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Why is India, India? I have grown up in America all my life and visited India a total of four times in my life in twenty-three years. I have surrounded my life and my world around the Indian culture, clothes, festivals and much, much more. And then I get the opportunity to spend my Thursday evening in the cinema hall watching a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film which showcases why India is India. Where we come from, why we wear what we wear, and why we are the way we are.
Padmaavat simply entranced me into the Bhanasali world of Rani Padmavati, Rawal Ratan Singh, and Alauddin Khilji. This story which resides from an epic poem by Malik Muhammad Jayasi extended on digital screens across the globe is an immaculate masterpiece everyone should witness only on the big screen.
I truly have no idea where to begin this review. I haven’t seen anything this beautiful on-screen in years or maybe ever. I think the beauty of this entire film is that it does reside from a poem and it has been poetically translated through capturing the Rajasthani Culture, which is a favorite culture of mine in India. Deepika Padukone who plays Padmavati eloquently carries herself on-screen through the fear in her eyes and the royal title she carries from her stance. Shahid Kapoor plays king of Rajput Rawal Ratan Singh showcases his majestic title through his one-liner dialogues that simply give you goosebumps. And where do I begin with the man of the epic story… Alauddin Khilji played by Ranveer Singh, no other actor in the world could play such a role. His character made you cringe, sarcastically laugh and feel for every other being around his presence. This trio could not have been completed by any other person in the film industry.
There were two other characters that stood out the most to me. One being Aditi Rao Hydari who played Alauddin’s wife Malika-i-Jahan. Not only is she beautiful to see on-screen, but her every action and expression towards Ranveer’s spoke a million thoughts at once. And secondly, Jim Sarbh as Malik Kafur who is Alauddin’s right hand or as said in the film, practically his wife. He definitely an actor I cannot wait to see more of on the big screen.
Bhansali captures the entire story in beautiful palaces in Rajasthan and of course jaw-dropping costumes and jewelry. The background score and music complete the movie into one masterpiece.
While we all had to wait about a month and half more to see this film, it was definitely worth the wait. Be ready to experience art present itself in a digital moving picture!
Here is my favorite track from the film, Ek Dil Ek Jaan by Shivam Pathak, Mujtaba Aziz Naza, Kunal Pandit, & Farhan Sabri.
