Magic In Tunes: 12/23/2015 - Bajirao Mastani
This historical-based Hindi film released this month with considerable amount of hype. It is based on the story of Maratha warrior Peshwa Bajirao and his second wife, a muslim named Mastani. Although based on true history, the movie based its plot primarily from the Marathi novel Raau by Nagnath S. Inamdar. According to history, Peshwa Bajirao was the noted general to the fourth Maratha Chhatrapati Shahu. He had lead the army to conquer north and some part of south and east by expanding the Maratha empire successfully. He waged 41 wars in the process slowly moving up to the then Mughal empire's capital Delhi.
The movie did cover this part of the history which finished pretty much towards the very beginning of the story. It however focused primarily on the love story between the Peshwa and his second wife Mastani whom he meets during his campaign to save Bundelkhand from Mughals. Mastani was the daughter of Bundelkhand king Chhatrasal with his muslim consort. What unfolds next is how he faces troubles with his family when he brings his muslim wife into their life and how he tries to outcome them. He dies of a sudden fever at a very young age of 40 according to history. However, the movie turns it into a romantic end for both Peshwa Bajirao and Mastani.
The plot is set well, lead actors (Ranveer Singh as Peshwa Bajirao, Priyanka Chopra as Kashibai and Deepika Padukone as Mastani), the sets are enormous with beautiful sights and as always bright colors. However, as opposed to his other movies, the songs are surprisingly not that melodious nor catchy. All of the music is set in traditional Indian classical music. Perhaps that is why they are not as catchy. He also re-uses the song Albela Sajan from the 1999 hit Hindi musical film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam ( = I Have Given My Heart To You, My Beloved) here. He also repeated the scene from his 2002 hit Hindi musical Devdas ( = Name of A Boy) where Parvati and Chandramukhi at the Durga Puja and dance together. In this movie, he depicted Kashibai and Mastani finally meet at another Hindu festival in their common courtyard and dance together thus showing some acceptance of the Muslim bride in the family. Contrary to other movies of his, Sanjay Leela Bansali used a lot of rhyming dialogues to his characters which perhaps balanced the musical gap. However, the dialogues were bordering on being more cheesy than powerful which is what normally one expects in a historical-based movie. Towards the end one was left with a feeling that it was a cheesy romantic movie rather than a story about a powerful historical hero. All in all, a one-time watch that one can wait to watch.
Here's a song titled Pinga from the movie that depicts the traditional Marathi dance, Laavni. This was the song I was mentioning in my review above that was a scene re-used. Music composed by Sanjay Leela Bansali and Shreyas Puranik. Lyrics penned by Siddharth-Garima and Sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Vaishali Made.
Click to viewLyrics in Romanized Hindi and Marathi:
Inga Ga Pori; Pinga Ga Pori
Pinga Ga Pori Pinga
Mala Pingyani Maala; Bholavli Raat
Ghalavli Pori Pinga
Latpat Latpat Kamar Daamini Adhar Ragini Ho..
Hey.. Latpat Latpat Kamar Daamini
Adhar Ragini Nirdhar Aayi Kaise Saji Dhaji
Dekho Mere Piya Ki Sanwari Jiya Se Banwari
Mere Angna Mein Dekho Aaj Khila Hai Chaand
Ke Baaje Dhun Jham-Jham Jhamak Jha
To Nache Mann Cham-Cham Chamak Cha
Inga Ga Pori; Pinga Ga Pori
Pinga Ga Pori Pinga (X2)
Aa...
Mere Jiya Mein Utaari
Tune Paini Piya Ki Kataari
Haan.. Tu Jaane Ye Duniyadaari
Main Tu Hoon Bas Mohabbat Ki Maari
Jo Peer Meri Hai So Peer Teri
Are Dono Ki Maang Laage
Sooni Aadhi Aadhi Naa..
Ke Baaje Dhun Jham Jham Jhamak Jhaa
To Naache Mann Cham Cham Chamak Chaa
Ke Baaje Dhun Jham Jham Jhamak Jhaa
To Nache Mann Cham Cham Chamak Chaa
Inga Ga Pori; Pinga Ga Pori
Pinga Ga Pori Pinga (X4)