Movie Review: Queen (Hindi)

In a time when most of Hindi cinema is still all about men, men and men, Vikas Bahl turns this on its head with his second outing Queen. Charming, liberating and wonderfully captured on screen, the movie is a rejuvenating experience, woman or not. And it deserves a watch simply for Kangana Ranaut, who rules both the character and the film like only she can!

Queen
Call it a life-changing journey of self-discovery, of finding a sense of self-worth, or whatever, but you cannot help but root and cheer for Rani as she gradually grows into a confident independent woman capable of taking on life in her own terms from the innocent, small-town girl she used to be. The transformation is remarkable and director Bahl unspools this right in front our eyes, as if he had been watching the character of Rani from close quarters in real life.

For a film about a girl who is left shattered after her fiancé calls off their wedding for the very thing he liked about her, Queen doesn't linger on the melodrama. The mood is for sure sombre, and when Rani decides to go on a 'honeymoon' trip to Paris and Amsterdam all by herself, her parents are understanding enough. The rejection soon turns out to be the best thing in her life! She makes unlikely friends (although their backstories are contrived) and by the end you feel as though you have taken this trip along with her. You want her to be safe and have a great time, and have a blast leaving the past behind her. And that's exactly what she does.

Kangana Ranaut, in a role of a lifetime, lives as Rani. Perhaps it has do with her own humble background. She is charm, beauty, vulnerability, strength and confidence personified and makes Queen an absolute delight to watch. A landmark performance no doubt! (Kangana has also written the additional dialogue for the movie.) Lisa Haydon as the hippy Parisian pal and Rajkumar Rao as Rani's lover and condescending fiancé get into the skin of their roles, and the rest of the supporting cast play their parts well. Much like English Vinglish in its theme and treatment, Queen is feel-good, refreshing and real, if a little fairytale'esque. Don't miss this one for any anything!

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