Everything about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s labour of love - Bajirao Mastani was bloody brilliant!
Frankly, Indians have definitely not seen something like this before. Par excellence special effects with outstanding background score and music make Bajirao a sure shot winner!
Plot
Bajirao, who has won countless battles in life, loses his heart to the warrior princess of Bundelkhand. Interestingly, he’s already married to Kashibai who is an exceptionally strong woman(quite likely of Marathi women). The story however is about the battle of life that we fight with our loved ones and not those on battlefields.
Art Direction
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is the baap of grand sets in Indian Cinema. I don’t remember watching any movie which has swept me off my feet in every frame because the whole movie looks like a picturesque voyage. Every frame and believe me I’m not exaggerating, is breath taking!
From the jhoomar to the bleeding eyes of Bajirao, this film has set a new milestone in Hindi cinema. And I don’t see anyone beating that anytime soon. Not even Aashutosh Gowarikar who has tried his hands at making period films.
Performances
Deepika Padukone is the best Mastani which SLB could get. Even Aishwarya Rai wouldn’t have delivered such a fearless performance with blazing eyes like her! With this she reinstates that she is the reigning queen of Hindi Film industry right now. You just can’t tell where to look during the Deewani Mastani song, because grand is an understatement for the sets and Deepika. Her dance not only in this song but Kathak in Rang de mohe Lal is exceptional.
Priyanka Chopra shines as Kashibai, a very valiant character which she plays with the right amount of valid cynicism that a married woman goes through if her man loves another woman.
Ranveer Singh can prepare his award winning speeches for this season as the best actor as the blazing Bajirao. This man’s talent has been amazingly trapped by SLB. He infuses the right amount of energy in every scene with his wit and arrogance. I bow down to him.
Tanvi Aazmi as his Maa Saheb is outstanding. A special mention for Milind Soman who gives the right intensity to all the scenes with Ranveer and the little Shamsher Bahadur(Mastani and Bajirao’s son) who will make you go aww with his breathtaking dialogue delivery as a toddler.
Music and Costumes
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is the God of music for such films and only he can do this. He has struck the right chords for marathi, devotional and soulful music. Anju Modi should better start designing clothes for lay people or else women will have to burn their pockets for a gazillion years.
Conclusion
There’s no reason why you shouldn’t watch Bajirao Mastani. The story, screenplay, music, humour, grandeur and the stars are worth not one but two visits to the theatre.
Mohabbat ka koi mazhab nahi hota, mohabbat khud mein ek mazhab hai. SLB ne audience se mohabbat ki hai, aiyyashi nahi!