Queen - Hindi Film

கல்யாணத்துக்கு இரண்டு நாளுக்கு முன்னாடி திருமணம் கேன்சலாகிடுது. நொந்து போறாங்க ஹீரோயின்.,

ரொம்ப கட்டுபெட்டியா வளர்ந்தவங்க... லவ் பண்ணினவன் நீ செட் ஆக மாட்டேன்னு முடியாதுங்கறான்...

கல்யாணத்துக்கு அப்புறம் பாரிஸ்'ல் ஹனிமூன் கொண்டாட சேகரித்த காசை எடுத்துட்டு தனியாக கிளம்புறாங்க.

பாரிஸ்'ல் அதுவரை சந்தித்திருக்காத உலகத்தை பாக்கிறாங்க... நட்பாக கிடைக்கும் விஜயலக்‌ஷ்மி
ஃப்ரான்ஸை, அதன் வாழ்க்கையை, சுதந்திரத்தை கற்று கொடுக்கிறாள்... இருவரும் பல சாகஸங்கள் புரிகிறார்கள். பல விஷயங்களை விஜயலக்‌ஷ்மியிடம் கற்றுக்கொள்கிறாள் கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சமாக அவளது உலகம் விரிவடைகிறது.

அங்கிருந்து ஆம்ஸ்டர்டாம், அங்கும் புதிய மனிதர்கள், ஆண்களுடன் அறையை பகிர்ந்துகொள்ளும் ஒரு புதிய வாழ்க்கை முறை, என்று இன்னொரு புது உணர்வை, புது உலகைக் காண்கிறாள் .

இந்தச் சம்பவங்களும் மனிதர்களும் தரும் படிப்பினைகளில் தனது சுயம் என்ன என்பதை மெல்ல உணர்கிறாள்..

ராணியின் வாழ்க்கையில் முதல் கிஸ் பாரீஸில்... அந்த காட்சியில் முக பாவனைகள் செம.... :P

மிஸ் பண்ணா கூடாத படம்... படம் பெயர் Queen - Hindi

You enjoy a movie even more if it has the unforeseeable factor adjoined to its premise. Thankfully, a number of storytellers in Bollywood are aiming to surprise, shock and charm you with attention-grabbing yarns you haven't witnessed earlier on the Hindi screen. Some get it right, some don't, but what needs to be lauded is the effort to break the mould, to go beyond the stereotype. Vikas Bahl's QUEEN also dares to push the envelope.

The promos of QUEEN bring back memories of TANU WEDS MANU, partly because the protagonist [Rani] seems like a distant cousin of Tanu. But let's get one thing clear: The presence of Kangna Ranaut and North India setting apart, there's no commonality between TANU WEDS MANU and QUEEN. However, one can draw parallels with ENGLISH VINGLISH, since Shashi in ENGLISH VINGLISH and Rani in QUEEN are vulnerable and low on self-esteem, but eventually find their own voice once they resolve to venture out on their own accord.

QUEEN is about a shy and timid girl who travels to Paris and Amsterdam for her honeymoon all alone, when her beau calls off the wedding at the last minute. A quirky concept, yes. But this coming of age story is indeed enjoyable, despite the hiccups.

First, the premise! Rani [Kangna Ranaut] hails from a Punjabi family in Delhi. She has led a sheltered life, having been surrounded by her over-protective, but caring parents, doting grand-mom and younger brother Chintu. Rani is introduced to Vijay [Rajkummar Rao], the son of their family friend. Vijay is attracted to Rani and woos her relentlessly. Eventually, Rani gives in to Vijay's charms.

Vijay and Rani get engaged. Vijay is posted in London, but when he returns to Delhi for the wedding, he's a changed man. He calls off the wedding at the eleventh hour. Rani is heartbroken, her family is shattered as well. Rani resolves to take charge of her life. She decides to go on her honeymoon to Europe. All by herself...

QUEEN starts off as yet another attempt to encapsulate the middle class Punjabi set-up [based in New Delhi yet again!], replete with resplendent song-and-dance spectacle prior to the wedding, but quickly changes lanes as Rani sets out for Paris. Steering away from the conservative route of the woman wallowing in self-pity, Vikas Bahl tells Rani's story with insight and understanding and along with his team of writers [screenplay: Parveez Shaikh, Chaitally Parmar, Vikas Bahl] injects loads of optimism, besides spirited and lively episodes, to portray Rani's emotional rollercoaster journey.

What really works is the way Vikas presents Rani, his lead character. Rani [in her 20s] is no bimbette or abla naari, is stuck somewhere between tradition and modernity, but has a mind of her own. Her experiences outside the comfort zone [on foreign land], the interaction with varied people she encounters in Paris first and Amsterdam later, the atmospherics... the writers unfurl a tale that's utterly believable, besides creating a colorful canvas that's brimming with characters who are *not* cardboard cut-outs. Sure, a couple of episodes may seem quirky, but gel wonderfully in the scheme of things.

Having said that, QUEEN isn't fool-proof either. The bloated run time -- almost 2.30 hours -- acts as a roadblock. Also, the story stagnates in the second half. Besides, there are too many songs, especially in the first hour. As a result, the film feels elongated and also indulgent at times. Thankfully, the film is back on tracks towards the closing stages, when Rani meets Vijay in Delhi. The final act is indeed brilliant!

There seems to be an overdose of songs [Amit Trivedi] here. 'London Thumakda', 'Hungama' and 'O Gujariya' are effervescent compositions, while a couple of tracks only add to the run time. Cinematography deserves special mention. The DoP [Bobby Singh; additional cinematography: Siddharth Diwan] captures the sights and sounds of Paris and Amsterdam wonderfully. Dialogue [Anvita Dutt; additional dialogue: Kangna Ranaut] come across real.

It's hard to take your eyes off Kangna, who captures the nuances of her character spot-on. She's simply outstanding! Even when the goings-on appear stretched, Kangna doesn't miss a beat. The earnestness and sincerity she invests in her performance is for all to see. Additionally, the deglam look and the attire [jeans, kurtas, sweaters, handbag] makes it so believable. It won't be erroneous to state that she turns Rani into the most real woman you've encountered on the Hindi screen lately. Rajkummar Rao sparkles in a role not many actors would've dared to take up, while Lisa Haydon is simply delightful and supremely confident, complimenting Kangna through and through.

Mish Boyko [as Olik], Jeffrey Ho [as Taka], Guitobh Joseph [as Tim] and Marco Canadea [as Marcello] contribute wonderfully to their respective parts. The actors enacting the part of Kangna's parents, especially the grand-mom, are lovely.

On the whole, QUEEN reinvents the genre with its non-formulaic screenplay and skilled direction. A charming little film, this one's made with heart and feeling and it shows. Absolutely recommended!
thanks: bollywoodhungama.com