'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi' narrates the biographical account of Rani Lakshmibai’s war against the East India Company. It chronicles her journey from Bithoor, where she grew up, to becoming the Rani of Jhansi, a warrior queen.
Directed by Ranaut and Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi, the film does a good job of saluting the queen, but at times going overboard makes the characters come off as caricatures. Throughout its 148-minute runtime, the film captivates the audience.
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Ranaut’s stellar screen presence brings Manikarnika to life. It highlights her prowess as a prolific actor and adds one more feather to her cap. Her transformation from a young girl to a warrior soaked in blood is effortless. So much so, that the supporting actors have little to do.
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The film traces the struggles within Jhansi’s royal family. The makers have taken their time to set up these dynamics and the movie gets exciting only in the second half.
With intense action, battlefield drama and some well-crafted sword sequences, the film uses ample visual effects to leave behind a lasting impression. However, this is not done with finesse, and comes through.
Agencies
The makers have taken some cinematic liberties and fictional detours to put their message across. All in all, this larger-than-life period drama doesn’t need a man to pack a punch.
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