Rang Rasiya (2008) Reviews

• Recommended for those who have a love for seeing quality Movies

  VishnuMishra2015-01-02

  I had never heard of Raja Ravi Varma, and after seeing the movie I got to know much about the lost literature and piece of history unknown to me. Since I was unaware of any fact regarding the character, hence I can't criticize on any point or misleading detail. And the speeches were really well delivered both by talented actor Randeep and gorgeous Nandana. I enjoyed the movie and I wish to see the standards of Indian cinema more alleviated and up to the mark. Because in recent years the quality of movies is degrading at a accelerating rate and this movie provided some of the healing aid to the classical cinema lovers.

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• Adds new RANG to the Indian Cinema

  akshatsheth082014-12-02

  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.

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• Very colorful indeed, but lacking in Passion:(

  barev-850942015-10-15

  Colors of Passion, original Hindi title "Rang Rasiya" Directed by Ketan Mehta - 2008, 2015 Viewed at Innsbruck Film Festival, June 2015 By Alex Farba Deleon The Message of the movie is "Down with Artistic Freedom of Expression" --very timely in the year of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris only six months ago, but the Medium is unfortunately weak. Rang Rasiya was actually made in 2008, and even premiered at Cannes Festival, but was not released in India, because of certain bold scenes. The film was finally given a theatrical release after six years in 2014. TRIVIA:This Indian film by a highly respected veteran director, Ketan Mehta, when completed five years ago in 2008 and revealed at the River to River Indian Film festival in Italy at that time, but was quickly banned from circulation in India and shelved until now. The reason for the ban at the time was not for political reasons but rather because Mehta dared to tweak the long standing Indian taboo against female nudity and mouth to mouth osculation on screen -- involving actress Nandana Sen, the daughter of an Indian Nobel Prize winner, no less! That restriction has now been openly challenged in a number of other films since, so a somewhat modified version of Rang Rasiya has been approved for general release. At Innsbruck two versions were actually shown, a full length original director's cut, and the somewhat trimmed and shortened version currently on release. Lead actress Nandana Sen, an official guest of the festival, was on hand to introduce the film and field audience questions at both screenings. Basically Rang Rasiya is a classic biopic focusing on the life of 19th century Indian Painter Raja Ravi Varma, who was and is India's most famous painter, contemporary with the French Impressionists, but who became quite a controversial figure because he painted the gods and goddesses of Indian tradition as down to earth humans, often partially nude in erotic compositions. So compelling was his painterly skill that many people worshiped his tableaux on their knees seeing them as divinely inspired sacred iconography. At one point Varma was arrested and put on trial for offending public decency but eventually acquitted by a sympathetic judge and jury. Director Mehta has made a handsomely crafted picture rich in color, period detail, and voluptuous imagery, but strangely lacking in passion. One big problem is that lead actor Randeep Hooda is too macho-handsome and 21st century contempo to convince as a sensitive 19th century artist from the Dravidian south. Which is not to say that he doesn't give what the script asks of him -- just that he was the wrong man for the job -- a tricky case of miscasting probably aimed at attracting the mass audience to a touchy subject. What comes out is a preachy dissertation on censorship of sexiness rather than a moving condemnation of artistic repression in general. Because of the surface glossiness and compromises made in order to reach the unwashed masses the sincerely intended message(s) become muddled in a colorful but dispassionate biopic that could have and should have been much more gripping. Bottom Line, nice try but no Cigar ~ better luck next time

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• Good start. Needs more refinement

  glaxgraces2014-11-07

  Rang Rasiya - first of all, Hats off!! to the team for persisting with the final print. It takes courage for the cast, especially Nandana Sen, to deliver content as bold as this. The frontal nudity was handled perfectly and given just the right amount of attention it deserves. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just like Sunny Leone coming to Bollywood, this movie is a very very bold move and am glad that the movie hall full of grown ups handled it maturely. Good to see India progressing!!! Coming back to the movie, too much content to be covered in too short a time. Would have been great if the movie focused on Raja Ravi Verma and his protagonist as the story felt too boring at times.

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• A major leap in Indian Cinema

  pratik-156-9498802014-11-10

  Rang Rasiya as many other reviews say, might not be the perfect piece of art or the perfect commercial film. It is in fact a balanced product which allows even the most common man of India to understand the importance and the relevance of the story. Even though you feel the film maker could have done much better, you cannot deny the fact that there are only a handful of film makers today who even have the guts and desire to make such a film. Rang Rasiya is for the people who are tired of getting fooled at the box office by the likes of HNY, Kick, Shaukeens etc. (the list goes on and on) Rang Rasiya is for the people who are proud of India and its culture, Rang Rasiya is for the people who want to see a new story every time they go to the theaters. Rang Rasiya is revolutionary and inspiring. If you are a Item songs and Diamond heist film fan, If you like your hero who farts and 20 goons go flying in all directions, then this movie is not for you.

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