Finally, Kangana Ranaut’s ambitious film, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’s trailer launched today in royal, traditional Maharashtrian style with all fanfare including the paithani nauvaris, naths, even the sonorus tutari.
The journey has not been that easy for the actress, given the fact that the entire team of the film faced delays in the shoot, various controversies, actors walking out of the film etc. However, despite all hurdles, Kangana has ensured that she remains untouched and is, ready to take us back to the annals of history to witness the real ‘maradni’ we all have been proud of.
Kangana has also directed 70% of the film, here is Filmfare ME’s verdict on the five things we have liked:
Costume
The Neeta Lulla costumes are well-designed and apt for the period drama. Kangana looks regal and every bit of a monarch. We cannot help but draw parallels with Neeta Lulla’s oufits from yet another period dram Jodha Akbar.
Styling
A big applause to the styling as it is spot on at capturing the nuances of a Maratha warrior queen. Be it a chandrakor (a crescent shaped bindi), Khopa (Hairstyle), the beautiful Paithani and Hirkani saris and the nathani (nose-ring), everything is perfect. All this worn by an all-woman army adds to the grand landscape of the film.
Evokes Patriotism
The patriotic nature of the film evokes pride of the land in our hearts and reminds us of our strife and successful battle to win independence from the British Empire. India is a country rich in history and films like these remind us of the valour of our women warriors too. The trailer reinstates the lines, ‘Khoob ladhi Mardani, Woh Jhansi Wali Rani Thi’
Set Design and Cinematography
The production design by Sreeram Kannan and Sujeet Subhash Sawant is detailed. The palace of the Raja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar of Jhansi is intricately designed with great efforts towards keeping the set true, to the time period. The trailer features some intense action scenes, that see a lot of well-crafted visual effects. The fight scenes seem to be well choreographed too.
The Warrior Queen Mother
Keeping with the current climate of increasing feminist movement in India, the film is a tale of a mother who fights for her kingdom.
You can have a look at Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi here: