Lootera
Year: 2013
Director: Vikramaditya Motwane
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha

Director Vikramaditya Motwane gave us a contemporary coming-of-age classic in his debut-film Udaan. The small budget film bagged many big honours. Naturally his second film Lootera was something that raised expectations, especially since it was said to be a lavishly made period film set in the early 1950s. With the rather odd lead pair of Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha, how does this film fare on silver screen?

What’s the plot?

It is 1950. The era of feudalism is coming to an end. The government is on the verge of taking over the control of lands from the erstwhile zameendars. There is an ageing zameendar, who still refuses to believe that such a thing would ever happen. Ignoring repeated warnings from his assistant, he continues to indulge every whim and fancy of his young and impish daughter (Sonakshi Sinha).

Then, a young archeologist (Ranveer Singh) walks into his mansion to seek permission for excavation of a nearby land, in order to unearth remnants of some ancient civilization. The girl falls madly in love with this shy, secretive visitor and finds every excuse to be in his company. The doting father too sees nothing wrong in this alliance and readily agrees to marry his daughter to the man about whom he hardly knows anything. But are there some deep, dark secrets within the young man’s heart? Will this romance ever come to fruition? Or is there a bitter heartbreak round the corner?

What’s hot?

·         Motwane lovingly recreates the 1950s look and feel.

·         The budding romance is captured well.

·         The O. Henry short-story Last Leaf has been cleverly weaved into the plot.

·         Superb settings, lighting and cinematography create a visually arresting movie.

·         Sonakshi Sinha revels in her author-backed central role, which gives her a chance to express the full gamut of emotions.

·         Ranveer Singh too impresses with the ease with which he slips into the 1950s persona.

·         Amit Trivedi’s music perfectly suits the mood and the situations.

What’s not?

·         The film moves at a snail’s pace, especially in the second half.

·         The plot and the characterization lack emotional firepower and tenderness.

·         The narrative fails to grip you after an impressive beginning.

·         The side-characters are sketchy.

Verdict

Lootera reconfirms Motwane’s directorial talents. But if his debut effort Udaan was notable for its raw passionate gut-churning story-telling, then this second outing turns out to be a carefully crafted, brooding and at times, self-indulgent venture, which doesn’t touch emotionally.

Its visual brilliance, period feel and fine performances from the lead pair, (both of whom successfully manage to break shackles of their pre-established popular screen images!), make Lootera an interesting film; but an emotionally distant story-telling and a slow second half make sure that it does not go further than that!

It is a film that seems to be made more for the festival circuits and less for the mainstream audience.