56. Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi; movie review

MANIKARNIKA
Cert 15
148 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong violence

An Indian queen's sword sliced through the head of a British soldier and the crowd in screen one of Leicester Odeon literally whistled and whooped with delight.
Mrs W and I slid deep into our seats.
We weren't clear whether the crowd were making an anti-British political point or whether they were just enjoying the cut and thrust of  Kangana Ranaut's heroine, Manikarnika.
This epic period drama paints the occupying Brits, known strangely as The Company, in a particularly poor light.
Set in the middle of the 19th century, in hones in on Jhansi, one of the few states in India, which dissented against the colonial rule.
Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi, aka Manikarnika, was one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and became a symbol of resistance to the British Raj for nationalists.
How likely is it that she wielded a sword on the frontline of battles? Not very but those under the boot need heroes and heroines and they found one in her.
Ranaut, who is credited with directing the movie alongside Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi (Krish) despite having big fall-outs with him, portrays the queen as a swashbuckler who cares passionately about her people and has no mercy for their persecutors.
The film traces her from her youth when she impressed onlookers with her ferocity to her violent death in battle.
It is an impressive story, told on a grand scale with huge battle scenes and ornate backdrops to her palatial home.
However, I take issue again with the manner in which British people are portrayed in an Indian movie.
When such a big effort has been made to create a sweeping historical drama why not at least use convincing actors as the villains.
Yet again, the Brits speak stilted dialogue without any passion. Why? Film-makers know how British people speak so why is their contribution such an afterthought?
Indeed, why don't they ever hire some well-known faces from British cinema or TV?
This is all the more important during a film such as Manikarnika because General Sir Hugh Rose (Richard Keep) and Captain Gordon (Edward Sonnenblick ) are key players.
The stiltedness of their parts distracted from an otherwise compelling movie.

Reasons to watch: Ambitious and largely well-executed epic period drama
Reasons to avoid: the wooden portrayal of the British

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know? Statues of Lakshmibai are seen in many places of India, which show her and her son tied to her back. Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education in Gwalior, Laksmibai National College of Physical Education in Thiruvananthapuram, Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi are named after her.

The final word: Krish: “Kangana even told me that Zee Studios hadn’t liked what I had made. It was looking like a Bhojpuri film. I laughed. People know my previous work. We argued but she wanted her own way. I just couldn’t understand.” Hindustan Times

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