RAAVAN IS IMMERSIVE, INTENSE AND DELIVERS A POWERFUL PUNCH

Raavan is a film that takes you on a journey through different facets of the human mind. The latest offering by masterful director Mani Ratnam, offers a feast for the eyes and soul in a modern day loose translation of a tale taken from the classic Hindu text Ramayana.

Just as in the text, Raavan (Beera in the film) is portrayed as a villain who kidnaps Rama’s wife Sita in an act of vengeance but as his character is open to interpretation the film delves deep into some of the many perceptions of this intriguing enigma.

The film opens with Beera (Abhishek Bachchan) diving off a huge ravine and into a river which embraces and carries him. A few scenes later he attacks a small boat and kidnaps a police inspector’s wife Ragini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) and as her boat capsizes, she too is baptised in the same waters as the Raavan while he watches. The symbolism is no accident, Mani Ratnam has paid immense detail to small nuances that build up clues as to the three main protagonists and the world they occupy.

This begins the story. An vengeful incident leads to the journey of two minds. Worlds collide as Beera does what he believes to be right, doling out his own brand of justice to wrongdoers within his village and to the local cops who attempt to instil their own brand of law and order to the area. The captive Ragini shows contempt and hatred for her captors, not allowing them to demean or have any power over her as she is pushed to her limits, struggling to survive every day on her terms. Her refusal to play by her kidnappers rules leads to brazen disciplining but never with malice.

As the story unravels we learn that not only is Beera a leader to his people, but the police inspector Dev Pratap Sharma (the Rama figure portrayed by Vikram Kennedy) is as traditional as a hero figure gets, to a human fault. His brand of justice sees only black and white and is colour-blind to the grey-area coloured fence Beera sits on.

Beera becomes more intrigued with Ragini, the woman he can’t kill because she doesn’t fear death and chooses to hold her captive longer. Beera in the meanwhile takes pleasure in leaving clues and traps for Dev, making the hunt a game while trying to understand his intriguing prisoner and her view of the world. She sees multiple sides of his personality in brilliant sequences that provide an alternate take on the traditional texts’ description of Raavan being ten-headed.

The narrative couples with the direction and cinematography perfectly, with clues and red herrings in almost every frame. References to the classical text are spread throughout in character traits, scenery and shot set-ups. The overall idea that Raavan’s ten-heads refers to him having the knowledge of ten scholars and not being in complete control whereas Rama has mastered control to the point of it being a weakness, is hinted at but not explored. The film cleverly sets up many interpretations and allows the audience to decide.

The remainder of the film investigates how the captor and captive learn about each other and accept different viewpoints, leading to a stunning climax which intelligently blurs the lines between good and evil. Raavan is traditionally thought to have possessed the nectar of immortality and this big screen depiction plays on this with references to Beera’s immortality within the film, be it when he is described by those he fights with, for and by those he represents.

Abhishek Bachchan breathes life into Beera creating one of Indian cinema’s most engaging characters. His screen presence is a marvel, and as an audience it was difficult to not be allured by this enigma whose life is overshadowed by a higher purpose. Raavan not only marks Abhishek’s last film before he completes a decade in Indian cinema but also the beginning of a new phase as he sets the bar high for the next ten years, exploding through all expectations and delivering an award-worthy performance. His attention to body language, dialogue delivery and intense emotion all make the character leap off the screen and pull you into his world. In a complex role, Abhishek succeeds in not only engaging and holding the audience’s attention throughout but also displays incredible physical prowess in a film that is almost completely shot on rough terrain.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan uses every scene to take us deeper into her character. Sparks of fury are balanced with memories of love. In portions of the film where she’s required to switch from a vulnerable captive praying for salvation to a confident spitfire with no fear in her eyes within split seconds, she excels in drawing the audience into her mindset and character. Ragini has a reason for everything she thinks and does, displaying strength running on reserves. Every time she refuses to succumb to being a disempowered slave, she packs an emotional punch which results in a spectacular chemistry of crackling tension between Ragini and Beera. Off screen, Aishwarya is an icon of inspiration and it is apt that she has brought the same resilience to her role in Raavan, empowering Ragini with such force it resonates from the screen. Both actors are a tour de force and this is a stand off between stalwarts whenever they share screen space.

Vikram Kennedy as the Rama-figure Dev is enticing. His powerful frame and commanding performance fit the mould of Inspector Dev Pratap perfectly. He excels particularly in the few scenes where he faces off with Beera, especially in the climactic scenes where a true tug-of-war of power ensues.

Direction by Mani Ratnam is first rate. The creator who has brought his magic touch to many modern day classics of Indian cinema such as Roja, Bombay and Guru exceeds expectations by drawing out excellent performances from his cast, stunning cinematography courtesy of wizards Santosh Sivan and Manikandan and tells a story that reveals more every time you recount it. The touches he has added in terms of sound, substance and style elevate the film to a new level of cinema that takes you into the deepest depths of the characters’ world. Film fans will be delighted to see the nuances he has placed throughout when showing symbolism via the elements, framing and even costumes, referring not only to theories from the sacred texts but also foretelling the events on screen.

Overall Raavan is an intense and immersive experience that successfully presents the best of Indian cinema delivered with a powerful punch. Mani Ratnam and his team have made a film that enriches on each viewing. Alongside stellar performances by the cast as well as the creation of a cult character in Beera thanks to Abhishek Bachchan’s mesmerising performance, Raavan offers film fans an experience that delivers on every level.

Raavan opens for general release today.

Fuad Omar