Finally Raavan came. Both Hindi and Tamil version. After the tired ads and promotional tours by the leading actors, the film reached in our theaters.
This isn’t the first time Mani Ratnam’s film is being quite awkward to the viewers. By setting the Indian epic Ramayana as the thread of the film, Mani tried to give a 21st century’s face to Ravan and Ram. Regrettably it ended up in another inexcusably boring film of the Calendar year.
Raavan, the role played by Abhishek bachan not only could make any mark but also failed in front of the camera to perform naturally as he normally does. More over his character resembles a comic or a cartoon hero (sorry, not even a hero!!!) in the film. One can unhesitatingly say that the film is made for the Raavan and not for Rama, though the director trying to give importance to Ram with countable equivocal shots. I feel myself ashamed when thinking of those moments I got embraced by reading junior Bachan’s tweets about the upcoming magnificent film.
Aiswarya Rai, as usual, coming as a good for nothing character in this film too. But it is an inevitable fact that both the director and the cinematographer used her splendiferous beauty brilliantly.
There is nothing to be recalled markedly in the film except the roles played by Govinda and Priyamani. Though coming only in two or three scenes Priyamani could sign her caliber.
Now, coming to the real pathetic situation of the film. While celebrating Raavan as a Mani Ratnam film it becomes a complete Santhosh Sivan film (I am talking only in regard to the cinematography and not the direction. Santhosh depicted his power in Direction with his ten films). He portrayed the terrific beauty of Athirappally and other locations astonishingly. So I would like to consider Raavan as a portrait by Santhosh Sivan than a film directed by Mani Ratnam.
Although I was in an oasis of boredom whilst watching Raavan, I hope Mani Ratnam will come with a groovy film in near future.
