Ok then! After a long controversy Padmavati finally releases and that too with a slight name change.

What I really loved about this movie is that along with the performances it is actually a very rare piece of beauty even in the technical aspect.It is never easy to get the audience a feel as if they are actually living in the same time as shown in the movie and Padmaavat achieves it very well.

Surely one of the best from Sanjay Leela Bhansali.Background score is very intriguing.Climax fight very short.However the last scene does feel a little rushed.

Shahid shines even though many may say he was under used , but that was his role and he performed like a seasoned guy.Deepika shines in the lead. Ranveer is seriously very awesome and his villainous act will go down along with list of Gabbars and the Mogambos.Jim Sarbh plays his part well as a side kick to Ranveer and yes, his entry scene is the best one.

All in all, it is a movie to be experienced in the cinema hall. Go for it.

Once an American animator and filmmaker Charles Martin "Chuck" Jonese said, "We must not confuse distortion with innovation; distortion is useless change, art is beneficial change."

Latest period drama by ace Indian filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali "Padmavaat" explains the rationality behind Chuck Jones' words. Sanjay Leela Bhansali who is known for taking on gigantic silver screen projects, enacts the most controversial cinematic piece of his career.

Film "Padmavaat" is based on an epic poem "Padmavat" written in Awadhi language in 1540 by Sufi poet and saint Malik Muhammad Jayasi. Before going into pros and cons of Bhansali's film if we make little effort of knowing more about this Sufi poet then we may find few interesting details of his life.

He was blind in one eye and had seven sons. According to one legend once he mocked the opium addiction of another saint in his poem "Posti-Nama", the roof of his house collapsed, killing all of his sons. He was, then, invited by Raja Ramsingh of Amethi to recite the verses of his poem Padmavat in his court. Jayasi spent last years of his life in forest near Amethi and legend says he would often turn himself into a tiger. One day he was roaming around forest as a tiger, Raja's hunters killed him by mistake. Raja revered his memories by ordering recitation of Holy Quran at his memorial. Whether Sufi Jayasi had a power of transforming himself as tiger or not, this is a myth but one fact is crystal clear how past rulers of subcontinent used to respect other faiths.

After massive but unnecessary hue and cry Bhansali's "Padmavaat" has finally been released. Was it worth it? One may answer with Yes, and No. The kind of budget (probably INR 200 Crores) and production value "Padmavaat" carry, Bhansali's effort seems justifying every single penny spent but the content which has been carved with mixture of humongous distorted facts transforms it in a beauty without true soul.

Honesty is not taken as best policy in an industry where only numbers matter. Not only the history but Bhansali has also meddled with Jayasi's literature by not mentioning talking parrot name Hiraman, may be in an effort to give his take on Padmavat more "realistic" feeling and to protect the "sanctity" of fictional princess because Jayasi's poem tells Hiraman the talking parrot of her used to stir up sexual desires in her by telling erotic stories. Hiraman, the parrot flew away when resenting father of princes ordered his guards to kill talking bird. Hiraman found refuge with Ratan Singh, the ruler of Chittor.

Excluding talking parrot from story can be ignored for the sake of creative liberty every director takes but the travesty Bhansali has committed while revitalizing Alauddin Khalji, the second most powerful ruler of Khalji dynasty, is utterly indigestible. Though Ranveer Singh has given everything to his character as Aluddin Khalji to make it memorable but unfortunately it will always be remembered for wrong reasons. Bhansali's Alauddin Khalji is a ruthless, uncivilized, backstabber and mischievous Muslim ruler who can go to any length to satisfy his lust for power, wealth and woman. Since hardliners have come into power in today's India, Bhansali's "Padmavaat" seems like a pitiful effort to bottom feed antagonism against Muslims.

No idea about the actual motivation behind Bhansali's so-called dream project but it gives us a feeling he wanted to cash in prevailing communal-political situation of India. But politics is like a double edged dagger and Bhansali would have never expected to confront extreme reaction from same section of Indian society he actually wanted to glorify with this film. And not a single word has been reverberated by Indian Muslims against "Padmavaat" which is surprising but wise and commendable.

We have been witnessing a continuous drive of changing history of Indian subcontinent from a peculiar but very strong section of Indian society which has taken their efforts to new whole level since Butcher of Gujrat has become leading man of largest "democracy" of the world. From the point of view of Bhansali, where he admits Alauddin Khilji's successful resistance against barbaric Mongols to save India in his film but the same time he completely tarnishes Khilji's personality with fictional inductions.

Showing Alauddin Khilji's army carrying flags similar to Pakistani flag, Alauddin Khilji's self-commitment to have every "nayaab" rare thing or person as his property by hook or crook, giving darker color grading to portions in which the character of Alauddin Khilji has been filmed, are typical "Bollywood-ish" shenanigans and has been trade mark of every Indian filmmaker who wants to exploit communal sentiments against Muslims just for the monetary purposes. Saving Indians from Mongols more than four times, establishment of an organized army and some economic reforms introduced by Alauddin Khilji have no value for Bhansali but an inhuman act of "Jauhar" the mass suicide of women is exalted in grandeur manner.

Unlimited words can be added here to highlight film portions where Bhansali went wrong but there are certain worth mentioning elements of "Padmavaat" which makes it unique silver screen experience. One of those elements is performance of Ranveer Singh. Though his presentation as Alauddin Khilji carries more resemblance with "Khal the Drago" from "Game of Thrones" than any of Muslim rulers of subcontinent's history but still Ranveer Singh shines like a star. In his first scene where he appears with an ostrich is nothing short of an epic. His flamboyance with mischievousness keep us glued with the screen till the end.

Deepika Padukone as princess Padmavati is a result of a poor casting decision based mere on star power. Princess Padmavati is envisioned as the most beautiful female ever but there are several scenes in the film in which Aditi Rao Hydari as "Mehrunissa" the wife of Alauddin Khilji looks more gorgeous than her. Her performance is satisfactory but cannot be considered as one of her best.

Jim Sarbh excels magnificently as Malik Kafur the eunuch confidante slave of Alauddin Khilji. The kind of character he has played in "Padmavaat" is not less than a challenge because many heavyweights have refrained from performing similar roles in the past. Because of Malik Kafur few historians have raised questions about Alaudin Khilji's sexual orientation and called him homosexual but many historians have discarded it by stating that Alaudin Khilji kept Malik Kafur close only because of his loyalty and wisdom in political and administrative affairs.

Like Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor has also been completely wasted in "Padmavaat" as Ratan Singh but he must be praised for accepting such an assignment where his talent was to be substantially marginalized.

Sudeep Chatterjee the cinematographer has done award winning job. The kind of lenses he has used while filming different characters of "Padmavaat" enhances the impact of performances. Visual effects are commendable and can easily be compared with "Bahubali2".

On the whole, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavaat" carries picturesque quality with interesting performances especially from Ranveer Singh and Jim Sarbh but forced prejudice against Muslim rulers of the past transforms Bhansali's "Padmavaat" into bitter almonds.

The director of the film should be ashamed of distorting the history