Ravanan - Never go movie by hype

When it’s a Mani Ratnam film you don’t have to tell in particular about the visuals or the music or the costumes or the ‘thats’ and the ‘thises’. It is a formula of the modern-day seminar in which Raavanan abducts Sita and keep them in Asokavanam. Later in the Raman projects to save his wife and returned.

Was working in the film with the same team who also worked on his latest movie magic ‘of any Guru’ Santosh Sivan, the photographer, Prasad Srikar - Editor, AR Rahman taking care for the music.

Then again, you just cannot stop thinking about the visuals the film had to offer. They were such a treat that watching the film in mute shouldn’t be a bother. But, what’s new in this film is the touch of the abstract.

Story as Dave (Prithviraj) is a police officer who was appointed and difficult to catch up Veeraiah (Vikram). During the marriage to the sister’s Veeraiah (Priyamani), Dave attacks him and hurt him. In the meantime, Veeraiah sister gets arrested by the police for interrogation, but gets gang raped by the police. This irks Veeraiah wreaks violently against the police.

Vikram has a wonderful performance, next in line comes Prithviraj and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Priya Mani as Vikram sister in a movie has done a commendable job.

Whenever Veera is thinking of something, a series of quick cuts from various angles and moods are shown. This is a brilliant reference to the ten headed thought process of Raavana (bak bak baka bak). And also the simplicity and yet a complex aura the screenplay creates.

Aishwarya’s age is shown on her face and body. She is not that gracious looking young lady anymore. She looked like a middle aged woman in this film. Her performance is OK in some scenes and good in parts. Prithviraj’s role is very brief and he lived up to the expectations of the director. Karthik’s role resembles Anjaneya in Ramayana. However, he has nothing to do in this film. His overall show is average. Maniratnam might have roped in Prabhu to do the role of Vikram’s brother keeping Kumbhakarna in his mind. Prabhu is good as usual. Priyamani played a guest role (Surphanaka who triggered the war between Rama and Ravana) and made her presence felt with her top notch performance.

The list of minuses is being reduced with a lot of deliberation. Mani Ratnam has pictured beautiful movies in the past. ‘Raavanan’ was termed his magnum opus, etc but sorry it didn’t seem like one. The screenplay was a let down with only few scenes showing his directing supremacy. The movie was lost somewhere. May be because the first half was a major let down and the second half carried a lot to show the audience. the movie looked like a bouquet of flowers but only the fragrance seemed to fade!

Never go by Hype. If so, you will land in disaster.

~Sudhan