Overview
Padmaavat is a 2018 Indian Hindi-language epic period drama film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film was produced by Bhansali Productions and Viacom18 Motion Pictures, and was released on 25 January 2018. It stars Deepika Padukone in the title role, with Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in the principal male roles. The film is loosely based on the 16th-century epic poem Padmavat written in Awadhi by the Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi.
Key facts
| Title | Padmaavat |
|---|---|
| Director | Sanjay Leela Bhansali |
| Producers | Bhansali Productions, Viacom18 Motion Pictures |
| Writers | Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Prakash Kapadia |
| Based on | Padmavat by Malik Muhammad Jayasi |
| Lead cast | Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Ranveer Singh |
| Music | Sanjay Leela Bhansali (score and songs) |
| Cinematography | Sudeep Chatterjee |
| Original title | Padmavati (renamed before release) |
| Release date | 25 January 2018 |
| Language | Hindi (also dubbed and released in Tamil and Telugu) |
| Format | Theatrical, including 3D and IMAX 3D |
Plot and source material
The film draws on the legend of Rani Padmavati of Chittor, the queen of Maharawal Ratan Singh of the Mewar kingdom, and the siege of Chittor by the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khilji in 1303. While the historicity of Padmavati is contested by scholars, her story has been preserved through Jayasi's poem and later retellings. The narrative culminates in the practice of jauhar, the self-immolation of Rajput women to avoid capture after a battlefield defeat.
Cast
- Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati
- Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh
- Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji
- Aditi Rao Hydari as Mehrunisa, wife of Alauddin Khilji
- Jim Sarbh as Malik Kafur
- Raza Murad as Jalaluddin Khilji
- Anupriya Goenka as Nagmati, the first queen of Ratan Singh
Production
Principal photography began in late 2016, with shoots conducted at sets in Mumbai's Film City and at locations including Kolhapur. The production was marked by repeated disruptions. In January 2017, members of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena attacked the film's set at Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur, alleging that the film distorted the legend of Padmavati. A subsequent set at Kolhapur was reportedly damaged in a fire in March 2017. Bhansali agreed to reshape parts of the production schedule following these incidents.
Music
The soundtrack was composed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, with lyrics by A. M. Turaz and Siddharth–Garima. Notable songs include "Ghoomar", "Ek Dil Ek Jaan", "Khalibali" and "Binte Dil". The song "Ghoomar", picturised on Deepika Padukone, became one of the most prominent promotional tracks of the film.
Censor certification and renaming
The film was originally titled Padmavati. In late 2017 and early 2018, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), under chairperson Prasoon Joshi, examined the film and proposed several modifications. The board cleared the film with a U/A certificate after suggested changes, including the addition of disclaimers stating that the film did not claim historical accuracy, did not glorify the practice of sati, and was a work of fiction adapted from Jayasi's poem. The title was changed to Padmaavat, aligning it with the spelling of Jayasi's work.
Controversy and protests
The film faced sustained protests, primarily led by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena and other groups, who alleged that it misrepresented Rajput honour and the figure of Padmavati. Protests, vandalism of cinemas, and road blockades were reported across several states in the weeks before and after release. Some state governments, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Haryana, sought to restrict the release of the film. The Supreme Court of India, in a January 2018 order, struck down these state-level bans and stays, holding that the CBFC's certification was binding and that states were obligated to maintain law and order to permit screenings.
Release and reception
Following the rescheduling caused by the controversy, Padmaavat was released theatrically on 25 January 2018, ahead of the Republic Day weekend. It was released in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D formats, and was simultaneously released in Tamil and Telugu dubbed versions. The film was not screened in theatres in Rajasthan, Gujarat and parts of Madhya Pradesh due to security concerns despite the Supreme Court ruling.
Critically, the film received generally positive reviews, with particular praise directed at the visual design, costumes, music, the performance of Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji, and Sudeep Chatterjee's cinematography. Some commentators and scholars, however, criticised the film's depiction of jauhar and what they viewed as a stereotypical portrayal of the Khilji ruler.
Box office
Despite restricted releases in several states, Padmaavat performed strongly at the box office in India and overseas, ranking among the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2018.
Awards and recognition
At the 65th National Film Awards, the film received recognition in technical and music categories, including a National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Arijit Singh's rendition of "Binte Dil" and a National Film Award for Best Choreography for Kruti Mahesh Midya and Jyothi Tommaar for "Ghoomar". The film also earned nominations and wins at major Indian film awards including Filmfare and Screen Awards, especially in technical, music and supporting performance categories.
Significance
The release and surrounding controversy of Padmaavat became a notable case study in debates over creative freedom, the role of state governments in film exhibition, and the authority of the CBFC in India. The Supreme Court's intervention reaffirmed the precedence of central certification over state-level restrictions on cinematic release. The film also marked the third collaboration between Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, after Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013) and Bajirao Mastani (2015), completing what is sometimes referred to as Bhansali's epic trilogy.