Raavan review

There is always a school associated with a director but it is very rare to associate a name from Mani school. His subjects contemporary dealing with Kashmir terrorism(Roja), Srilankan Tamil issue(Amrutha), North East (Dil Se), Dravidian politics( Iddaru), Bombay attacks, Karna angle in Gharshana have been already classified as classics. May be a itch or some ambition but Mani tried his ambitious Raavan by questioning the mythology Ramayan.

His theme is just a question on Ramayan. He wanted to explore the myth surrounding Ravan. He wanted to show good and bad and what if bad prevails on the assumed right side and good prevails on the assumed wrong side.

But the way he starts the way is flawed. He cans a superb establishment shot and then directly kidnaps Aishwarya. There are no scenes to show the invincible nature of Ravan. The movie is edited in a non linear style with flash backs narrated in layers. Though some scenes are wonderfully cut the structure of film does not allow you to settle down. The entire first half is so badly structured that small characters like Hanuman, Kumbhakarna, Shurpanaka have proper characterizations but lead actors are shown directly on the screen. It might actually be a trick played by showing their characters through flash backs and by questioning process(Ravan asks Aishwarya, Vikram asks local people) and leaving on audience to interpret who is actual ram and ravan.

Mani tried to project Ravan as a leader from low caste and pits him against Ram who is supposedly from a higher caste. There is a song in which Beera says “Janm naa poocho Jaat na poocho”. He tries to explain the struggle in producing food and adds a perspective of Robin hood to Ravan but he does not get it right. Ravan’s character is poorly developed.
The film suffers mainly from weak script, dialogues and performances from lead pair. Editing is structurally flawed as it does not make us settled down but is class at some places. Cinematography is top notch. The way waterfalls are shot and the forest environment is captured gives a real feel to the film. Styling is ok and not great. Abhishek’s character is confusing in terms of style.

Mani’s direction is strictly average. He did not properly conceive Ravan’s character and it is clearly evident in the way he shows Ravan showing some hilarious histrionics. He was not clear the way Ravan has to be shown. The lust(atleast there is no love between Ravan and Aishwarya) is not established.

Songs are nicely shot but not again to the standards. Ranjha Ranjha and Beera are given as background scores.
There is absolutely no humour quotient in the movie and thrilling elements like fights are ok with average CG work.

Final word Ravan makes Mani a megalomaniac instead of madras talkies conquering pan indian audience.