MANIKARNIKA : My Review

The film “Manikarnika: the Queen of Jhansi” celebrates the spirit of nationalism and patriotism at a time when these two traits are seen slipping into the realm of extinction. Aptly, it is being released during the Republic Day festivities.  This is one reason why we were attracted to the film, though its publicity has been on a low key.  Further, history-based celluloid creations on a near-epic scale are rare to come by now-a-days.

A CAPTIVATING EPIC-SIZE MOVIE 

(By Subbaram Danda)

Rani Jhansi as a warrior

The film chronicles how Manikarnika, a young woman excelling in archery, sword-fighting and horse-riding, rises to become the queen of the kingdom of Jhansi under the name of Lakshmibai.  Her love for books makes her stand out among the royalty. Her true affection towards her countrymen earns her a lot of their goodwill.  Circumstances force her to become a fierce warrior to uphold the freedom of her motherland and foil the treacherous designs of the British. She fights battles with great vision and clever strategy but intrigues and treachery decide their outcome.  Of course, the film takes some cinematographic liberties to enhance its impact on the audience.  

Kangana Ranaut assumes two responsibilities, unusual for any film.  She plays the central role of Rani Lakshmibai and also functions as the co-director of the movie.  Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi is the director.

Throughout the film, it is Manikarnika and Lakshmibai who dominate, eclipsing the importance of other characters in the process.  In a film like this one, it cannot but be so.  The first half highlights the beginnings of Manikarnika, the development of her skills and her growth as a freedom-loving girl.  In the second half her valour and patriotic fervour come to the fore. She throws overboard some age-old traditions and on the death of her husband, she ascends the throne of Jhansi. She mobilizes the womenfolk into a fighting brigade, trains them and shines as a major force to reckon with. For the British she becomes a terror.  

The movie makes good use of graphics and visual effects.  What is remarkable is that they merge with the main picture seamlessly.  The scene where Manikarnika hops, skips and jumps to mount an elephant and stand on it has been awesomely done.  The visual effect of Rani Jhansi breaking the skull of a British soldier into two with her long sword in one grotesque hit during a battle stuns the audience.

The long battle sequences in the second half of the 148-minute movie do not slacken the audience interest.  The moves and the counter moves have been neatly picturised. Strangely, Manikarnika is also the name of a cremation ghat on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi. 

There are quite a few frames of massive proportions.  The scenes of Manikarnika’s wedding, interiors of her palace and the fort bombardment will remain as vivid images in the minds of the viewers for long.  Out of a few songs in the film “Vijayi Bhava, Vijayi Bhava….” emerges as a touchingly tuneful one.

Kangana Ranaut’s action is superb throughout.  Her facial expressions come out realistically well in every situation. This is one film, where the story moves briskly without any bottlenecks.   

In the cine hall, where we watched the film, an unusual development took us by surprise. As the movie came to an end, resounding claps of appreciation emerged from several pockets in the hall.

Here are some photos:

The wedding of Manikarnika

The new-born son of Jhansi Rani being taken in a procession

Rani Jhansi training her women's brigade in rifle shooting

The British forces discussing their strategy against Rani Jhansi

The feats of the warrior queen on a battle field

Rani Jhansi breaking the skull of a British soldier

January 26, 2019