Review : 4/5
This movie I guess tells one how far Indian animation can go with the right production backing. One of the finest examples of movie cinematography and background scenery, obviously if your expecting kung fu panda-esque stuff you wont find it.. but was it realistic??.. HELL YEAH ! Right from the red marble castles to stone carved mountain kingdoms.
This was 180 degree spin from what we’ve seen thus far in terms of movie/tv literature on India’s past! There weren’t any golden pillars, no one in ton mukuts, no fair princes, no Victorian goddarn palaces! This was bare boned early India…Right out of the soil! Full credit to the thinkers behind the movie.
What also the un-assuming viewer might miss , is the first realistic cinematic portrayal of the Indian martial arts. This stuff wasn’t just oddly swinging maces and random cling-clang sword stuff.. observe and you’ll see technique precision and accuracy of each move, be it hand-to-hand or sword fighting. For the first time we could see how the Kung-fu’s, Judo’s and Muay thai’s of the world have been inspired from us! Really brilliant work.
Although animated ,It wasn’t a laughing fest as well; the movie used a somber tone with crude feel about the living in the early Indian civilization and used it thoroughly to its advantage.The music doesn’t have much to offer in terms of soundtrack but 2 tracks stood out. One , was when the kuru princes visited the pandavas , there was a persistent percussion beat accompanying it.. it took me a while to put a finger on it, but as soon as I figured it, out it became as clear as rain !! Tomoyasu Hotei - Battle Without Honor or Humanity from the Kill Bill soundtrack (listen to this song if you’ve got the time).. only difference?.. The percussion of that song was played on Indian instruments like the dhol and stuff! And with what Brilliance!!!
There was also another one from the Chemical brothers I can’t figure yet.The deameanor of our young prince was just as it should be, calm and ever evolving..right from his princely days to the exile to the self imposed exodus to learn from the divine to fighting the crap out of a Chakravyu! True grit was what was clearly seen throughout the film in how Arjun and the brothers conducted themselves.
There were also some brilliantly portrayed influential scenes where he interacts with Krishna in the wild and how he shows Arjun what he needs to become as a warrior(forest battle, wow!).. Realization of destiny. Just as good were scenes where Drona asks his beloved student for Gurudakshina in terms of a duel with his master when the time arises.(Btw Bheeshm has an uncanny resemblance to Hulk Hogan !!! The guy is portrayed as a well built imposing warrior, something again no one has ever shown on celluloid!)
This movie is a total crisp weekend flick.. barely above 90 mins.. but does it make an impact ? yes! Watch out for the archery scene in the middle where he wins his wife.. slickly done.If you’ve got the time, try this for a change. Turns out our boys in animation aren’t all that far back after all. Thank you Disney for the money you guys put into this, god knows Bollywood wouldn’t.
Let me know hows the review :) helpful? crappy?eh? :P
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