Thumbs up . Review on Eklavya: The Royal Guard

We react differently to different movies. Some inspire us, some make us laugh, some sadden us, some question our beliefs, some challenge our intellect and a few rare ones actually makes you a better person.  Watching Eklavya for me can be compared to watching a beautiful Madhubani painting or listening to a delightful kajri. It is like having a no oil and no sugar diet which still taste good because of the flavours.

Ekalavya, as a movie is a work of art. The writer, the actors, the photographer, the music director and the director, all seem to be engrossed in their craft. Cinema is a visual medium and Eklavya reiterate that in all its frames.

Eklavya is not a movie which can cross all boundaries like the Munnabhai ones. It starts with the Bachhan baritone telling the age old tale of Eklavya and his un questionable loyalty to his Guru. At the end of the story we hear the child listener wailing that it is not fair and Eklavya should have not done what he did. The crux of the present story also creates a situation where Eklavya, our loyal, royal guard, need to take a reality check. What is more important? The call of duty seeped in age old tradition or to do what you feel is right?

Mr Bachhan as Eklavya wons half the battle with his pagri, moustache and costumes. Rest is a cakewalk for him when the camera zooms on his cragged eyes and depicts unsaid emotions behind the rugged exteriors. Saif looks and acts like a prince, which he is anyway. Raima prances around in ghagra choli and designer jewellery. Vidya is the sensible lady all set to cross the class divide. Sanjay Dutt plays to the gallery. Boman Irani mumbles Shakespeare and act the effeminate ruler to the r. Watch his antics with Sanjay Dutt while a barber cuts his nails. Jackie is the evil Uncle. What a fall after being King Uncle. Vidhu obviously still consider him his lucky charm. Jimmy Shergill reveals his brash arrogant side and surprises everybody.  Parikshit Sahni as always is typecast and dies midway. Hangal now have a definite successor.

Music is understated and moody. There is only one song, which is a sweet lullaby sung by Shreya.  I personally liked the background score when Amitabh meets the adult Saif after the death of his mother.

The cinematography is top notch with Nattu doing the honors. The night shots of the palace, the relic of the chatris beside the rail track and the aerial views all are shot with lot of thought and clarity. I really liked the shot when Eklavya is silhouetted with the dead Rana in his arms and the chatris all around looking like aliens.

Eklavya is quality cinema. It may not draw the quantities which Vidhu expects. The movie works because of the message, the direction, the script and the duration time.