Samrat Prithviraj isn’t a bad movie, it’s outright Boring, with a Big B. It starts off okay, but along the way, it loses pace, the narrative slacks off and it gets so dreary that it got a movie buff like me dozing midway.
Wonder how the makers could mete out such lazy treatment to a story with immense historical significance. There’s absolutely no attempt to induce curiosity or excitement of any kind, the movie just drags predictably and monotonously.
If only they had built The Samrat’s character, if only they had focussed more on his accomplishments, than on delivering endless sermons and fitting in a few needless songs.
All through the movie, the audience is repeatedly subjected to lessons on Dharma and feminism. Every single dialogue the queen has with her parents is laced with phrases about women’s liberation. Also, it’s unfathomable how the king and queen serenade each other in poetic Urdu in that era.
Alas, with the recent barrage of period dramas in Bollywood, this one fails to stand out. Not to mention, some lacklustre performances by the lead cast. And an ending climax ‘inspired’ by Gladiator, what with the huge arena, sword fight, lions, and martyrdom.
Akshay Kumar doesn’t even try to put some passion into his role. Sanjay Dutt bores as an irritating Kaka with a Mumbai accent. Sonu Sood has a sixth sense, predicts calamities, looks forever depressed, and often breaks into ballads and poems about the king.
Manushi Chillar is indeed pretty good for a debutante; she oozes grace and confidence. But her brave character, who talks and walks empowerment, breaks into a dance sequence on hearing about her husband’s capture, and suddenly plunges into the Jauhar Pyre.
Unfortunately, this is a lost opportunity, how I hoped I could watch a well-researched saga of the chivalrous king. With dialogues as silly as, “Jaldi Swarg Aaja, Indra ke saath Yuddha Karte Hain!”, Samrat Prithviraj fails to impress. Sigh..
Disclaimer– The review only talks about the movie and its technicalities.
By Preethi Warrier
Preethi Warrier has completed her Masters in Electronics Engineering and is an Assistant Professor. She is one among the winners of the TOI Write India Campaign Season-1, for the famous author Anita Nair. She can be contacted at : warrier.preethi@yahoo.com
Facebook Comments