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)
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| 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.
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:
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| The wedding of Manikarnika |
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| The new-born son of Jhansi Rani being taken in a procession |
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| Rani Jhansi training her women's brigade in rifle shooting |
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| The British forces discussing their strategy against Rani Jhansi |
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| The feats of the warrior queen on a battle field |
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| Rani Jhansi breaking the skull of a British soldier |
January 26, 2019
