‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’ describes the biographical account of Rani Lakshmibai’s war against the East India company. It shows her journey from Bhithoor, where she grew up to become the Rani of Jhansi, a warrior queen.
Ranaut and Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi gave a tribute to the Jhansi queen Rani Lakshmibai. But at certain times in the movie going overboard makes the characters come off as comic strips. All through its 148-minute runtime, the film mesmerizes the audience. Kangana Ranaut played the role with such intensity and courage that the audience cannot take their eyes off. She exemplified the spirit of a very special young woman married into ‘rajwada’, to an effeminate princely type catapulted into the throne, because he is the only real man among the men who surround her.
This film ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’ traces the struggle within Jhansi’s royal family. The makers took care of each small thing to set up these dynamics and the movie gets exciting only in the second half. There are some intense action, battlefield drama, and some well-crafted sword sequences; the movie uses sufficient visual effects to leave behind a lasting impression.
Kangana Ranaut’s screen presence brings Manikarnika’s to life. It showcases her proficiency as a creative actor and also adds one more feather to her cap. Her drastic transformation from a young girl to a warrior soaked in blood is effortless. There is the faithful Ghaus baba, Tantya Tope, and a whole series of bumbling Englishmen, who makes the mistake of thinking that Rani will be a weak puppet like the other princes who would be defeated by the slightest hint of British violence.
At the end of the movie, you will hear Amitabh Bachchan read out those famous lines about the Queen of Jhansi. Kangana Ranaut’s terrific performance made this movie a hit. According to the analyst, Manikarnika is doing well in international markets too, grossing $1.55 million in earnings. The film has earned around $398,000 in the USA and $471,000 in the UAE.
