Movie Review: Kangana is hero in the thoroughly disappointing Rangoon

Queen of Bollywood reigns supreme but Vishal Bharadwaj's period drama is still a muddled mess

There are always expectations from a Vishal Bharadwaj film. Rangoon wasn't any different. The setup is perfect, the actors look tailor-made for their roles and song-dance sequences appear scintillating. Yet the movie might be his weakest ever.

Subhash Chandra Bose's INA is up against the colonial masters. Slowly building network, growing in strength, struggling with funds. British Army fights the rising tide of nationalism. Gandhi on one side, Bose on the other. Amidst all that a love triangle brews between the lead characters Rustom Billimoria aka Rusi (Saif Ali Khan), Miss Julia (Kangana Ranaut) and Jamadar Nawab Malik (Shahid Kapoor). 

Rusi, a film-maker, 'buys' a young Julia for Rs 1,000. He mentors, befriends and loves her so much so that he leaves behind his wife and child. Unable to accompany Julia for a tour, he sends her in the company of British Army’s able sepoy, Nawab.

There are two sides to Nawab’s character -- the patriot who dreams of seeing an independent India and joins Bose’s Army and the lad who falls for Julia’s charming features. He protects her when they get stranded in the jungles of Arunachal Pradesh. By bringing her safely back to the country, he impresses all, including Rusi.

Julia desires to remain loyal to Rusi but she yearns for Nawab and they roll in the hay away from Rusi's watchful eyes.

The follow-up episodes that brim with jealousy and treachery are neither brilliantly dramatic nor interesting. Bharadwaj shows his craft amply in the dance sequences though. 

Sadly, the movie is let down by the lukewarm chemistry between the lead characters, which reflects the lack of depth in the script. But what rescues the movie from being an absolute washout is Kangana Ranaut's screen presence.

Her character is based on iconic Fearless Nadia, a top action star of the Second World War era. There is no moment where she goes overboard. Each frame with her drips with Ranaut's sardonic hiss and razor sharp wit, especially in the scene when the camera zooms into her worldly face while she's talking about heartbreaks.

She dances, narrates her romantic tale to a Japanese soldier without caring for the language barrier, creating a hilarious scene in the process. In another instance, she playfully teases Nawab seating with Rusi in a jeep. She appears helpless and torn between two men. She even looks scared as Rusi catches her. Somehow one can’t imagine anybody but Kangana depict all the emotions so effortlessly.

Saif’s act is not bad either as his functional, stiff upper lip self. But, it is Shahid who is left with a very undercooked character reduced to a well-groomed moustache and strong pectoral muscles.

Mouthing shayaris and Hindi phrases, British actor Richard McCabe as Major General Harding impresses. Saharsh Shukla as Zulfi, the make-up artiste and Julia's confidante has a short but impactful part too.

Rangoon makes a strong case for Bharadwaj to go back to his muse: The Bard.