Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

'Rangoon': An Impressively Immersive Film

Troy Ribeiro IANS, 24 Feb, 2017 11:57 AM
    Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
     
    Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Shahid Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan
     
    Rating: * * * *
     
    Rangoon is director Vishal Bhardwaj's monumental and rewarding work. It is a classic, weighed and measured by the style and manner of its narrative. Adapted from the English film "Casablanca", it is a simple romance triangle set in India, circa 1943, against the backdrop of World War II.
     
    The plot, a trifle to hang the emotions on, involves an ex-actor turned film producer Rustom Billimoria aka Rusi (Saif Ali Khan), his lover and muse Julia (Kangana Ranaut) and the army personnel Jamadar Nawab Mallik (Shahid Kapoor) who is assigned to protect her during an arduous journey to the border, where she is deputed to entertain the Indian Army, serving under the British.
     
    It is during this journey that the inevitable happens, she falls in love with Nawab Malik and soon realises that she is torn between the two.
     
     
    The screenplay is well-designed. The narrative begins in a dispassionate tone but gradually during the course of the narrative, it emotionally hooks you on, making you root for every character.
     
    The characters merging from various spectrums of society are deep, yet believable. They are well-etched and their backstories make them wholesome.
     
    "Rangoon" is Kangana's canvas. She is the soul of the film as the perky actress modelled after the yesteryear's heroine Fearless Nadia. Her role is more difficult than it might appear. What she does here is as extraordinary in its own way as Nadia did during her times.
     
    Her on-screen chemistry with Saif and Shahid is palpable. Kangana is downright luminescent and dives into her character's varied and heightened emotions with aplomb.
     
     
    She has the chutzpah and spunk of Julia which seems natural. There are many scenes where she shines brilliantly. But the most striking of them all is the comic scene when she dances before the Japanese soldiers hoping to break the ice with them.
     
    Shahid portrays Nawab Malik with all earnestness. With natural ease, he internalises his character and communicates his affection through his intense gaze. He is equally flawless in the action scenes.
     
    Saif does not have much to do. As Rustom Billimoria, he plays the aristocratic producer with elan. He is convincing as the chauvinist lover yet deeply in love who is willing to go to any lengths to get his lady-love back.
     
    British actor Richard McCabe as Major General Harding is spot on with his dialogues peppered with Hindi. He leaves his mark on-screen with flourish.
     
     
    The rest of the supporting cast too are pitch perfect and some of their scenes, in their own ways are equally tender and stirring, be it when Zulfi, the make-up artiste and Julia's confidante, is mercilessly shot, the Japanese soldier held captive by Nawab and Julia makes a desperate attempt at a getaway and when the woman soldier is killed before her son.
     
    Visually, the look and feel of the film is magnificent yet simply realistic. The landscape is beautifully exploited and the period created by Production Designers Subrata Chakraborthy and Amit Ray along with Dolly Ahluwalia's striking costumes captured by Pankaj Kumar's cinematography, are rich and rewarding.
     
    The songs "Bloody hell" and "Mere miyan gaye England" are beautifully choreographed as well as picturised, while "Yeh ishq hai' is soulful. Also, Bhardwaj's lavish score tugs at your heartstrings as it complements the visuals.
     
     
    Overall, "Rangoon" masterfully weaves a drama that keeps you enraptured till the very end.

    MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

    Viral Video: Pak Actor Saba Qamar Calls Salman Chhichhora, Insults Hrithik And Emraan

    Viral Video: Pak Actor Saba Qamar Calls Salman Chhichhora, Insults Hrithik And Emraan
    After Mahira Khan slamming Bollywood in a video went viral last month, here is another Pakistani actor, Saba Qamar calling Salman Khan a chhichhora and insulting other Bollywood actors.

    Viral Video: Pak Actor Saba Qamar Calls Salman Chhichhora, Insults Hrithik And Emraan

    Relationships Have No Rules, Says Nandita Das Who Recently Ended 7-Year Marriage

    Actress-director Nandita Das, who recently split from husband Subodh Maskara after being married for seven years, says relationships have no rules and are "very personal".

    Relationships Have No Rules, Says Nandita Das Who Recently Ended 7-Year Marriage

    Not Keen On Just Dating, Want To Get Married: Kangana Ranaut

    Actress Kangana Ranaut, who has gone through her share of tumultous relationships, has revealed that she has found someone she loves "deeply", but dating is not on her mind -- she wants to take the plunge and get married.

    Not Keen On Just Dating, Want To Get Married: Kangana Ranaut

    'Rangoon' Has My Most Heroic Character: Shahid Kapoor

    'Rangoon' Has My Most Heroic Character: Shahid Kapoor
    Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor, who plays a soldier of the British Indian Army in Vishal Bhardwaj's upcoming historical war drama "Rangoon", says it is one of the most heroic characters he has ever played in a film so far.

    'Rangoon' Has My Most Heroic Character: Shahid Kapoor

    Sanjay Dutt Meant For Big Screen: Arshad Warsi

    Sanjay Dutt Meant For Big Screen: Arshad Warsi
    Bollywood actor Arshad Warsi is happy about his "Munna Bhai" series co-star Sanjay Dutt's return to the silver screen.

    Sanjay Dutt Meant For Big Screen: Arshad Warsi

    When Kangana Ranaut Felt Like Slapping Sugandha Mishra On The Voice India

    When Kangana Ranaut Felt Like Slapping Sugandha Mishra On The Voice India
    Comedienne-actress Sugandha Mishra had an awkward encounter on TV show "The Voice India Season 2" when she tried to do National Award-winning actress Kangana Ranauts mimicry in front of her.

    When Kangana Ranaut Felt Like Slapping Sugandha Mishra On The Voice India