A long time ago, just about when i turned 10 – treats were comics. Dad would, twice a month, bring home Amar Chitra Katha comics. You must remember that this was a time when the main source of entertainment was radio. TV was not available, and we were brought up with the reading habit.
History, Mythology – a whole bunch of our generation grew up loving history, mythology because of these comics.
Yesterday, I went to see Sons of Ram (Luv Kush) and the moment the ACK logo came up – i flashed back into the past and got swept away in the nostalgia.
The film starts with a nightmare. King Ram is alone – having sent his wife away – and is haunted by the decision. His city is not doing too well for itself, and the solution is the Ashwamedha Yagna.
There in the jungle, Sita (Sunidhi Chauhan) is bringing up two incredibly talented, but terribly bratty kids and facing all the issues a single mom will face.
The kids capture the Horse of the Ashwamedha Yagna – and now they have to face their father in battle.
The adaptation of an old classic to something that children of today will like – has been done verywell. children in the audience (yes i watch the audience watching at times – old habit difficult to shake off) were laughing at the right points and cheering at others. The support cast works very well. All of Luv & Kush’s friends in the ashram are finely etched characters. and what worked for me is it is not just about cutesey kids. the film has a tremendous emotional connect. between Ram and Sita, between the boys, between the friends. Valmiki was a total rockstar, and Gandharva an inspired addition. Iespecially liked Lakshman as the exasperated general whom the kids run rings around. The action scenes are fun. and the music catchy. The art was lovely, and the 3d works well for this film – the depth that you need for the jungle scenes and the fight scenes is captured very well.
What works for the film – the story telling. The characters are very human, very real and very identifiable.Ram’s humanity more than divinity struck me. He is real, grappling with real emotions while trying to do the right thing. Sita is a mother who wonders if she has done the right thing, by bringing up her kids by herself. “am i a good mother’. The bachcha party led by Luv & Khush are interesting and modern . It is a great family film – with different members of the family identifying with different aspects of the film.Right and wrong, which is so integral to the Ramayan, is conveyed in a non-preachy manner.
My suggestion is use your kids as an excuse and go watch 😀 you will enjoy it as much as them 😀