Movie Review: Raajneeti (राजनीति "Politics")
An epic Bollywood tragedy, Raajneeti explores the implosion of a political party and family during a contested race. Filmed in and near Bhopal, the film combines shades of Sonia Gandhi, the Mahabharata, and the Bhagavad Gita with some thuggish mafia elements. And it has a plot you wouldn't believe. Twists, turns, changing of allegiances, murders, betrayals, explosions, and blind ambition make this a completely unpredictable and riveting movie. All those things you suspected about Indian politics? Raajneeti would have you believe they're all true. And worse. The film is chock full of some of my favorite actors (Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar, and a solid performance by Ranbir Kappor). Even our token white girl, played by Sarah Thompson, gets to be slightly more intelligent than your traditional stock character.
