Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi Review- A feminist and patriotic historical legend.

Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi directed by Kangana Ranaut and Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi is a fictional retelling of the popular tale of Rani Lakshmibai the warrior queen. The movie is based on the legendary poem “Jhansi Ki Rani” written by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, every Indian knows the line “खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी”. Seeing this legendary story play out on the big screen is extremely thrilling. The movie is a combination of chest thumping nationalism and feminism woven into a long but gripping narrative.

The movie is a one woman show, Kangana Ranaut is almost in every frame she is extraordinary as the courageous and patriotic queen. Although I wish the other characters were also developed just like hers. Through the film you see Rani Lakshmibai go through multiple incidents in her life and you see her slowly mature. On screen Kangana pulls this off beautifully. The vigour and courageousness are expressed through her eyes and she commands you to pay attention to her. You never get bored looking at her but other characters with a little more heft may have lifted the narrative. Ankita Lokhande a television actress makes her Bollywood debut. She plays Jhalkari Bai, a rather insignificant character and she doesn’t have much to do. But the scenes she is in she is entertaining. The only other character which makes a little impact is Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Kangana’s husband played by Jishu Sengupta. I have just one complain with the characters. Why does every historical film need a bald matriarch who acts as a barrier to the story? We have seen this same character in Jodha Akbar and Bajirao Mastani lets get on with it already. Another thing which we have seen repeatedly is Britishers talking in mangled Hindi, its almost like a trademark of Hindi cinema portraying the British.

The songs in Manikarnika made by Ankit and Sanchit Balhara, Shankar Mahadevan and Loy Mendusa are well crafted but horribly placed which make for a few unintentionally hilarious moments through the film. The first one being when randomly out of nowhere the Peshwa and Manikarnika’s father break into a song. The lip syncing is comical and the song just jumps at you. It is followed by a random montage of Kangana dancing around the town. The second time is when suddenly you cut to General Hugh Rose the British villain dreaming about Goddess Mahakali. The visual is so sudden that people were laughing around me in the theatre as well!

One part of the movie I really enjoyed was the feminism and gender role aspect of it. I was pleased to see Kangana train women, it may be the first time in Hindi cinema did I ever see women rushing into battle. Kangana also gives a feministic speech which encapsulates the vital theme of the movie. However, I wish the song ‘Dankila’ had not been added to the movie. All the feministic values within the film comes crashing down due to this random item number. The song is unnecessary and randomly pops up when Kangana visits the villagers. The song has Ankita Lokhande transform her saree into a more item number appropriate outfit. I really hoped that these item songs would not show up especially in such a feministic movie.

The dialogue written by Prasoon Joshi land extremely well with the audience. When Kangana makes a speech about Hindi the cinema hall cheered and clapped to the line. Luckily the lines are not overtly dramatic there is no mouthing of theatrical dialogue. The cinematography as well is good, we get to see Sanjay Leela Bhansali style sweeping shots and shots of Kangana riding a horse poignantly which we usually see Deepika Padukone do in Bhansali films. Costumes by Neeta Lulla are excellent, it seems appropriate for the time and they are all very regal. Sets are also very well designed although the courtroom did remind me of the courtroom in Bajirao Mastani.

Top Bajirao Mastani, Bottom Manikarnika

The action sequence are also well crafted, especially the sword fighting scenes. They make you want to learn how to sword fight. Kangana’s vigour makes every stunt believable. Whether she is jumping on elephants or flipping off chariots everything she does is believable. What is not believable is the CGI, although it starts of on an okay note towards the last battle the CGI becomes horrible to witness. The movie could have also done with being a little crisper, with a run time of two hours and twenty eight minutes the end is exhausting to watch. Honestly I was on the verge of being disinterested towards the end as the last battle seems forced and out of place.

Surely watch this movie if you have 3 hours free this weekend. It felt great to be pumped with nationalistic fervour and to see an Indian superhero fight for the nation. I was deeply invested in the story and the Queen and seeing the story I have read in my history textbook on the big screen. Seeing the image of a courageous woman on horseback with a child strapped on her back will surely inspire you. If you are a feminist, nationalist or a Kangana Ranaut fan this movie is a must watch. Deep dive into the depths of nationalism, I promise you it is not suffocating. I’m going with 3 and a half stars.