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Writer's pictureSoumik Datta

Manikarnika: Movie Review

Updated: Apr 16, 2019

“#Manikarnika: The #Queen Of #Jhansi”- the name of the movie itself holds a huge #historical significance, and it will surely evoke the #emotion of #patriotism within you. In the film, #KanganaRanaut has been able to portray this emotion perfectly. ‘Khoob Ladi #Mardani Woh To Jhansi Wali Rani Thi’- Kangana Ranaut had to #fight really hard on and off the screen for this film. This film is going to be a benchmark in her career.



First of all, it was not certain whether the movie would get completed or shelved. The director of the film, #KrishnaJagarlamudi left the shoot after completing only 30 percent of the film. #Kangana had to direct the film on her own for the rest 70 percent of it. Secondly, #SonuSood, another renowned actor, also left the film citing creative differences with Kangana. The film’s budget skyrocketed, and Kangana had to complete the film very quickly. Despite all these difficulties, ‘Manikarnika- The Queen Of Jhansi’ released, and it will certainly dwell in people’s memory for a long time. #AmitabhBachchan’s voice-over at the beginning of the film will remind you of the film ‘#Lagaan’. The makers of the film wished to enhance the same kind of #patriotic feeling among the viewers, and they were successful in doing that.


From the very first scene of the film, we witness the bravery of Manikarnika (Kangana Ranaut), and throughout the film it only magnifies. The story-line is not new to most Indians, and the story writer of the film, K.V.Vijayendra Prasad (who was also the writer of #Bahubali, #BajrangiBhaijaan, and several other Telugu films) has maintained simplicity in the story line. The dialogues of this film (credit to #PrasoonJoshi) will overwhelm your heart for sure.


The strongest USP of this film is Kangana Ranaut hands down. Her Manikarnika has the potential to win another National award for her (She has nailed the character to #perfection). She is omnipresent in the film, and she has etched herself as #RaniLakshmiBai in our minds. The first half of the film displayed many layers of the character of Manikarnika. Her eco-friendly attitude (she does not kill the tiger who attacks the villagers, rather she injures the tiger and later rehabilitates it into the deep forest) at the outset of the film sets up the tone of this film. Manikarnika tries to rebel against all the social taboos and customs which demeaned women of that era. Dialogues, such as “Of course I know English. It’s a mere language. Language, without culture, is empty” depict how intelligently Manikarnika draws lines parallel to the contemporary society’s disregard for the national language and pursual of the foreign language.


The first half of the film was a tad too lengthy, and the second half had to be hurried because of that.


The second half of the film will offer you several clapworthy moments. The way Rani Lakshmi Bai unleashes herself on the British soldiers makes you sit on the edge of your chairs. Such moments will give you goosebumps (especially the sword-fighting scenes). However, those action sequences also reveal shoddy CGI graphics. So, the editing of such scenes could have been much better. The presentation style of the film appears to have taken inspiration from #SanjayLeelaBhansali's ‘#Padmavat’. So, the comparisons are bound to happen.


The music by #ShankarEhsaanLoy is fair enough, and the song ‘#Bharat’ has been used quite well in this film. The supporting cast of this film have done a great job, but all of them were used just to magnify Manikarnika. They were not given as much space as Kangana Ranaut in this film.


The entire cast, including #AnkitaLokhande, #AtulKulkarni, #DannyDenzonpa, #SureshOberoi, #JishuSengupta, #VikramKochhar, #PrajaktaMali, #MohammedZeeshanAyub, #KulbushanKharbanda, gave their 100% despite having limited opportunities.


Our Verdict:

Manikarnika : The Queen Of Jhansi” is a film, you should watch in the theatre at least once. Kangana Ranaut has given a stellar performance, and she clearly justifies the role of Rani Lakshmi Bai. In this male-dominated Bollywood industry, Kangana Ranaut has always been making her own way, and her Manikarnika will certainly take her career to the next level.



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Our Rating: 3.5/5.0

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Movie: Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi (2019)

Director: Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi, Kangana Ranaut

Writers: Vijayendra Prasad (story and screenplay), Prasoon Joshi (dialogue), Himanshu Tripathi (associate writer)

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Atul Kulkarni, Danny Denzonpa, Suresh Oberoi, JishuS engupta, Vikram Kochhar, Prajakta Mali, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub, Kulbushan Kharbanda

Genres: Action | Biography | Drama | History

Release Date: 25 January 2019

Run-time: 2:28 Hrs

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