Ramayana - The Epic Hindi Movie
A job gets way tougher when you have to live up to expectations that are huge. And when we talk about the story of Ramayan you are pretty much on danger terrain. And in case of this new film, the director Chetan Desai not only had the responsibility of portraying the story well but also do it style better than the Oscar nominated Japanese production made by Yugi Sako and Ram Mohan in 1992. The 1992 film has been loved by the audience world over and saw multiple releases over the years. Hence it is only pertinent that Desai got things better. And he does try.
In the 3D animation, the director Chetan Desai tries a new narrative, telling the story through Laxman. Sadly though, this movie falls short of any sort of expectation - in terms of story as well as any advances in animation.
Animation is the least of the issues. Each character and settings are very well modeled. In fact at points the built is quite grand and detailed. Also the lighting and camera movement is splendid. However the characters and backgrounds don't sync totally leaving a lot to be desired.
What's a cause of worry in this film is the screenplay. At no time does the story telling create any drama or empathy, something the earlier Japanese film had managed so beautifully. It's hard to find a soul to Ramayana: The Epic. And the loud music does not help in anyway.
Another aspect that needs good thought is the target audience. In no way is this fare meant for the grownups. And when you make a film for the kids what's the point of using a language that they need help to understand. While the producers and director can be proud of making a 'Hindi' film, the kids and even some grownups would need a dictionary to comprehend the dialogues which have bombastic Hindi words!
Coming to voiceovers, Ashutosh Rana does a superb job as Ravan. He creates an aura every time he says 'hum Rakshah hai'. Others are fine.
Overall, Ramayan the Epic is neither the film you would like to watch nor is it the most entertaining film for your kids this season. With 'Lava Kusa' around, at least that film offers a newer story from a much told Ramayan. And if you want them to watch Ramayan, Yugi Sako's film remains the better choice. The only good reason why you should watch this is that it is an Indian 3D animation.
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