Bajirao Mastani - Super Hit.. Review on Bajirao Mastani

BAJIRAO MASTANI – The aim of any period film is to transport the audience into the era being portrayed, by this simple definition the movie is a resounding success. A Sanjay Leela Bhansali creation can be described in one word and that’s opulence - the costumes, makeup, production design, music, choreography and dialogue only live up to his dream of a magnum opus.

The film is based on a book ‘Rau’ by historical novelist N S Inamdar so here rest the arguments about authencity and blah. It’s about the life and times of Peshwa Bajirao I ( 1700-1740) a noted Maratha general who won 41 battles reaching the portals of the Mughal Empire in Delhi and his undying love for his second wife Mastani. Mastani being born of a Muslim mother and not having wedded Bajirao in the official sense is never accepted by his mother, the religious pundits and his first wife Kashibai – so with the warfare come the political intrigue, familial pressures, and religious dogma.

Ranveer Singh as Bajirao is exceptional and the warrior shows in his physique, mannerism, walk, smile, the moustache, the hairstyle. No offence but a born Sindhi who went to college in Bloomington talking in a Marathi dialect with aplomb proves how hard he’s worked and moulded himself. Deepika Padukone as Mastani is simply gorgeous, and plays extremely well the part of a Rajput princess shunned by society and madly in love. Hmm the chemistry in real and reel life – undeniably and totally there. Priyanka Chopra - I had no love left for her after Agneepath and the lip job. Some respect came back with Quantico, but with Bajirao’s Kashibai she arrives again and how. A once proud innocent impish wife, torn between her devotion for her husband and the slight of him being with another woman, she’s as good as in Saat Khoon Maaf. All of you who got pictures clicked with Milind Soman the athlete, feel proud he’s a pretty good actor too. Well supported by Tanvi Azmi, Vaibhav Tatwawadi, Yatin Karyekar. Notice the dance sequences – there are so few cuts, even with hundreds of dancers in the background, unseen in this era when an actor hardly does half a pirouette and CUT.  When a SLB movie takes years to make, you know why and how – wonder why Rohit Shetty and Karan Johar take years?  Some of you may find it OTT but you can’t have a character whisper when he’s supposed to shout. A must watch sans the tots ( bank on that one friend who can pamper your 3 year old for few hours) !