A date with sheer grandeur

Bengalureans are making a beeline for 'Padmaavat' undeterred by all the furore over the movie elsewhere in the country. Most viewers felt there is nothing offensive about the film's content.  Many concede that it is curiosity that drove them to watch the film. They admit to being overawed by the sheer scale at which the story has been shot.

The shows at single-screen theatres like Rex on Brigade Road, Everest in Fraser Town and Cauvery Theatre ran to packed houses, but the multiplexes didn't have as much of an influx.

Shivani Agarwal, a professional, says that she could sit through the movie only because of Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.

"I didn't find the story that great. But I think Ranveer has done an exceptional job. I have never seen him in this avatar before. His expressions are out of the world," feels Shivani. She also adds that she found Deepika's costumes and acting very impressive.

The protests that broke out in several places across the country were
unwarranted, feels Deepthi Gupta, a movie buff, who says that she found nothing offensive about the content and characters. "While I could see that Ranveer was totally involved in his character, Shahid was subtle and Deepika stood out for her jewellery and outfits. There weren't dialogues or gestures that were offensive. It is a clean film and a thorough entertainer," says Deepthi.

She thinks even those who protested would surely take back their words once they have watched the film. There were a few others like Spurthi Prakash, who felt that the combination of Ranveer, Shahid and Deepika worked like magic on screen. "Deepika literally holds the story through and the power in Ranveer's character is to be seen to be believed. I also like the way the film was picturised. It was a brilliant watch," she says.

The bandh on Thursday left a couple of people, who had booked the tickets for noon show, a wee bit disappointed. Sheeba Kanan, a student, says that she booked tickets for the noon show on Thursday but the bandh spoiled her plans.

"I got the ticket amount refunded and watched the movie the next day in the same theatre. I was disappointed that I couldn't watch it on the day of the release."

Sukrithi Sharma, a housewife, who watched the show at Rex yesterday, says that she went with about 25 people and chose to go to Rex because she found the ticket prices to be reasonable.

"We were just lucky to get the last few tickets that were available. I enjoyed watching the film because of the grandeur and larger-than-life characterisation. The story has fallen flat but the grand show put up by the actors has more than made up for the flaws in the script," says Sukrithi.