‘Bajirao Mastani’ is director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s dream project that has been under the limelight for a long time. It is by far the most artistically ambitious and evocative tale of love directed by Bhansali. The movie stars Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh and Tanvi Azmi.
ANALYSIS
Chunks of opulence and splendour appear across the scenes involving scorching chemistry between the lead actors in this period drama. The entire milieu is so richly textured that you’ll want to reach out and touch everything. This is the real experience - the reality.
Bhansali’s unique vision along with opulent sets, flamboyant costumes and ostentatious jewellery creates a rich canvas that oscillates amid the art-house and commercial genre, simultaneously. Although the Film is steeped in brilliance with nuances of aesthetic beauty sprinkled in every frame, Bhansali couldn’t avoid to add the sugar-coated commercial claptrap in order to get his movie the desired attention by the masses.
The story unfolds with a rare simplicity that draws the audience into its arms. Bhansali swiftly steers the ship into the right direction by making right use of commercial elements to keep the audience glued to the screens. However, the commercial elements hinder the impact of narrative at certain instances, but the overall experience remains crisp.
‘Bajirao Mastani’ is primarily significant for its charismatic cast with Ranveer Singh giving his career best performance. He stars in this period saga as a Maratha warrior Peshwa and makes his presence felt in every frame he appears in. Singh has made a career by playing complicated roles in movies like ‘Lootera’ and ‘Dil Dhadakne Do.’ In ‘Bajirao Mastani,’ he gives his blood, sweat and tears to portray an extremely complex role with a transformative turn, which deserves due praise and acknowledgment.
On the other hand, Deepika Padukone has an ethereal presence that makes her all the more alluring. The quite passion in Padukone’s enormous eyes made her seem unpredictable. And, those wide-eyed expressions with tremulous lips made Padukone’s performance even better. She is thrilling in the role of Mastani. I mean what a triumph - ‘Piku’, ‘Tamasha’ and now ‘Bajirao Mastani’.
Priyanka Chopra, meanwhile, resists every temptation to avoid the melodrama and keeps her presence vivid, enriching and superlative - you couldn’t quite say that of her work in ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ or ‘Mary Kom’. Her compassionate screen presence takes her to the pinnacle of emotions that are extraordinarily enthralling. Chopra reasserts her status as one of the contemporary cinema’s most expressive actress by giving a highly enriched performance - with emotions on her visage as a testimony of piercing sorrow and angst. Bravo!
VERDICT
If the blazing chemistry between Singh and Padukone is the highlight of this film, then the richly observed and finely calibrated facial expressions of Chopra are the heart and soul of ‘Bajirao Mastani.’ Bhansali, with the help of three extremely talented actors, gives us a ravishing tour de force.
The entire film is exquisitely put together to please the sensibilities of moviegoers. Beyond merely dictating the story to the viewers, Bhansali uses his creative abilities to give a message of finding peace even in odd circumstances. As a viewer, ‘Bajirao Mastani’ is a deeply satisfying experience.
Rating: ★★★★
