Raavan, not Mani Ratnam's best

The only problem in getting inspired by an epic of such magnitude is that you tend lose focus and perhaps that's what happens to the story here.

Beera (Abhishek Bachchan) is an outlaw, who rules the jungles in Lalmati, (no naxal connection except the name). Feared and loved in equal measures by locals, Beera is Robinhood like figure.

All hell breaks loose when Beera, out to revenge his sister's death, kidnaps Ragini, the feisty wife of the SP Dev (Vikram), who has been sent to the area to hunt him down.

But the relationship between the hunter and the hunted soon takes a deeper meaning, when impressed by Ragini's courage Beera develops a liking for her. Ragini, on her part, is also trying to understand the conflicting feelings that she develops for Beera and his people.

Vikram, despite being a loving husband, is more ruthless when it comes to hunting down Beera and he will stop at nothing to get to his nemesis.

The political and social sub-context, which has always been a very prominent component in most of Ratnam's films like 'Roja', 'Bombay' and 'Dil Se' is missing. The reason behind Beera's apparent disgust for law is never explained in the film and the ambiguity remains throughout as a gap in the narrative.

The first half of the film drags. Nothing seems to happen except the introduction of characters, where Beera's ruthlessness is established through a series of disconnected scenes. There is too much of dramatisation and repetition of certain scenes, which also slows down the narrative.

However, the story picks up pace in the second half and ends with a brilliantly executed climax.

Abhishek has done his best but his occasional growl and perpetual scowl gets irritating at times. But he manages to evoke empathy with his portrayal of a flawed character, who is wronged for his goodness. What is it with the Multani Mitti (Fullers Earth) that his character uses almost like a second skin?

Aishwarya looks vulnerable and strong all at the same time. She is brilliant in the scene when she fights off Beera and cries out, "Main Marna Nahi Chahti" (I don't want to die) when he puts a gun to her head. But her feelings for Beera never come out clear.

Govinda, in a small role as Hanuman and Ravi Kishen as Beera's brother impress and provide the much needed comic relief in the two-hour-long film, but in all the supporting cast it is actress Priyamani, who shines through in a small role as Beera's wronged sister.

The most beautiful part of the film is the cinematography by Santosh Sivan that fully explores the lush green locations of Karnataka (Tumkur), Kerala, Ooty, Jhansi, Kolkata, Mahabaleshwar and the Malshej Ghats in Maharashtra.

A R Rahman's music and Gulzar's lyrics have already become chart-toppers.
It is perhaps one of the rare films in Bollywood to have the best in all the departments, be it direction, acting, music, lyrics or cinematography but despite being technically strong and musically brilliant the film does not do justice to all the talent.