LooteraCast: Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha, Adil Hussain
Direction: Vikramaditya Motwane
Rating: ***1/2
‘Lootera’ oozes with the allure of an old-world charm and Sonakshi befittingly plays the heroine of this epic drama. Vikramaditya Motwane’s subtle love story has an inherent appeal but is weighed down by a labored pace.
Sonakshi Sinha is the pampered daughter of a Bengali feudal lord; when a young archaeologist visits, she falls head over heels in love with him. In her previous roles as Rajjo Pandey (Dabangg) and others, she is at best been an effective prop supporting the big superstars. As Pakhi in ‘Lootera’, Sonakshi has ample scope to display her histrionics. Does she do justice to her role? Appearance-wise, there couldn’t have been a better choice; she doesn’t need to make any effort to look her part. Entrusted with a nuanced-role, Sonakshi effectively essays an understated performance.
Motwane’s protagonist is a conflicted character, torn between the love of his life and his loyalty towards his custodian. Bittoo (Band Bajaa Baraat) and Ricky Bahl (Ladies vs Ricky Bahl) seemed like tailor-made roles for Ranveer’s fun personality. Portraying a character with negative shades is a daunting task and Ranveer seems overwhelmed in the first-half trying hard to fit the role of the brooding hero. He wears a frown for the most part, grappling to get the subtleties right but he settles in during the latter-half, comfortable in his new persona.
It was a brave choice by Vikramaditya Motwane to cast Ranveer and Sonakshi in ‘Lootera’ considering how their previous choice of roles has been over-the-top entertainers. Adil Hussain is proving time and again that he is one of the most bankable character artistes that we have at the moment; he manages to make an impression even in a cameo. Divya Dutt, on the other hand, was completely wasted in a part that felt incomplete and not-quite-thought-through.
‘Lootera’ has very impressive music by Amit Trivedi, complimented by Amitabh Bhattacharya lyrics; the ‘Zinda Hun’ number is my personal favourite. If you don’t mind the pace, Vikramaditya Motwane’s ‘Lootera’ is definitely an engaging love story.
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