Raavan- A Flipside Hero. Review on Nautanki Saala

Cinema never fails to awe me from its brilliance! Being a form of Art which has hundreds of ways of saying the same thing again and again albeit with a difference. It runs on larger than life pictures, a whole lot of crew which puts its sweat and toil together. Storytelling in its best forms- Truth in its blatant and all that goes around seen yet unseen.

Mythology which is in Conflict with Human Interests have always been a Chapter which has interested Authors, Film makers, and Artists of all Forms. Abhishek Bachchan’s Raavan was a milestone which very few could have dared except for Maniratnam. Rohan Sippy tries to a similar feat with “Nautanki Saala”, albeit he makes sure that we adore the Raavan this time. The one which is larger than life- his heart which accommodates everything-everyone which comes to Him in any form. He accepts the Darkness as much as the Brightness, and knows that he is committing a mistake of his Lifetime, by abducting someone’s else’s Love.

The movie could have been a brilliant stroke of Rohan Sippy when it came to the thought-line involved ; right from the caution board displaying in front of Mandar’s Granny’s House “kripya yahaan bomb na phoden, media bahut pareshan karti hai” to Mandar’s Ram auditions and his playing the role of Ram on stage. It tickles a funny bone- actually makes you feel sorry for Mandar and does have its uniqueness. The scenes between Ayushmann and Kunal Roy Kapoor are the ones to watch out for. But its Pooja Salvi(as Nandini) who disappoints me and to the extent that the female cameo done by Gaelyn Mendonca as Chitra is a better act. Unlike any other Hero of current times (except Ranbir Kapoor) Ayushmann Khuraana is not a hero but a Performer- the one in true sense. He can actually carry the whole movie on his shoulders and not make you realize that he did. And the only Guy bringing out or must say taking the risk of saying the unspoken. There cannot be another Vicky Donor for sure and none other could have played such a good spoof of Ramayan.

On and on the flick is a safe bet to watch with some beautiful numbers crooned and some excellent strokes of cinematography especially in songs like “Ladki- ek pal main pat gayee”. While “Tu hi tu” has some beautiful lyrics- “So gaya yeh jahaan” and “dhak dhak karne laga” is a rendition of some magical Old numbers.

While Mani Ratnam took a risk but still killed his Heroic Ravaan in lieu of Ram in his Creativity, Rohan Sippy has the Courage to make Him the Hero and depict a Flipside!