Film Review - Queen

All Hail The Queen 

Film: Queen
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Lisa Hayden, Rajkumar Rao

Directed by: Vikas Bahl

Duration: 2 hrs 20 mins

Rating: * * * * 

Vikas Bahl’s Queen is an utterly delightful film that will bring a big smile on your face when you walk out of the auditorium. Smartly written with great attention to detail and extremely well acted, it is the kind of film that reminds you of the reason why you fell in love with movies in the first place.  And if Bollywood can make such good films sans all the A list stars, then more power to it.

This is a story of self discovery under the most unusual circumstances. Like a host of films in recent times set in the capital, this also begins as a Delhi story. Rani (Kangana Ranaut) is all set to get married to Vijay (Rajkumar Rao), even the mandatory sangeet and dancing is done when she is dumped at the altar or rather mandap in this case. Just a day before the wedding, he calls it off. 

After lying low for a day without food, the Rajouri girl stuffs and couple of laddoos meant for the wedding and decides to do the honeymoon trip, alone. The trip was intended for Paris and Amsterdam and off she goes on her own. It is almost like a French revolution for her when she meets Vijaylakshmi (Lisa Hayden) who is a carefree maid, stripper and mother. The two hit it big time in a case of female bonding. The scene where they go on a drinking spree is a hoot and not since Amitabh Bachchan has anyone carried off a drinking scene so very well like Kangana has. 

In a touristic adventure, she manages to escape from a mugger and then proudly says “Woh phir kabhi Delhi walon se panga nahin lega” (He’ll never mess around with a Delhite again!)

After the Parisian venture, the next stop is Amsterdam where she is forced to share rooms with men – a Russian, a diminutive Japanese and a black Frenchman. The Delhi girl discovers that life is so much more than she knew, or rather, was allowed to explore back home. Is it a coincidence or a smart piece of costume designing that wears a t-shirt which says Alice in Wonderland? 

With the multi-national characters around, thankfully, it does not turn into a Mind Your Language kind of an affair; instead there are some genuinely funny and touching moments. The cookery episode and the Pakistani girl in Amsterdam were avoidable but that is an absolute minor grouse.    

It is the dialogues and wonderfully crafted scenes like the one where her family wakes up everyone they know to find out “Hing ko English mein kya kehte hain?” (What is Hing called in English?) It is called Asafoetida in case you want to know. And if you don’t know what ROFL means, check out the scene in the sex toy shop where she innocently goes on a shopping spree.  

All the characters are pitch perfect – she has a family at home whom she keeps updating via internet and cellphone, her supportive grandmother reminded me of Vicky’s grandma from Vicky Donor.  

Hats off to the screenwriters Chaitally Parmar, Parveez Shaikh, and the director himself not forgetting Kangana, who is credited for the additional dialogues. With Chillar Party and now Queen, Vikas Bahl has elevated himself in the list of directors to look forward to.

Amit Trivedi compositions are music to the ears and the songs are beautifully picturized as well. 

Lisa Hayden as the Paris girl with all the oomph is first rate. Credit should also be given to Rajkumar Rao who hardly ever puts a foot wrong. But the show belongs to Kangana Ranaut who gives a stellar performance in the lead role. Her savior faire is worth a trip to the theatres and the way she dances to that old song Hungama ho gaya (Anhonee, 1973) redeems the price of your ticket.

I hope they bring back the character of Rani in a future film, it will be wonderful to see more of her. But meanwhile, please book your tickets to this Queen.