Beauty that doesn’t steal
Films which show sparks and then fizzle out are always more annoying than the ones which are bad from the start. You end up feeling like a kid who’s shown a lollypop he will not be able to savour. “Lootera” has an endearing lyrical quality but never quite transforms into poetry. It leaves an impression but disappoints by not being all that it could have been.
Pakhi (Sonakshi Sinha) and Varun’s (Ranveer Singh) romance takes you back in 1953 West Bengal, where love blossoms with the backdrop of art and archaeology.
The daughter of Manikpur’s aristocratic zamindar (Barun Chanda) falls for a thief under the guise of an archaeologist. One is an aspiring writer and the other harbours a desire to be a painter.
Art forms an integral part of the story, partly because of the Bengal flavour and partly because the film is based on O. Henry’s short story “The Last Leaf”. However, Motwane’s artistic touch remains restricted to splendid visuals and soothing music.
As opposed to his first film “Udaan”, which triumphed mainly for its stark content and characterisation, “Lootera” manifests an evident lack of depth in these departments. Despite a strong tragic undertone, the film fails to move you. Motwane kindles a romance, which flickers before you can invest in it. Despite potential chemistry between the lead pair, you miss the quintessential passion of turbulent love.
Having said that, this is indeed Sonakshi’s best film so far. She is terrific in her portrayal of the ailing Pakhi, who is waiting to die in order to get freedom from her uncontrolled yearning for love. Your heart goes out to her every time she asks Varun, ‘Did you ever love me’, strangely the same question resonating in your head as a viewer. While Sonakshi gives it all to her character, Ranveer is too restrained for his own good. He is almost absent in this eponymous romance, making Sonakshi fitter for the title role.
“Lootera” successfully creates the old world charm. The story moves at a snail’s pace. Yet, many sequences seem hurried, without much justification. There is one scene where Varun joins Pakhi as she is reciting a poem to her father. Impressed by Varun’s knowledge of literature, the zamindar instantly asks Varun about his accommodation and we see Varun shifting in his haveli in the next scene. Moments like these make you cringe in a film which is otherwise dealt with a certain creative delicateness. O. Henry must have felt short changed too with the poor imitation of his story in the second half.
Although “Lootera” leaves a lot to be asked for, it’s a veritable treat for fans of Sonakshi.
Films which show sparks and then fizzle out are always more annoying than the ones which are bad from the start. You end up feeling like a kid who’s shown a lollypop he will not be able to savour. “Lootera” has an endearing lyrical quality but never quite transforms into poetry. It leaves an...
Films which show sparks and then fizzle out are always more annoying than the ones which are bad from the start. You end up feeling like a kid who’s shown a lollypop he will not be able to savour. “Lootera” has an endearing lyrical quality but never quite transforms into poetry. It leaves an impression but disappoints by not being all that it could have been.
Pakhi (Sonakshi Sinha) and Varun’s (Ranveer Singh) romance takes you back in 1953 West Bengal, where love blossoms with the backdrop of art and archaeology.
The daughter of Manikpur’s aristocratic zamindar (Barun Chanda) falls for a thief under the guise of an archaeologist. One is an aspiring writer and the other harbours a desire to be a painter.
Art forms an integral part of the story, partly because of the Bengal flavour and partly because the film is based on O. Henry’s short story “The Last Leaf”. However, Motwane’s artistic touch remains restricted to splendid visuals and soothing music.
As opposed to his first film “Udaan”, which triumphed mainly for its stark content and characterisation, “Lootera” manifests an evident lack of depth in these departments. Despite a strong tragic undertone, the film fails to move you. Motwane kindles a romance, which flickers before you can invest in it. Despite potential chemistry between the lead pair, you miss the quintessential passion of turbulent love.
Having said that, this is indeed Sonakshi’s best film so far. She is terrific in her portrayal of the ailing Pakhi, who is waiting to die in order to get freedom from her uncontrolled yearning for love. Your heart goes out to her every time she asks Varun, ‘Did you ever love me’, strangely the same question resonating in your head as a viewer. While Sonakshi gives it all to her character, Ranveer is too restrained for his own good. He is almost absent in this eponymous romance, making Sonakshi fitter for the title role.
“Lootera” successfully creates the old world charm. The story moves at a snail’s pace. Yet, many sequences seem hurried, without much justification. There is one scene where Varun joins Pakhi as she is reciting a poem to her father. Impressed by Varun’s knowledge of literature, the zamindar instantly asks Varun about his accommodation and we see Varun shifting in his haveli in the next scene. Moments like these make you cringe in a film which is otherwise dealt with a certain creative delicateness. O. Henry must have felt short changed too with the poor imitation of his story in the second half.
Although “Lootera” leaves a lot to be asked for, it’s a veritable treat for fans of Sonakshi.
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