Here's what Indian critics think of Hrithik Roshan's latest film Mohenjo Daro
Bollywood's been obsessed with historical drama as of late, and critics have mostly rewarded this obsession.
Bajirao Mastani has critics ooh-ing and aah-ing at its opulence, crime flick Bombay Velvet was praised for its grit and even Neerja took us back in time.
But will Hrithik Roshan's latest Mohenjo Daro impress or fall flat? That was the question on everyone's mind as the film, which had been criticised for historical inaccuracies even before it was released, aired this weekend.
Mohenjo Daro features Hrithik Roshan as poor farmer Sarman who is determined to find success in the larger city of Mohenjodaro. Of course, during his quest he falls in love with the daughter (played Pooja Hegde) of a Very Important Person, and complications arise.
Here's what Indian critics had to say about the film...
Shubhra Gupta of Indian Express pointed out errors in costume design;
"The sepia tone of the earth and the dwellings is balanced by an array of costumery: everyone looks like they have been handed out unstructured earth-toned garments, which follow the latest fashion du jour. And lest you thought they were not accessorised to the hilt in 2016 BC, perish it: the villainous chief wears a headgear of horns (the happily hamming Kabir Bedi, who carries it off with a raffish air) to an alarmingly tall crown of what looks like feathers, coins and shells sported by the leading lady."
Sweta Kaushal from Hindustan Times calls it a Lagaan hangover that's all about Hrithik Roshan and his... ahem... skills;
"Hrithik’s introduction is all about his abs, and of course, his great fighting skills. The sequence is also one of the least logical ones. Hrithik’s innovative ways to kill a crocodile aren’t something we are interested in. His flexibility and dancing skills, however, are things that would capture our attention."
Namrata Joshi at The Hindu also draws the Lagaan comparison, noting the cliched story-line and length of the film;
"In both Lagaan and Swades the hero is the leader figure who gets the community together for a cause and shows it the way ahead. He helps people win a match in one and generate electricity in another; here Hrithik helps overthrow a despot and build a bridge across a river in fury. Yes, noble ideas all, but the kind that try the audience’s patience than engage them meaningfully."
Scroll's Nandani Ramnath appreciates the efforts of director Ashutosh Gowariker;
"The stunning threads and props transport us to over 4,000 years ago, and while there will be dissections of the accuracy of the period setting, there is no doubt about Gowariker’s commitment to bringing to life a vital chapter of early subcontinental history.... By yoking this history lesson to the present, Gowariker brings an under-reported and heavily debated period of history into our troubled times. Mohenjo Daro is far from perfect, but it’s also far more than the sum of its memes."
While Srijana Mitra Das of Times of India believes there could have been more;
"Mohenjo Daro should've had many more grand moments. As it is, it's less Ben Hur and more Amrapali - sans the sex appeal of Vyjanthimala's bustiers. However, its scale and imagination make it an interesting watch - as does the intriguing notion of Hrithik as India's first pratham sevak."
Of course, the real test of a film is what the public at large thinks, right? Here's what Twitter had to say:
Yikes!
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