Lets dissect the movie point wise:-
1.PLOT: The big question is where was the plot? I didn't see it..the audience was stressing each and every neuron to find it!! The plot is too little to be called a plot itself! A great storyline that once was told by Ramananda Sagar has been raped by one of the directing maestro's called Mani Ratnam. The plot could have been overwhelming but then the director over-judged himself and his capabilities.Twisting the plot to include the soft-corner in sita's heart for raavan is like trying to give a wonderfully wonderful original storyline a devastating midas touch!!
2. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Now Mani Ratnam's movies are lauded for their character developments be it Dil Se/Guru/Yuva. But Raavan treads on such wafer-thin plot that character development takes a back seat.Characters seem to be hushed and improperly researched. Abhishek's character has its grey and white shades but then its not developed fully that it required to.Aish has a significant character development in the movie and you can easily relish her role although it too does go out of proportions at some times! Vikram/Govinda are all wasted.Nikhil Dwivedi/Ravi Kishan might find some roles after this movie as they do justice to the time and role the plot awards them.
3.ACTING:
1.Abhishek Bachhan: He should ask his legendary father that why didn't he pass on his acting genes to him!!!! Legacy isn't going to work for long. Abhishek hams/overacts throughout the film with some idiotic expressions and body movements.Infact its his credit that you start finding the serious scenes funny.Had it not for him and his over-burdened/extra-endeavoured acting Raavan would still find many takers. He either has misunderstood the plot or the director has not properly conveyed him the way he had to enact the role. But acting-wise Abhishek fails miserably,he is infact pathetic!
2.Aishwarya: By far the best actor of the lot..ofcourse she whines throughout the movie coupled with those seriously blank eyed expressions but still she carries the movie single-handedly.The lady can act and can act better than her husband! Aish is the only saving grace of the movie.She has her moments..she has her weaknesses..and she expresses them nicely! If you opt to waste your 100-150Rs.,do it only for Aish.No one else deserves an ounce of it!
3.Vikram/Govinda: Wasted!Wasted!Wasted! Govinda is unemphatic..leaves no imprint on mind...Vikram has little to offer so my review also ignores him!!
4.Nikhil Dwivedi/Ravi Kishan/Priyamani: They are good to solid in their parts and they will certainly impress you in however little time they make it to the screen.
4.CINEMATOGRAPHY: Excellent/Ethereal/Beautiful/Mesmerising..this might work as a model to other cinematographers.The work is indeed of high quality..sets the perfect tone for the movie which the director obviously messes up.The lakes,the falls,the rains all are beautifully captured.Had it not for the storyline/terrible acting and direction..this movie would have been an epic of sorts!!You can actually feel the ambience in which the movie is set. Kudos to the cinematographers!
5.DIRECTION: Terribly terrible....Mani degrades himself..he has lost all reputation he earned in my eyes atleast with this catastrophic outing of his.No research,No character diversification,no plot.just a wonderful cinematography and that too its not to his credit! I am sad enough to let the criticism be only to these few sentences!
ADVICE: Keep away from theatres.
RATING: 1/5..*/*****
