Directors: Kangana Ranaut and Krish
Rating: 4 Star (out of 5)
'Khoob ladi mardaani woh toh Jhansi waali Rani thi' – call her Rani Laxmi Bai, Manikarnika or the warrior queen, she is inarguably the most popular woman freedom fighter India has produced till now and only one of the few who made it to our history books as a name to be reckoned with. So, actress Kangana Ranaut had a huge responsibility on her shoulders when she decided to bring alive the great warrior queen on the big screen. Kangana Ranaut’s Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi lives up to the hype.
Manikarnika Story: Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi is a biographical account of how Rani Laxmibai waged a war against the East India Company. It chronicles her journey from the place where she grew up, Bithoor to becoming the Rani of Jhansi, and eventually turning into a warrior Queen.
Manikarnika Review: Manikarnika starts with Amitabh Bachchan’s booming baritone where he throws light on how the riches of India are fast being plundered by the British. Within seconds, we are led into the world of Manikarnika through Kangana Ranaut’s imposing screen presence.
Kangana captivates your attention in every frame and grows from strength to strength as the film progresses. This is clearly one of her best performances and the role itself lends ample scope for her to perform.
The narrative of the film directed by Kangana Ranaut and Krish, stays on course showing the internal struggle within Jhansi’s royal family and unraveling important historical events during the 1800s. Some incidents like the Meerut Sepoy mutiny of 1857 are used as reference points, but the focus remains on Jhansi’s rebellion against the British.
Overall, Manikarnika is a well-made film that highlights Kangana’s prowess as an actor. For a first time filmmaker, she undoubtedly shows spark and potential as a storyteller. Short of an epic, this larger-than-life war drama has enough valour and spirit to keep you engaged in these pages of history.
In-depth Analysis
Our overall critic’s rating is not an average of the sub scores below.
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