Bajirao Mastani (BaMa) is a successful attempt to illustrate
a larger than life portrait using a free hand abstraction. Visual presentation on the
scale of Raja Ravi Verma’s grandeur artsy style coupled with a Picasso’s free strokes
abstraction. Marathi Bakhar and Powada were all presented in the magnanimous style
of presentation. SLB has done ditto to this art, going by his strength and
skill.
Kamal Amrohi wanted to make Bajirao Mastani, Manmohan Desai
tried it. Muzaffar Ali almost enrolled Big B, Rekha and Smita Patil. SLB himself
wanting to work on this script for 12 years. I am not disappointed with his
attempt to recreate the lost glory and historic piece of the great Marathas. Just
can’t imagine Bajirao done by Salman or SRK. Ranveer Singh looks solid within a
limitation of a script.
Every frame is grand, every color is artfully picked, every lighting
piece is uniquely positioned, and every dialogue stems off an orator’s literary
pitch. BaMa is a magnifying, stunning and artful treat of color, lights and
sound.
You better know, that to know a history, the right place is
a book store or library and not a Bollywood movie theatre. Plug that mind-set
and I guarantee that you will love this drama presentation.
India is familiar about Prithviraj Chauhan, Maha Rana
Pratap, Shahenshah Akbar and Chhatrapati Shivaji but not Bajirao in that likes.
He stands tallest in this order in maneuvering large scale army expeditions on
a largest political platform. Making his job difficult, he was dealing with similar religious and caste zealots that still exists in our current times.
Battle of Dabhai (April,
1731): One of biggest missing pieces of SLB’s BaMa was a Trimbakrao Dabhade,
the commander in chief of the Maratha Army. Dabhade rebelled against
Chhatrapati Shahu while forming a largest antagonist’s clout along with Nizam
and Bhosale from Kolhapur. This event entrusted a launching pad and the first
test for Peshwa’s hold on Maratha Army. Without winning this battle, Bajirao
would have never been successful and neither his king Shahu. Thereafter Senapati
(Commander in chief) became just a titular command while Peshwa held all pros
of powers in the likes of today’s India’s parliamentary system where President
holds just a title and PM executes all power.(ref: page 258 https://archive.org/stream/historyofmaratha02kincuoft/historyofmaratha02kincuoft_djvu.txt)
Personally, I enjoyed this movie and admiringly indebted to
SLB for bringing Bajiaro out of lost pages of history books. This could be a new
start to Indian cinema where portraying historic legendaries will be new found formula
and the day won’t be far when someone like SLB creates a spirited cinema on
none other than Bajirao’s inspiration and my most favorites of history –
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I wish, I had a connection to the likes of Benioff and Weiss, Apted,
Scott, Gibson, Howard and Spielberg. RGV?
You must see Bajirao! Entire starcast has done fantastic job. However,
its Kashibai from Priyanka Chopra who will just linger with you for long time. In her rightful limited space, she
has delivered a stunning performance. I will own Blueray
for her Peshwin Bai.
