Bajirao Mastani

Cast	:	Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone Tanvi Azmi, Milind Soman
Director	:	Sanjay Leela Bansali
Cinematographer	:	Sudeep Chatterjee
Music	:	Songs: Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Assisted by Shreyas Puranik) Background Music: Sanchit Balhara
Producer	:	SLB Films
Release Date	:	December 18, 2015
Length	:	2 Hours and 28 Minutes
Language	:	Hindi

My Thoughts

The movie begins with a lengthy disclaimer that the events may not be historically accurate. Soon, Bajirao (Ranveer Singh) makes his appearance and woo the audience. He is brave and smart at the same time. He wins battle after battle. His only desire in life is to conquer the whole of Hindustan until he meets the beautiful, brave and talented Mastani (Deepika Padukone). Being a Brahmin and a married man, the relationship between Bajirao and Mastani is not accepted by his family and friends. Finally, he dies out of fever. Soon his ladylove Mastani also dies.

Bajirao Mastani has all the elements to produce a great and successful film – love, heroism, emotions, drama and villain. However, it fails to be one. The focus shifts from battlefield to his relationship with Mastani, Kashibhai (Priyanka Chopra), his mother (Tanvi Azmi) and with the kingdom per se. It shifts so much that at the end you don’t empathise with Bajirao or Mastani. They look very distant. Their emotions look superficial. But when Kashibhai feels bitter, cries or gets angry we understand. At the end, we feel bad for Kashibhai. She suffered for no reason and endured more than she should.

While Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus looks rich… dialogs dense… songs beautiful and the lead actors stunning, the movie lacks the depth. It fails to connect with audience the way Devdas, Black or Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam did.  

I would say that Ranveer Singh has lived as Bajirao. His body language and Marathi diction coupled with the wonderful acting steals our heart. Deepika Padukone as Mastani looks stunning. She dances like an angel and fights like a warrior. She is a Braveheart holding conventional romantic values at heart. But, it is Priyanka Chopra as the suffering Kashibhai who remains in our hearts. Her silence and pain nicely portrayed. Her transformation from a devoted wife who hopefully waits for the return of her husband from battle to a wife who was betrayed and finally as an understanding as well as a friendly wife is phenomenal.

To sum up, Bajirao Mastani takes you to a different world. Savor it. Forgive the sloppy screenplay.

Rating

2.5/5