click for larger view

It's heritage versus modern age at box office this Friday. It can also be called a love story from the ancient time to the jet age. If 'No Entry' is your masala tea for this weekend; 'Bhaggmati- Queen Of Fortunes' promises to take you on a journey that you have never witnessed before. This is the world's first longest live animation film made so far besides being India's first live animation film, a milestone in Indian filmmaking indeed! 'Bhaggmati- Queen Of Fortunes' is a tribute to those unknown lovers of the past who have been buried in the pages of the history and no one dares to sweep the dust to bring out the real life love idols of southern India.

So, if every one knows that it was Shahjehan who built Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal, not many of us were aware until recently that famous building of Char Minar in heritage city of Hyderabad is a love monument too. 'Bhaggmati' unfolds many such secrets in the darkness of theatres. During the three hours it takes to disclose some not very well known facts about a love story that grew between the lass of a banjara tribe and the prince of the Shah dynasty. Director Ashok Kaul has tried hard to make this story of a prince and a commoner look most interesting. He also takes help of animation to bridge the generation gap, and uses some very good music for the narration and progression of the love story that reminds one of Salim and Anarkali, son of Shahenshah Akbar and a maid in the palace, respectively.

click for larger view

'Bhaggmati' focuses on the love story of Bhaggmati, the banjaran and the prince Qutub Shah. It was during a forest game that Qutub Shah saw the beauteous Bhaggmati. The beauty of this girl smote him and he started meeting her daily. He used to cross the river to reach to the place of Bhaggmati. When the love blossomed, he got a bridge made on the river. The love was carried on for some time and when Qutub Shah became the King, he decided to build a new city for his love.

click for larger view

The city was named Bhagya Nagar at first. When his love became his queen, he changed the memorial's name to Hyder Mahal and that of the city to Hyderabad. This is the real story of how the first foundation stone of this cyber city was laid years before. The lover monument Char Minar also witnesses this unusual story and has been a symbol of love since that time. 'Bhaggmati' traces this love story with the help of its main characters and 2 D Animations.

click for larger view

It is for the first time in India that a film of such kind and on such parameters has been made for the international audience. The result is breathtaking and the labor put in thousands of frames in the film is a proof of where India is heading towards in the next few years when it comes to entertainment industry. The film is also a showcase for the world as to what India can produce now in animation at par with what Hollywood has been proud of so far.

click for larger view

So, Friday 26th 2005 marks yet another milestone in Indian cinema's history as a witness to the first live animation film of the county, finally seeing the daylight. 'Bhagmati- Queen Of Fortunes' had been lying in cans for quite some time because of one or another problem. Though, its director Ashok Kaul has executed this film very artistically, the time lost in getting it released has dampened the eagerness of the viewers, if openings for the film are any indications.

click for larger view

The film was announced years back. Even Zee's institution, ZICA, has worked really hard for the creation of animated characters in the film. But it is yet to be known whether the Indian audience is ready for an experiment of this kind. There is a great potential for cartoon films on TV in India, but it cannot be said in regard to the large screen. Not many animation films from abroad have been able to break even on Indian ground. And, now when Box Office in Hollywood is shaking and is faced with failures, the fate of 'Bhagmati- Queen Of Fortunes' lies in the choice of viewers.

click for larger view

As far as the performances of the cast and the crew of 'Bhagmati- Queen Of Fortunes' are concerned, it is music composed by Vishal Bhardwaj that remains with you, once you leave the hall. Vishal Bhardwaj has turned a director after giving music in films like 'Makdee' and 'Maqbool'. His research in the music of the past has borne fruit in 'Bhagmati- Queen Of Fortunes'. However, the problem is that the movie's cast lacks the charisma of pulling the crowds to theaters. Though Hema Malini is there in some very beautiful sequences but her magic is not good enough to hold the interest of the audience.

click for larger view

Milind Soman and Tabu have tried their best to bridge the gap between the past and the present, but there is a lack of charisma on the screen. On the whole, 'Bhaggmati--Queen Of Fortune' is a good experiment in terms of filmmaking. It is also a good visual treat with some very romantic scenes drawn in the form of animation. However, the bottom like remains the same. Is Indian audience ready for such a huge transition from masala to modesty? The fate of 'Bhagmati- Queen Of Fortunes' rests on the answer to this question.