Raavan was announced in February 2008, whilst Abhishek and Aishwarya's collaboration in the second time after Guru (2007),[3] created more anticipation. Shooting began soon after, and took place in various locations with a record number of extras in areas including Chalakudy, Kerala, and Ooty, Tamil Nadu amongst other regions throughout India. The film's music was composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics written by Gulzar. The cinematography was handled by V. Manikandan and Santhosh Sivan, and editing is done by A. Sreekar Prasad.
The film was simultaneously released in two languages. Tamil as Raavanan with Vikram reprising Bachchan's role and playing the antagonist, Prithviraj Sukumaran reprising Vikram's role (which Abhishek Bachchan was supposed to play, but opted out of the film as he was not fluent in Tamil) and playing the protagonist, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan reprising her role in Tamil as well. Both versions were released simultaneously on 18 June 2010 worldwide. The film's premiere was held in London on 16 June 2010.[4]
Plot
A naxalite named Beera Munda and his gang are busy distracting the cops, setting police vehicles ablaze, and luring women to seduce cops into a trap where Beera's henchmen attack and brutally kill them. Whilst on a boating trip, Raagini Sharma is kidnapped by Beera, where her husband, SP Dev Pratap Sharma, is informed of the incident. It is revealed that Beera is a local hero in his village who runs a parallel government in rural areas with his brothers, Mangal and Hariya. Though considered a naxalite by the local police, Beera is respected by the villagers. He actually kidnapped Raagini, hoping to avenge the death of his sister Jamunia, where he brought her to a cliff to kill her. She refuses to die at his hands and jumps off the cliff into the water far below, hoping to kill herself, but to no avail.
This causes Beera to hold off the murder, being unable to kill someone who has no fear of death. Dev and his team enter the forests with the aid of Sanjeevani Kumar, a local forest guard. Despite searching deep in the forests, Dev is unable to hunt down Beera. Meanwhile, Raagini (who is actually suffering from Stockholm Syndrome) learns that Dev had led an encounter against Beera during Jamunia's wedding, where his shot grazed Beera in the neck. Fighting for his life, Beera is unable to protect his sister and is led out of the fiasco by his gang. The police pressurised Jamunia into revealing Veera's hideout. When she refused, she was subjected to torture and was physically assaulted by the cops. Beera returned home to find Jamunia depressed and traumatised. The next day, Jamunia committed suicide by drowning in a nearby well. Unhappy with the ways of leading the war causing distress to his gang, Hariya offers a truce to Dev, who initially seems to agree.
When Hariya arrives from his hideout, Dev shoots him to death, revealing that he considers the destruction of Beera more important than saving Raagini. Beera and Mangal are enraged and attack Dev's camp, where they are wiped out completely. A final confrontation ensues between Beera and Dev on a rickety bridge, where Beera triumphs over Dev. Dev tells him that he is leaving him alive because of Raagini. Dev manages to extricate himself and finds Raagini bound and tied up with Veera leaving her. While returning to their hometown, Dev accuses Raagini of infidelity and informs her that Beera actually told him. Furious, Raagini leaves Dev to meet Beera through Mangal, where she manages to meet him and asks him about the accusation. Beera denies the accusation, and the duo quickly realises that Dev lied, hoping Raagini would lead him to his hideout. Dev appears with a police team and confronts Beera. Raagini tries to save Beera, but he pushes her out of the line of fire and is shot multiple times, where Beera falls to his death with a smile while Ragini is distraught.
Faisal Rashid as Rajeshwar Tiwari aka Guddu, Jamuni's lover (a character based on Vidyutjihva)
Chintu Mohaptra as Photographer
Alpa Joshi as Tiwari's wife
Mangal Kekre as Jamuni's mother (a character based on Kaikashi)
Manoj Mishra as Ranjit, Beera's spy (a character based on Shuka and Sarana)
Production
Development
During the making of his 2007 drama Guru starring Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Mani Ratnam had finalised a script for his next directorial venture titled Lajjo.[6] Based on a short story by Ismat Chughtai,[7] it was a musical period film set in the desert and was to star Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor in the lead.[8] Though the film was slated to go on floors after the release of the former,[9] there were reports of a fall-out between Ratnam and Khan due to creative differences. While cinematographer P. C. Sreeram denied the reports,[10] the film's would-be lyricist Gulzar said there were actually problems with acquiring the copyright of the story,[11] and composer A. R. Rahman even confirmed to having completed 80% of the film score.[12] Yet, the project was put on the back burner for reasons unknown.[13][14]
Following the critical and commercial success of Guru, Ratnam announced his next film in February 2008.[15] A modern-day retelling of the mythological epic Ramayana, the film again features the real life couple in the lead.[16] The film was initially planned to be made only in Hindi and the idea for the Tamil version came later.[17] In January 2009, while the film was in the making, it was further decided to dub the Tamil version to Telugu making it a tri-lingual.[18][19] While the film was yet to be titled,[20] it was widely reported in the media that the Tamil version was titled Ashokavanam in reference to the place where Sita was held captive by Ravana.[21] Subsequently, the film was titled Raavan in Hindi and Raavanan in Tamil.[22] While the plot is inspired by Ramayana, the story is narrated from Ravana's perspective making him the protagonist.[23] The film is centered on the 'Ashokavanam' episode where Ravana kidnaps Sita and keeps her in Asokavanam. Later Rama ventures to save his wife and bring her back.
Casting
Bachchan and Vikram were roped in for the contrasting leads.[17] Rai plays the female lead in both versions of the film.[24]
Principal photography commenced in October 2008, in the forests near Kochi, Kerala. A few scenes were filmed at Athirappilly Falls, Ratnam's favourite location. Incidentally, he has shot for the songs 'Jiya Jale' in Dil Se.. and 'Barso Re' in Guru at the same location.[33] Forest officials banned the shooting at Malayattoor, an eco-tourism centre, for violating rules and constructing temporary huts,[34][35][36][37][38] delaying the shoot for 11 days until the issues were resolved on 22 October 2008, while laying down reworked rules.[39][40][41] The second leg of the shooting at Ooty that began in December 2008 was also delayed as local cab drivers protested the use of film federation (FEFSI) vehicles which affected their business,[42][43] forcing a dejected Ratnam to call off the shoot temporarily and move on to Hogenakkal Falls.[44][45] In February 2009, the crew advanced to Kolkata where the song 'Kalvare' was shot by the banks of Hooghly at Agarpara.[46][47][48][49] Later, as the shooting resumed and progressed at Ooty, Ratnam fell ill in April 2009 and was hospitalised at Apollo Hospitals,[50][51][52] causing a further delay of 47 days until filming resumed in June 2009 following his recovery.[53] As the numerous delays affected his other projects, DOP Manikandan walked out in May and was replaced by Santosh Sivan.[54][55] By July, the crew moved back to Kerala,[56] to reshoot a few scenes at Chalakudy as Ratnam was reportedly unsatisfied after seeing the rushes.[57][58] This time around, heavy rains played spoilsport leading to another delay in filming.[59] Moreover, when an elephant brought for the shoot ran amok killing the mahout,[60] the Animal Welfare Board served a show cause notice to the production company (Madras Talkies) for not taking permission to use elephants.[61][62]
The film began its last schedule in August 2009 at the Malshej Ghats in Maharashtra where the climax sequence was shot,[63] the final encounter taking place on a wooden bridge.[64] Production designer Samir Chanda built three identical bridges to facilitate the scene to be captured from different angles.[65][66] Though initially planned to be built either in Sri Lanka, Australia or South Africa, the bridge was constructed in Mumbai to reduce costs.[67][68] While bad weather and heavy rains disrupted shoot for a few days,[69] the forest department filed cases against some crew members for trespassing.[70][71] The film went into post-production by the end of 2009.[72]
Numerous action sequences were performed by the actors.[73] The actors suffered from real cuts and bruises so they didn't need make up.[74][75] The stunts were directed by Mani Ratnam and choreographed by Peter Hein, who received a Filmfare action award for the Hindi versions of Ghajini and Anniyan. For his introduction scene, the protagonist has to jump from a 90-foot high cliff near the Hogenakkal Falls into the river below.[76] This risky dive was performed by a body double, Balram, a Bangalore based former national diving champion.[77]Kalarippayattu, a martial art form origaniting from Kerala, was also featured in the film. Sunil Kumar, a Kalari gym trainer from Kozhikode, trained the actors.[78] Dancer Astad Deboo choreographed a passionate chase scene and a tandav dance between Abhishek and Aishwarya for the film.[79][80][81][82]
The soundtrack for the film was composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics penned by Gulzar. It features six songs and an additional song that was performed by Rahman at the audio launch. It was released on 24 April 2010 by T-Series.
The additional track performed by Rahman, titled "Jaare Ud Jaare", was not included in the CD. The song was cited to be an "instant composition": "The night before the launch, Rahman closeted himself in his Mumbai studio and worked through the night to compose the song." This song is believed to be included in the later stages.[83] The soundtrack also features three additional songs that were featured in the movie.
Release
Raavan, along with its simultaneously made Tamil version Raavanan, was released on 18 June 2010.
Reception
Critical response
Abhishek and Aishwarya at the London premiere
Among Indian film critics, Raavan received mixed reviews and responses.[84]Rajeev Masand of IBN gave the film 1.5/5 and said, "Despite some eye-watering camerawork and a stunning action piece in the film's climax, the film -- especially its first half -- is a carelessly edited mess of long scenes that make little sense when strung together".[85] Noyon Jyoti Parasara of AOL rated it 2.5/5 and stated, "Raavan is more a choreographed musical-cum-psychological drama but without proper character backing. What makes the movie worth watching is the peaks in the second half, of course apart from the imagery".[86]Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama rated it 1.5/5 and said, "On the whole, Raavan is a king-sized disappointment, in terms of content".[87] Sukanya Venkatraghavan of Filmfare rated the film 3/5 and said, "Raavan has its moments but it lacks depth. The first half is fairly riveting but the second half slowly slips into a coma".[88]Nikhat Kazmi of The Times of India rated it favourably at 3.5/5, saying, "There are enough punches in the second half to keep the momentum going, but by and large, the film scores mostly on art and aesthete".[89] Raja Sen of Rediff rated it 2/5 and said, "Raavan truly and tragically fails us is in taking one of our greatest epics, and making it unforgivably boring".[90] Parimal Rohit of Buzzine Bollywood said, "Raavan is ultimately a clever film, as it pushed the envelope on how one goes about defining who is good and who is evil".[91]
As of February 2022[update], Raavan holds a 46% approval rating among the audience.[92] Cath Clarke of The Guardian gave the film a rating of 2/5 and found it sexist.[93] However, Frank Lovece of Film Journal International found it a "cracklingly stylish, suspenseful psychological drama" with "a visual sense that evokes David Fincher at his darkest", and admired the dance numbers, "one taking place somewhat naturalistically at a wedding, the other essentially a stunning war dance".[94]
The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times likewise gave it positive reviews: Rachel Saltz of the former made it a Times "Critic's Pick" and lauded Ratnam as "a talented visual storyteller who directs action crisply and fills the screen with striking images" including "an eye-popping climactic battle",[95] while Kevin Thomas of the latter said the film "is replete with dizzying camerawork, myriad complications, violent mayhem, broad humor, [the] usual musical interludes, a cliffhanging climactic confrontation and a finish that strikes a note of poignancy".[96]
Box office
Raavan opened "below expectations" at the Indian box office, with the Hindi version earning Rs 60.1 million on its opening day.[97][98] In North America, Raavan opened in 120 theaters and ranked No. 15 on the domestic weekend box office chart with $760. Box Office India declared the film a Flop.[99]
Unlike its Hindi counterpart, which tanked at the box office, the Tamil version tasted success in the South.[100][101] During its opening weekend on 15 screens in Chennai, it was the number one film and netted ₹9 million (US$110,000), an opening weekend record then.[102][103] Though the film opened to packed houses, it slumped a little due to mixed reviews but later picked up following a local holiday.[104] The film collected $8 million at the box office in the first month of release[105] including $400,000 from Kerala.[106][107] It went on to make over ₹ 600 million at the worldwide box office and remained one of the top Tamil grossers of the year.[108] Uk opening weekend.[109] UK boxoffice second week.[110] New York boxoffice.[111][112]
Accolades
6th Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards
^Anindya Shankar Ray, Mohua Das (4 March 2009). "Watching you!". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
^Jigar Shah (20 June 2010). "Shooting on the edge". Mid Day. Bollywood News Service. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
