QUEEN

In today's Bollywood, I would pick two women, Kangana Ranaut and Deepika Padukone, who people will go and watch irrespective of the flesh and face that plays the male counterpart. Obviously, I say this because I love them both :-). Kangana, because she is a number 23. We '23' people, or summarized as 5, have cognitive powers to sense each other's energies. A 5 will always love a 5. That's a given.

I stand in awe of her, for a girl with no God father in bad Bollywood, she stood out on her own gut and proved herself one film after another. Her versatility radiates through contrasting characters like Shonali Gujral and Rani, her brilliance shines on ramp shows and personal sense of style, but above all what impresses me is a pahadi girl's drive to be a better English orator and career woman of the future (apparent through her interviews). A big SALUTE to her.

I will flux out all her flops, like she told Anupama Chopra, as 'odd-jobs that paid the bills'.

However, a bigger SALUTE to Vikas Bahl, who has faith in Kangana's potential and puts up an engaging exhibit by beautifully weaving moments of the past with happenings of the future. Kangana is his clay that he transforms from psychotic actress or the drug-abused fashion model of the past into an endearing, demure, beautiful girl next door of today who everybody loves. Her dadi / nani is a breath of fresh wisdom as far as matters of the heart or adult films are concerned. Although, a middle class Punjabi household, QUEEN is probably representative of more than half of India's women in their 20s.

The story is about a devoted daughter stepping up to an obedient fiancée.  But her world topples over when her fiancé decides to call off the wedding.  After a sobbing night, she decides to venture on to her pre-booked honeymoon to the two Europe destinations of Paris and Amsterdam by herself, where she meets people of diverse lifestyles and befriends them as part of her honeymoon package. The story is spiked with random humor. My personal favorite was when Imran Hashmi was poached as reference to Indians being the best kissers in the world.

With a release followed by International Women's day, Rani's slow motion walk on the streets of Amsterdam makes a more liberating wonder than any fashion ramps Kangana has ever walked on. While keeping Rani's essence intact, Vikas Bahl, in those 2.31 hours, liberates her into a more modern imagery of herself who now has straightened hair and is comfortable in deep necks. What a savory film to ring in a few weeks before she celebrates her birthday on March 23.

Kangana is Bollywood's exemplary to Cate Blanchett's Oscar's speech, "There are those who are still foolishly clinging to the idea that female films with women at the center are niche experiences." she said.  "They are not. Audiences want to see them, and in fact, they earn money."

My money for the best actress award this year is on you know who.

As for the flaws, I find it difficult to comprehend as to why the fiancé wants her back? Is it simply a matter of one selfie from the changing room? The fiancé wanting her back doesn't really make a compelling argument to me.  Also, in real life, the thought of travelling alone in foreign lands, for somebody in Rani's personality, can be daunting and scary. However, the simplicity and sweetness quotient of this film is so overpowering that I am happy to dismiss the second one as 'ignorance is bliss.'

This is a film I have wanted to write about in a long, long time. An inner voice said, "Jeevan, you should have some words for this film."

Above they are.

A MUST WATCH.