Rangoon

About the film

Rangoon is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language romantic war drama film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures. The project is a period film set during World War II (1939–1945) and stars Kangana Ranaut as a character that is based on Mary Ann Evans aka Fearless Nadia, Bollywood's first original stunt-woman. It stars Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapoor, and Kangana Ranaut in lead roles. The film was released on 24 February 2017 on the Mahashivratri weekend.

Plot

In 1943, as the Second World War rages on, India is fighting a war of her own: independence from British rule. Subash Chandra Bose, founder of the Indian National Army (INA), has become disenchanted with Mahatma Gandhi's Ahimsa (non-violent) movement and desires to fight fire with fire. Indian troops in the British Indian Army are locked in pitched battles with both the INA and its Japanese contingent. In one such skirmish close to the Indo-Burma border, Jemadar Nawab Malik and a group of fellow soldiers are cornered by the Japanese infantry. Running to escape on a barge, Nawab is shot and captured as a prisoner of war. Meanwhile, the INA's top brass desperately seeks finances to replenish its heavy ammunition to aid the charge to Delhi.

Simultaneously, in India, Julia, a leading film star, is the star performer in a dance troupe that entertains civilians and armed forces. Zulfi is her butler, makeup man, and trusted confidant. Her films are produced by Rustom "Rusi" Billimoria, a former Indian action film star whose career was cut short when he lost a hand in a film stunt gone wrong. Billimoria is on friendly terms with the resident British commander, Major General David Harding, who encounters a gem-encrusted royal sword belonging to a Maharajah at a gathering hosted by Billimoria. Slighted by the commander's arrogant demeanor, the King endeavours to send the sword to the Indo-Burma border, where the INA hopes it can fund its artillery program and drive the British out of India. An opportunity arises when Harding proposes dispatching Julia and her troupe to the war-torn border, where he hopes to raise the sagging morale of his troops through her shows. When Billimoria and Julia (who are now in a relationship) object, Harding promises top-grade security and coerces them by threatening to block supplies of film stock from England, as Nazi Germany has stopped shipments. Billimoria's affair with Julia causes rifts in his family, with his wife demanding a divorce and his grandfather concocting a ruse to prevent Billimoria accompanying Julia on the tour.

On board the train, Jemadar Malik, who has apparently escaped as a prisoner of war, is assigned as a security detail to Julia, much to her chagrin. Crossing a river, the full complement of passengers and boatmen come under fierce Japanese aerial attack, resulting in numerous casualties. The British assume Julia has fallen, but she has survived and is accosted by three Japanese soldiers. Malik, who has also escaped unscathed, arrives in time to save her from being killed and, in the process, captures one Japanese soldier, Hiromichi, as a hostage to lead them back to the Indian border. Through the rain-drenched jungle and a war zone swarming with enemy platoons, Julia, Malik, and Hiromichi march slowly to their destination. Combing an anti-aircraft bunker, they barely escape a booby trap, with Malik furious at Hiromichi for leading them into an ambush. As Julia's gentleness and compassion counteract Malik's battle-hardened cynicism and aggression, the two fall in love.

Production

Vishal Bhardwaj was supposed to shoot the film after Omkara (2006). However, the film was stalled for unknown reasons. It was previously titled Julia. The screenplay was written by Matthew Robbins, who previously collaborated for 7 Khoon Maaf (2011).

The film's shooting began on 18 November 2015 in Arunachal Pradesh. Many artists from Manipur, Arunachal joined the crew for the first shift. In mid January, the film's shooting was halted due to an injury to Shahid Kapoor and a Japanese actor. Kangana Ranaut travelled to New York City to research her role, and then headed to an island in Mexico to learn solo living.

Release

The film was released on 24 February 2017. Upon its release, the film received positive reviews, although Kangana Ranaut's performance as Julia was widely praised as the strength of the film. The film failed to find a wider audience and was one of the biggest flops of 2017. The film is also available on Netflix.

Reception

Upon release, Rangoon received positive reviews from the film critics, with major praise drawn to Ranaut's performance. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 55% based on 11 reviews and an average rating of 6.1/10.

Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave the film a rating of 4/5 and wrote, ‘‘Rangoon is an epic love saga with strong strong emotional quotient, riveting second hour and nail-biting finale. Watch it for its layered plot, serpentine twists, proficient storytelling and bravura performances, its a content-driven film that's worth a recommendation’’. Praising Ranaut's performance he further wrote, ‘‘Kangana portrays the lifeline of Rusi and Nawab with commanding authority; She owns every sequence she appears in, she makes every moment come alive with a memorable act. What's noteworthy is that Kangana is effortless and stands tall in the most challenging sequences’’. Raja Sen from Rediff gave the film a rating of 4/5 and wrote, ‘‘Rangoon haunts in unlikely fashion and, while the director's most straightforward picture, holds enough of its own marvels to justify multiple viewings’’. Praising Ranaut's performance he further wrote, ‘‘Kangana Ranaut is extraordinary as she rides and throws and dances with aplomb in what is physically an immensely demanding part. Ranaut looks like she knows how to actually crack a whip instead of just hurl one around, and acquits herself admirably in old-world stuntwoman sequences, all the while playing the part with enough vulnerability and insecurity to mark Julia out as a confused girl who doesn't quite know what she's doing’’. Devarsi Ghosh of India …

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