Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a wielder of a magical wand through which he creates some immortal masterpieces that not only leave the viewers spellbound, but lingers in their memories for long. One such creation is ‘Padmaavat’, a historical drama on the life of Rani Padmavati and how she defeated the mighty army of Alauddin Khilji with one single step towards eternity.
The much-loved film was in the eye of a storm for allegedly distorting history and hurting the sentiments of the Rajput community but it went on to do wonders at the box-office and collected around Rs 571 crore worldwide. As the Shahid Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh starrer completes a year, we bring five best scenes from the epic drama:
1. Malik Kafur’s love hymn to Sultan:
The relationship between Khilji and his slave Malik Kafur was brought to light in this track ‘Binte Dil’ by Bhansali in a subtle manner. You do not feel uncomfortable due to the heavy overtones of the relation between the master and his Ghulam. Jim Sarbh has aptly portrayed the role of Malik Kafur with Ranveer as Khilji has maintained a proper balance between menace and narcissism.
2: Ratan Singh’s final words to Alauddin Khilji in Dilli
After a slightly comic moment when Ranveer expresses his disbelief on seeing Shahid instead of Deepika, he asks Shahid to kill him. And even at this point, while it appears like Ratan Singh is in command of the scene on the surface, it is actually Khilji. Because of the simple fact that he knows. He knows that this is Ratan’s only chance to kill him, because he knows all his commanders are busy reading Namaz, because he knows he is too hurt to fight back. And Ratan Singh’s fall lies in the fact that he is never able to use it to defeat Khilji. We see the power dynamics at play through the placement of Ranveer’s Khilji on a throne and Shahid standing before him like a subject. And at last that dialogue, “Leke Ja Rahe hai apne guroor ko Chittoor wapas.” Uff..!
3: Rani Padmavati’s Ram reference:
Padmavati and Ratan Singh are having lunch in the verandah of their majestic looking fort. Padmavati says, “Ram ko Bhi Kahan Laga tha ki Ravan saadhu ke bhesh me aaega” expressing her mistrust in Ratan’s belief that Khilji won’t accept his conditions for his self-invitation. And right after, Sujan Singh came running with the message that Khilji has accepted Ratan’s demands.
4. Mehrunissa:
Aditi Rao Hydari’s role is minuscule in the grand film but she has managed to leave her mark as Mehrunisa. The serene beauty of Khilji’s wife who conveys her pain without uttering a word through her eyes remains with you long after you leave the theater.
5. The Jauhar:
The Jauhar scene that has Deepika as Rani Padmini in her glorious fiery regalness walking towards the fire, along with many other women to commit ‘Jauhar’. The scene sent shivers down your spine as the ladies hurl themselves into the fire. And the final slap on Khilji’s face as Rani Padmavati too hurls herself into the glorious pyre for everlasting peace where no evil eye can touch her.
It is truly an epic film made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and will rule over the minds of fans for a long time to come.
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