Raavan

Raavan

The Unique Exploration “Good Vs Evil”

Release Year: 2010
Distributor : Reliance Big Pictures / Madras Talkies
Director : Mani Ratnam
Producer : Mani Ratnam
Screenplay: Mani Ratnam
Cast : Abhishek Bachchan/Aishwarya Rai/ Vikram
Music : A. R. Rahman
Cinematography : Santosh Sivan/ V. Manikandan
Editing : Sreekar Prasad
Budget : US$6.6 million
Duration : 139 minutes

Dev (Vikram), a police who fall in love with a classic dancer Ragini. After they married, Dev take Ragini to his new location at a little town in North India, Lal Maati. In Lal Maati, there is someone who does the law enforcement more than the police, he is Beera (Bachchan). Dev assumes Beera is a threat for his surroundings. Afterwards, Beera makes Ragini as his hostage. During the pursuit of Beera, a lot of facts about them are revealed.

From the title Raavan or “Rahwana” signalize that this story is adapted from Ramayana story, in chapter the abduction of Shinta. Unlike the real story, uniquely this movie disguises which the good and the evil. Beera where in the beginning seems very evil and rude finally become a good person who get the sympathy from Ragini, so does Dev. Its plot is running slowly and a bit boring. The sequence of Beera sister’s wedding is the turning point of this movie. The mystery is revealed after that. However, the aesthetic is able to balance the narrative.

This films shows the natural beauty of North India mountains. Furthermore, its cinematography, either the variation of angle or the composition are great. The climax sequence in a hanging bridge is very convincing as a Hollywood movie. Bachchan, Vikram and Rai play incredibly. Even though their role more theatrical, they can balance each other in every scenes. Another achievement of this movie is the perfect music illustration from the famous composer Oscar, A.R. Rahman. The music sequences balance the plot nicely.

Bollywood may be proud of it, since it is able giving high quality movie, compare with another india movie nowadays. It is the combination of commercial and art, the combination of literature (Ramayana story), theater, music also film. Raavan try to explore the good side and the bad side of human. Who is exactly the ‘Rahwana’? Apparently, every human has ‘Rahwana’ inside.

Debby Dwi Elsha

Graduate major in communication, writer at Montase, focusing on Indonesian and Asian movies.