Controversial Bollywood drama Padmaavat has now reached cinemas following protests in India before its release, two of our critics have seen it, and they both have very different opinions of the film, which you can hear about in the video above.
A love letter to the Rajputs
The movie seems to be a love letter to Rajput nobility and valour, and both critics struggle to see what the protests in India by Rajput organisations were all about. Padmavati, a fictitious character created by Sufi poet Muhammad Jayasi, is treated in nothing but a positive light.
The movie has other problems...
But, one of our critics thinks that Padmaavat has plenty of other problems, such as its depictions of Muslim characters and its treatment of women. Arts and Life writers Saeed Saeed and Aarti Jhurani have both seen the film and here they debate its pros and cons (You can read Aarti Jhurani's full review here)
What is the movie about?
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, the film is set in medieval Rajasthan and follows the relationship between Queen Padmaavati and her husband and Rajput ruler Ratan Singh. Their kingdom comes under threat when attacked by Alauddin Khilji, the Muslim ruler of the Delhi sultanate. With Alaauddin driven by the desire to possess Padmavati at any cost, the resulting battle is nothing short of epic.
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Read more:
5 Bollywood films that faced controversy before release
[ Film review: Tiger Zinda Hai ]
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