Let’s talk about Vikas Bahl’s Queen (2014). Fashion may be the film that was made for Kangana Ranaut, but it is the character of Rani in Queen that she was born to play. In Queen, Kangana reigns supreme. It is her definitive mark in a definitive film. Bollywood’s Amelie moment. The movie is rare, well-crafted and internationally appealing from beginning to end without plateauing or failing to hold the audience’s attention. Expertly utilizing a multi-ethnic cast in an international setting without the usual Bollywood cliché of recreating an Indian Town in the middle of Europe where everyone miraculously speak Hindi. Queen isn’t just a film; it is a transformative and shared experience between viewer and screen, driven by a female lead.
Kangana’s performance carries the film beautifully. Her portrayal of Rani frames our attention as we first see her at a fork in the road of broken dreams catalyzed by Vijay, played by Rajkumar Rao. Her ability to convey feeling in order to emotionally connect with the audience by using facial expression and body language to depict abandonment, loneliness, incognizance, fear, intoxication and euphoria throughout the film is uncanny. Her comedic timing is good. Changing the tone of her voice to reflect Rani’s state of being helpless, almost voiceless, at the beginning of the film to being outspoken and opinionated as the film progresses is an effective use of her tools of craft. Her acting flows flawlessly, uncontrived, unbridled, and not for one moment losing sight of who and where Rani was and is throughout her metamorphosis. Kangana is completely in the skin of the character.
Vikas’s Queen and Kangana’s Rani invites us on a journey we are willing to take with them from the very beginning because we can all identify with the universally relatable story scripted by Anvita Dutt Guptan and Vikas himself. “Rani” is in all of us. You’ll root for “Rani”. You’ll want to see “Rani” win. The writing, directing and acting convince us to like both her and the film. The multi-national supporting casts will make you love the film even more. -pep boy
Kangana’s performance carries the film beautifully. Her portrayal of Rani frames our attention as we first see her at a fork in the road of broken dreams catalyzed by Vijay, played by Rajkumar Rao. Her ability to convey feeling in order to emotionally connect with the audience by using facial expression and body language to depict abandonment, loneliness, incognizance, fear, intoxication and euphoria throughout the film is uncanny. Her comedic timing is good. Changing the tone of her voice to reflect Rani’s state of being helpless, almost voiceless, at the beginning of the film to being outspoken and opinionated as the film progresses is an effective use of her tools of craft. Her acting flows flawlessly, uncontrived, unbridled, and not for one moment losing sight of who and where Rani was and is throughout her metamorphosis. Kangana is completely in the skin of the character.
Vikas’s Queen and Kangana’s Rani invites us on a journey we are willing to take with them from the very beginning because we can all identify with the universally relatable story scripted by Anvita Dutt Guptan and Vikas himself. “Rani” is in all of us. You’ll root for “Rani”. You’ll want to see “Rani” win. The writing, directing and acting convince us to like both her and the film. The multi-national supporting casts will make you love the film even more. -pep boy