I saw this movie today and I really enjoyed it - which is a bit surprising because I don't usually like Bollywood movies. I thought all the actors did really well, especially Karisma Kapoor (who played Zubeidaa.) Playing the part couldn't have been easy for her since the character is incredibly complex and she pretty much carries the entire film on her own. So Kapoor certainly deserves plenty of kudos for her performance.
What I really liked about the film was that the characters had so many layers to them. For example, even though Zubeidaa is a fearless romantic, the filmmakers also take care to show that she can be incredibly petty and insecure - especially when it comes to Mandira Devi's relationship with Victor. "I want a necklace just like that!" she insists when Victor buys a strand of diamonds for the senior queen. Touches like these really help make the characters come alive for the audience. These aren't stock characters; in contrast, they're real human beings with their own failings and inconsistencies.
The only real problem I had with the film was that we don't get enough insight into Zubeidaa's relationship with Victor. The producers hint at the fact that Victor thinks of her as a "toy" whose job it is to amuse him. But is this really the case? The filmmakers never make this very clear, which I think is something of a pity. I feel that this relationship in particular could have been developed more.
Nonetheless, I do think that Zubeidaa is an excellent film - and, as another reviewer here at IMDb pointed out, it's an excellent step up from the "masala pot boilers" that the Indian film industry seems to be churning out these days. If you're looking for a Bollywood period piece (set in the 1950's,) that has good music, acting, and cinematography, then Zubeidaa is it.
P.S. If you've got the time, I would suggest watching Aamir Khan's Oscar-nominated 2001 film Lagaan along with this one. Both films deal with the subject of Indian independence and play very nicely off one another.
What I really liked about the film was that the characters had so many layers to them. For example, even though Zubeidaa is a fearless romantic, the filmmakers also take care to show that she can be incredibly petty and insecure - especially when it comes to Mandira Devi's relationship with Victor. "I want a necklace just like that!" she insists when Victor buys a strand of diamonds for the senior queen. Touches like these really help make the characters come alive for the audience. These aren't stock characters; in contrast, they're real human beings with their own failings and inconsistencies.
The only real problem I had with the film was that we don't get enough insight into Zubeidaa's relationship with Victor. The producers hint at the fact that Victor thinks of her as a "toy" whose job it is to amuse him. But is this really the case? The filmmakers never make this very clear, which I think is something of a pity. I feel that this relationship in particular could have been developed more.
Nonetheless, I do think that Zubeidaa is an excellent film - and, as another reviewer here at IMDb pointed out, it's an excellent step up from the "masala pot boilers" that the Indian film industry seems to be churning out these days. If you're looking for a Bollywood period piece (set in the 1950's,) that has good music, acting, and cinematography, then Zubeidaa is it.
P.S. If you've got the time, I would suggest watching Aamir Khan's Oscar-nominated 2001 film Lagaan along with this one. Both films deal with the subject of Indian independence and play very nicely off one another.
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