story of Ram-Leela is tackled that lets the film down. Not bad film, but one expected much more. There are films that grows on you with every watch, its the opposite for this movie.
Verdict : AVERAGE
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