Ram Leela

I did not like the film 'Ek Duje ke Liye' aka 'Made for each other' because the Hero and Heroine die in the end. Same for the first Amir Khan Juhi  film, where they die. But I loved Ram Leela. Ranveer has surrendered to the director and turned out even done better than Sanjay Leela Bhansali's vision of Ram.The background score is so soothing, not melodramatic at all. It is Ghant naad i.e. bells of a temple ringing, in a very daily regular routine Puja way.
The cinematography and the sets are 'kamaal' and the riot of colours on the screen are a delight to the naked eye. In spite of changing some words like the town and the community's names, the essence is intact. The dialogue writers have done a fantastic job with the play of words. The authenticity is unbeatable in that typical Gujarati humour and the words used. Ranveer acts and how. Whereas Deepika is so stunning that who will look at her acting. The music is fabulous. Priyanka Chopra s item number was so not needed but good for PC fans. The support cast look as if they belong to the role. This credit should go to the Casting Director. Costumes department has done such a great job and not compromised on anyone. When it comes to the film sets, SLB is unbeatable. The ethnic rural areas are not poor and depressing.Never seen Garba so graceful, sexual and free flowing. True styles of all forms of Garba is captured in the film. How can I forget the Music director's choice of starting the film with "Mann mor bani thanghaat karey"? He sets the tone for the film.This is a very popular Garba which is not found in those non stop Dandiya Garba CDs one buys. It is totally Gujarat. It means the heart is dancing with joy like a peacock. Peacock is the King of Birds and dances beautifully with its feathers. References to this Garba continue throughout the film.

'Mor bani thanghaat karey' always reminds me of my Aunt's brother in Kolkata. A young dashing guy who loved Garba and social work. I remember playing Dandiya with him in Kolkata and he was dancing so gracefully. Next I heard of him is that he had disappeared from the face of earth one day, never to be found again. The family did their best to find him but no clues, no traces of him whatsoever.

 One can make out that this film is SLB's Jigar ka Tukda i.e. a part of his soul. And Ranveer with his endearing charm becomes our 'Jigar Ka Tukda". He has visualised love in such a grand manner. No nihilism but full of courage and bouncing back. Love is about taking all challenges that life throws at you. Though I believe in my Mills&Boon stories and am a big sucker for happily ever after marriages, Ram Leela is one exception. And with so much talent in the film, each one will have different  reasons to watch it.