The Warrior Queen of Jhansi

Nowhere as bad as some of the reviews say, ignore them, its reasonable entertainment . Of course it's not 100% based on fact but is any film? That's what documentaries are for. Go enjoy a good film!

Multi-talented debuting film director Swati Bhise achieved her goal of telling the story of a real-life Wonder Woman, the title character who fought for the freedom of her people out from under the yoke of Colonialism in 1858, paving the way for future movements culminating in India's independence in 1947.

Bhise's talent as a choreographer is evident in the realization of this modestly budgeted epic, a combination historical drama and action movie. I was especially pleased as a fan of those traditional Hollywood and British historical adventure films of the 1930s like "Lives of a Bengal Lancer" and "Charge of the Light Brigade" right up to Cy Enfield's classic "Zulu" in the '60s that Bhise helps settle the score, with the Brits the bad guys for once.

Sharing the credit for this movie's achievement is the director's daughter Devika Bhise, most impressive in her swordplay, athleticism and equestrian skills to bring the larger-than-life heroine to the screen. At the q&a following a Saturday screening, director Bhise revealed that Devika was entrusted with directing the final two days of shooting on location in Morocco after her mother took ill.

The annexing of India was brutal as that was the most effective way of gaining control. This film shows several sides of how nations and individuals opinions differ but also align. Very watchable, not overly sure of its accuracy but a powerful film none the less.

Like most films produced to tell a particular nation's history you're shown mostly the good traits of that nation, and mostly the bad traits of the opposition. In many other films of this genre you can substitute "all" for "mostly". The nastiest statement (said in a manner that implied it was common) was that the Brits were killing women & children. It also didn't hurt the script's cause that they cast a model attractive female for the warrior queen. Yes, no doubt that humans will kill anything just for material greed and/or power. Would have liked to have seen some substantiation and research on the behavior of the East India Company as well as the behaviors of the Indian people & leaders during that period.

The Warrior Queen Of Jhansi is based on Rani Lakshmi Bai also known as Manikarnika.

This movie follows the same person and timeline as Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi. While Manikarnika tended more towards the action, The Warrior Queen Of Jhansi tended more towards the political. It was also more grounded in its approach to the history with which it was dealing.

The casting for the film was well done, and the actress playing Rani Lakshmi Bai was great in her role as the Rani of Jhansi. However compared to the Kangana Ranaut version I just didn't enjoy this one as much. Though it was no fault of the actress as I feel she did as good a job as she was able.

The vfx in this movie were actually a bit better then in Manikarnika. At least that's what I feel.

The story as I said was more grounded and mentioned several facts that history also mentions. So it was definitely nice that they included little details like the Pork, Beef grease on the Enfield Rifles which was a major contributing factor, along with Indian soldiers having to serve overseas in them rebelling against the British oppressors.

The movie is a more realistic feeling, grounded approach then Manikarnika was, however it also glosses over a lot of the early life of the Rani with her husband the Maharaja.

All in all it is good movie, with a different take and angle on the life of Rani Manikarnika Lakshmi Bai. I did however enjoy Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi more then this version. So I'll be giving it a 7/10 only. That being said both films deserve a watch if you are interested in the life of this legendary queen!