The Warrior Queen of Jhansi

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.

I love a movie based on historical references and this one did that while allowing the mysterious "legends say" about the ending. That was an added bonus for me for a story I did not know but enjoyed quite a bit. I loved the women empowerment theme to this even though it was the mid 1800s and I appreciated the compassion between unlikely people (and obvious ones). All in all, I'd love to watch this movie again. The cast was superb and the story well-written.

Though this is the story of the beginning of the end of the East India Company, it serves as a much needed criticism of the Victorian Age and one of the modern world's earliest corporations. But this is mostly incidental.

The story is about a real noble woman of high aspirations trying to keep her kingdom despite being repeatedly betrayed and attacked by the British. It's actually quite modest in its heroic portrayal and perhaps because of that, a bit stodgy in its first half, but worth the wait, mostly because of its luminous star, Devika Bhise. She pulls off the role with apparent ease and is a joy to watch.

This isn't a Hollywood super production but even at this somewhat shoestring level, the story is served well. The British parts are also enjoyable and not over sanitized.

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.

Excellent film, shame it paints the disgraceful happenings of 1858 by the British East India Co. Totally based on a true warrior of a woman.