Review of Bajirao Mastaani

Sanjay Leela Bhanshali's “Bajiraao Mastaani” is an epic love saga of a Hindu maratha warrior Peshoa Bajirao and his second wife Mastaani who was a born out of Hindu father and Muslim mother. Although historians are more interested to present Bajirao as a warrior who had won 40 battles in his life but Mr. Bhanshali was very keen to tell this love story for around 12 years. Finally his dream turns into a reality.
It is a great love story which was beyond any boundary of religion, rituals and politics.It has all the elements of a brand Bhanshali film from larger than life sets to heavy designer clothes to well choreographed song and dance. It is a periodic film set in Maratha in 17th century and of course lots of research has been done to recreate that era but if you closely observe every other Bhanshali movie looks same in look and feel no matter in which era or which region it has been set up. Do you actually remember when the last time Mr. Bhanshali had made a contemporary film.
The story begins with Bajirao (Ranveer Singh) getting crowned as Peshoa once his father

died. Bajirao was living in his palace in Pune with his widow mother (Tanvi Azmi), his wife Kashibai(Priyanka Chopra) ,his younger brother and other associates. Kashibai was in very much love with her husband and her entire world was limited around him only. In such a situation Bajirao met Mastaani (Deepika Padukone), princess of Bundelkhand ,who had came to Bajirao to seek help to save her kingdom from foreign attacks. Bajirao helped Mastaani and fell in love with her and soon they get married. But the whole family of Bajirao as well as the Hindu society was not ready to accept a Muslim girl as Bajirao' wife. But their love for each other was strong enough to fight the battle against all odds.
The story is based on a novel named "Rau" and some creative liberties have been taken to describe the story.To avoid any controversy, in the beginning of the film it has been

mentioned clearly that it is work of fiction based on some historical facts. There is a heavy reference of Mughal-E-Azam and Jodha Akbar in the story and its presentation. The life of Bajirao as a warrior has been given a bit of importance so you can find historical details of his big wins here and there in the screenplay, but the main focus is definitely the love story between Bajirao and Mastaani and the heartbreak of the other wife Kashibai.
The screenplay is good but the pace is very slow there are so many long scenes where the characters are not even saying any dialogue but just conveying messages through eyes. Even the dialogues are too heavy and melodramatic for current generation. The climax is over dramatic and has been stretched for more than required. There are some unnecessary songs too specially the "Malhaari" song which does not go well with the character of Bajirao. All these factors have added extra length to its running time. But still the film can be enjoyed for its wonderful technical crew behind the screen and of course the superb performances of the cast members on screen.

Sanjay Leela Bhanshali is a director who never compromises with his vision for any commercialization. He has his own signature style to tell a story which is very close to his heart. His observation for every minute detailing is visible in every frame. The way he has narrated the story in a large canvas that is highly commendable. His presentation is almost a poetry in motion.

Ranveer Singh is awesome as the great warrior Peshoa Bajirao. His body language, dialogue

delivery with a Marathi accent suits very well with his character. He is wonderful in war sequences at the same time he is brilliant in emotional scenes too. His physical transformation for this character is also praiseworthy.
Deepika Padukone has looked so gorgeous that anyone will fall in love with her. The big expressive eyes are good enough to convey the passion and pain of her onscreen character Mastaani. She has proved her hard work and dedication to learn new thing in the sword fighting sequences. Also she is marvelous as a dancer in all three songs picturized on her, she has danced exceptionally well.
Together Ranveer and Deepika have a mind blowing chemistry.

The another angle of this love triangle is Kashibai, which has been brilliantly played

by Priyanka Chopra. Although she has comparatively lesser screen time but her character is significant. Her journey from a carefree young wife of an warrior to a mature sensitive wife who is ready to share her husband's love in spite of huge pain, just to make her husband happy. She has showcased her emotions in a nice way that one will definitely feel sympathy for this character. She too has danced very well in the song "Pinga". 
Among the others Tanvi Azmi is effective in a negative role as Bajirao's mother. Others have given ample support.

The technical crew works their best in Mr. Bhanshali's movies. The way works with his technical team that you will find everything in almost perfection whether it is production design, costumes, sound design. The costumes , jewelries and sets are eye caching and luxurious. Cinematographer Sudeep Chatterjee has done a superb job to capture this intense drama in magnificent way. The background music is also very much effective to enhance the drama on the screen. Sham Kaushal has designed the war sequences exceptionally well.

Prakash R. Kapadia’s dialogues are among the high points of the film , though for the target audiences only. The dialogues have added a dramatic impact to the film. 

Music is always the soul of a Bhanshali movie and here too he has created soulful music as a composer himself. The songs work really well with the story, specially the songs "Deewani Mastaani" and "Pinga" which are already popular. These two songs has been choreographed brilliantly by Remo D'souza. Another song "Mohe Rand De Lal" has been graced with the superb Kathak dance steps by Pt. Birju Maharaj. Here one thing should be mentioned the two songs "Deewani Mastaani" and "Mohe Rang De Lal" are hugely inspired from "Mughal-E-Azam" songs "Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya" and "Mohe Panghat Pe", we can say its Mr. Bhanshali's tribute to the classic.

Over all it is a film for a selected section of audience only who loves the signature style of Mr. Bhanshali. It is a passionate love story of two souls, of two hearts which beat together and stop together.