History, in my opinion, is totally irrelevant. What is relevant is the presence, because our future depends on how we shape it today. History does not teach us, any damn thing. I have seen many people committing the same mistake, including myself, again and again in personal life without learning from past experiences. And if it would have taught us anything on Global level, so many wars just wouldn't have been fought. 'History is always written by the victor' that's how the saying goes, yes, absolutely true but it conveniently omits the fact that the chronicler who writes it, is extremely biased. And the historian who studies it takes the cake away with interpreting it as his masters tell him to do! So far so good for the Maratha history too.
Bajirao was warrior par excellence. He won all the battles he fought in his short life span of 20 years as the warrior. But apart from his warrior side, how he was as a human being, as a son, as a husband, as a lover, there is a vast territory to explore. Any person whatever he may be, can not be the one, which we want him to be, 24 * 7. Thus it applies to Bajirao too. Many Marathi Historians have accepted, maybe grudgingly, Mastani's role in Bajirao's life, but wants him to be depicted only as a warrior, like Mr Jayant Salgaonkar who has totally blacked out Mastani from his book on Bajirao, while noted novelist, who wrote many many bestsellers, but very nicely written novels [Best sellers may not be necessarily good novels. ,Read Shobha De], based on history, Mr N S Inamdar, on whose novel 'Rau' Bajirao Mastani is loosely based, gives more credence to Mastani as Bajirao's lover whom he gave the status of the second wife. He too wrote it, after much deliberation going through the history meticulously. Whom to believe?
The story after interval loses it's Marathi flavour and starts resembling any other love story from anywhere in the world. And I started losing interest. Call me parochial but that's the way it is. The grandeur is replaced by petty politicking, vacuous pride and blind faith in religion. All that Bajirao abhorred and stood against stoically. Again maybe, that was plus point for the script but laden with cliches, like an assault on Mastani and Kashibai saving her, Pune Brahmans refusing to share meals with Peshwa!
I feel Mr Bhansali has done justice to whatever was laid in front of him on most of the fronts, barring at places about Bajirao's characterization. There is a flood of information on Bajirao now. Taking in to account all that, it never seems possible, even probable that he would dance, a victory dance, in Salman fashion to the words, 'Waat Lavali' in a lingo definitely not used then, the lingo of Paral Lalbag lads in the 20th century. [ Taking too much of creative liberty ] It was superbly done by Mr Gowarikar for Akbar, going in a trance in Sufi recital, taking into consideration the dancing prowess of Hritik Roshan.[ Art with a market in mind]. Ranveer too flaws at many places failing to understand the nuances of Bajirao's persona. Yes, Bajirao used to consume alcohol and devour meat but his drunken stupor enacted by Ranveer nears today's drunken heroes, not with that grace of a warrior or befitting a Peshwa.
True scene stealers are definitely Deepika and Priyanka. Priyanka excels because the role is tailor-made for any Indian heroine and we Indians always like the underdogs. Deepika as Mastani is an excellent choice. She radiates that beauty on many instances for which Mastani is/was known for. Not only she goes through the war scenes with ease, but she enacts love scenes with Bajirao or emotional ones with others with elan! Tanvi Azmi. Another excellent choice. With just a waive of hand on many occasions, she rejects the very presence of Mastani in Bajirao's life, is worth to watch for. Milind Soman as Amatya and Vaibhav Tatwawadi as Chimaji Appa too linger on your mind for long.
As expected 'Pinga' dance doesn't have anything objectionable. It's 'all women dance' performed on 'Haldi Kunku' ceremony. Womenfolk letting their hair loose on such occasions was a known thing and such functions were arranged for the very purpose, as the women then did not have any vent.
All in all, as usual, I am confused. Yes, for a Bollywood it's a milestone. Going away from typical Punjabi ethos and for the first time bringing Maratha History to the fore, is definitely praiseworthy. Definitely, a well-mounted film with above-average to excellent performances, extremely soothing to the eyes photography, every frame is a picture postcard, and all the masala for average filmgoer and not so much a deviation from history or perverting the history to the hideous level for Marathis, it's definitely a film to watch at least once!
No comments:
Post a Comment