SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Sienna-Rose Mclaughlin The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

kichdi Rang Rasiya is a movie everybody should watch, the lead played by Randeep Hooda & the talented beauty Nandana Sen. The movie takes you through the late 18th century & early 19th century when religious vandals ruled freedom of speech, art & expression. Raja Ravi Verma championed this cause & eventually won the battle. Rang Rasiya is a masterpiece which is on par with the greatest of world cinema or even better than most. The narration is so smooth, acting is superb, sets dating back over a century is also so immaculate & sex is refreshing to see in Indian cinema. Randeep & Paresh have done superbly well. Nandana looks stunning throughout the movie so is the Scottish girl. Hope there are more movies like this coming which are true to the script.

bobbysing Hindi Cinema has never been keen on making enlightening biographies, especially of any talented creative artists born in our part of the world in the last century. In the beginning we made movies on all mythological characters and then the focus shifted on to the life of key historical figures, freedom fighters, rebels and occasionally a sportsman or a business tycoon too as seen in the recent times. But very rarely we have made a film (not documentaries) on any creative artist of our country who had an exceptionally god gifted talent in any particular artistic stream and celebrated his entire life with the blessed art right till the last days.Thankfully, RANG RASIYA is one of those rare and important biographical dramas based on the life of 19th century painter RAJA RAVI VARMA, who was the pioneer artist, painting the divine Indian GODS and GODESSES on his canvas with an exceptional grace and beauty. Directed by Ketan Mehta the period drama stars Randeep Hooda and Nandana Senin the lead but unfortunately remained in the cans for six long years since its completion in 2008.Now where a few blame the internal disputes of the makers as the cause of this long delay in its release, others mention its extremely bold scenes as the key reason for getting stuck in the censors, in order to avoid any communal unrest among the people. Anyway, whatever the reason might be, the sad irony remains that despite being a rare, courageous film made on one of the most famous Indian painters (who earned a world acclaim too), the project could found no takers till recently, when Randeep Hooda became a part of some highly successful films at the box office making a name of his own. Hence where the censors & controversies can be termed as the front side of the coin, the completely business minded & cruel exhibition norms of the industry form its other hidden side, never giving the much needed support to such artistic films since last many decades of our film-history to say the bitter truth.Moving ahead, the film has now reached the theatres and is available for all the lovers of such meaningful or enlightening cinema waiting desperately. But if in case it fails to find a decent number of viewers in the theatres post this prolonged wait, then it will declare we the audience too as a part of this questionable partial system ruining such great attempts made, on a constant basis.Recalling my experience of watching RANG RASIYA, I luckily saw it in a Film festival last year and was simply enthralled by the life experiences of the celebrated painter RAJA RAVI VARMA and the hardships he had to face leading him to the court of law on the charges of spreading vulgarity. Based on the biographical novel by Ranjit Desai the film passionately talks about Varma's obsessive art and the struggle to practice his free artistic expressions depicting the mythological characters creatively. And many would be stunned to know that though his exquisite paintings were getting famous all over the world in that particular era, the artist was arrested in his own country on the charge of obscenity and offending religious & cultural sentiments of the public by painting in an indecent manner.Frankly, RANG RASIYA was an eye opener for me too as I was also not aware of such astonishing facts about one of the greatest Indian painters of my own country. And that is exactly why bio-pics need to be made like an effective means of spreading awareness in the present generation to be precise. Yes, technically it can easily be called an artistically inclined film made with a sincere motive accompanied by a decent cinematography, average soundtrack (which could be much better) and impressive performances by the entire cast led by Randeep Hooda and the gorgeous Nandana Sen.However it's not the technical qualities for which the film is being included here in the list of must watch movies, but it's the informative value of its shocking as well as educative content which essentially needs to be told to our younger generation and not to be slipped under the carpet as some forgettable part of our history. So ignoring all the controversies and unnecessary delay over its release, I would like to recommend watching RANG RASIYA as a must, since its a film which would straight away remind you of a sharp contradictory truth of the recent times related with another legendary artist M. F. Hussain.Putting it more clearly, what we did with M. F. Hussain is nothing new as the same had been done with Raja Ravi Varma too way back in the 19th century. So its only the calendar changing its dates, whereas our thinking patterns still remain the same insulting the creative minds of the nation, giving them awards posthumously and refusing their respected dues in their lifetimes following a shameful pattern.With a hope that the future India would learn this important lesson of giving that 'artistic freedom' to its creators through this brave, thoughtful and honest depiction by Ketan Mehta, do watch this at the earliest and know more about your history with a different perspective.

Akshat Sheth Story: Based on Desai's novel on Raja Ravi Varma (Randeep Hooda), the film deals with the court case slapped on the iconic artist for painting nude images of women and giving face to Indian Goddesses. Religious gurus filed him for propagating vulgarity and hurting religious sentiments. The film traces his story through his childhood, his marriage, his muses, his love and inspiration from Sugandha (Nandana Sen) who pushed him to deliver his best work and of course about how the fate of that case changed the face of law's perception towards art and censorship.A case whose ruling is relevant even today; despite science taking over, logical and wide thinking hasn't prevailed clearly. The film is an eye opener for many who think limited and judge art from a moralistic point of view.Performances: Randeep Hooda was used in his nascent best. The actor gives his rustic swag a look uncannily different from what we recognize him from. From playing a frivolous flirt in scenes to a heartbroken painter whose muse was socially humiliated because of him, he brings an ethereal quality in his performance delivering undoubtedly his best.Nandana Sen looks radiant in every frame, bringing poignancy to her performance. Vulnerable in love, drawing strength from the same, it's her heartbreak and breakdown of faith that makes the climax so surreal.Paresh Rawal as the the scheming Seth was great. Sachin Khedekar was again good in his part. Even the naive, young and equally stellar Ferena Wazair has done a memorable job.Direction & Screenplay: Rang Rasiya is Ketan Mehta's victory alone. While all may feel his story, it is he alone who has truly empathized with his fellow filmmakers and artists all over the world, who are still suffering the wrath of fake societal norms. In very few terms, Mehta takes on the system and poses pertinent questions – should the views of all govern the views of an artist and why doesn't the common man open himself up from fundamentalist thinking; a critical take on religious leaders whose charisma is borne out of unscientific, often regressive thinking. Mehta wastes little energy on what doesn't fit with the film's theme, focusing solely on Ravi Varma's life and all that pertains to him and his battle in revolutionizing the Indian thinking.The director's delight in conveying cinema is evident in that one scene where Ravi and his friends witness the screening of 'L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat'. The ecstasy in the shot of the moving train is unmissable. Based on a rich tapestry, the film's valiant approach towards art and how Ravi Varma wins the case is significant and the last scene where a gorgeous nude painting of Raja Ravi Varma is destroyed all speaks volumes about how art in democratic India still doesn't have the freedom to remain alive and breathe. A complex and diverse country dominated by people who cannot think freely, Ketan's baseline remains at How free are we?The last word: Smeared in color, vibrancy and sensuality, Rang Rasiya revels in its operatic, dramatic beauty and narrates a liberating tale of love, passion and freedom of vision. Ketan Mehta brings out the best from his actors Randeep and Nandana; especially the latter who unleashes on screen much beyond her sublime beauty, the vulnerability of her character. The inspirational story tells an uninhibited tale of a man who will always remain eternal through his art. I am going with 8/10.

Akshay Ranganathan Biopics have been made in Bollywood, but on an artist is for the first time. Directed by Ketan Mehta, way back in 2008, 'Rang Rasiya' finally gets released in India.Ketan Mehta, the man behind films like 'Sardar', 'Mangal Pandey: The Rising', 'Mirch Masala' and so on, has made another biopic. After having a good time at The Times BFI London Film Festival, finally we get to see the movie. Let's analyze how good is it?Raja Ravi Varma (Randeep Hooda) is an artist for whom painting is worship. When he marries the princess of Kerala (Tripta Parashar), he decides to paint his wife as an inspiration. But when she demeans the art form and shoos him away, he decides to look for beauty beyond and finds it in Kamini (Rashanaa Shah), one of the servants in the palace. While she inspires him to paint one of the masterpieces that is responsible for him to win the title 'Raja' from the King of Travancore, the death of this old king leaves Ravi Varma shattered and he decides to shift base to Mumbai where he attempts to rediscover the love for art. So when he meets the gorgeous Suganda (Nandana Sen) in a temple, she becomes his inspiration for his future works. In an attempt to impress his biggest patron, the Raja of Baroda (Sameer Dharmadikari), Ravi Varma undertakes the task of showcasing Indian culture through the language of art with his paintings. While his paintings become available to the common man, the 'so called' guardians of the Hindu culture raise objection and Ravi Varma is arrested for using human face for God and also for portraying aesthetic art through nudity.The story-screenplay (Ranjit Desai (based on his novel, 'Raja Ravi Varma'), Ketan Mehta, Sanjeev Dutta) has the artistic aesthetics to it. The final print too looks arty but mostly targets the snooty- class of audience, which I belong to, and it does not appeal to everybody. Music (Sandesh Shandilya) is quite melodious, but forgettable. The BGM is noteworthy though. Cinematography (Christo Bakalov) is mesmerising. Each frame looks alive and artistic. Direction (Ketan Mehta) is quite good too, but the ending is quite abrupt. Editing (Yves Beloniak, Pratik Chitalia) is quite apt. Stunts (M. E. Nigade) are well-coordinated. But the best parts aspects of the film are the costumes (Anurag, Niharika Khan), art work and the paintings. All of these look authentic.Of the cast, Randeep Hooda steals the show. His chemistry with Nandana Sen is sensuous. Rest of the cast act with sincerity.'Rang Rasiya', is a perfect example of a classy biopic on an artist, forgotten by the History. But the problem is it does not appeal to everyone's taste, unlike 'Jodhaa Akbar', directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. Go to your nearest theatre to witness this artistic movie.