In all my cinema Master Classes worldwide; I say that the first job of a director is the audience connect! That's the prerequisite; if you don't have it my friend, you better think of another career option.
Technical finesse is secondary and I repeat is secondary! For example, the film is technically sound, but it doesn't connect with the audiences; the audience reception, and the box-office collection, is anyone's guess!
Just yesterday, a filmmaker talked about certain elements of Cinema and a frame-composition; brilliant I said. He was elated! I then asked him to narrate his story; the bubble popped!
This is what Rangoon is, brilliant to look at; from a film theorist point-of-view, a perfect film; but, where is the connect. Do as an audience you feel for any of the characters - Nawab, Julia or Russi. No; and that is the failing of Vishal Bharadwaj as a director.
Sad, because Pankaj Kumar, creates a breathtakingly awesome canvas on screen; the opulence of visual aesthetics is just perfect; but the screenplay by Matthew Robbins, Sabrina Dhawan & Vishal Bharadwaj is contrived and predictable. The author for one knew (and he assumes, many in the audience) that Nawab is aligned to INA; so the loud background, when he reveals his identity to his ladylove, is no shock (of course, if you are still following the film).
The climax is so Sholayesque that you have Nawab for Jai, Julia for Veeru & Russi for Thakur (ironically, he too is disabled).
Another period drama, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!, by a director belonging to similar school of cinema, Dibakar Banerjee; had a much effective narrative and steered clear of cliches, Rangoon is riddled with!
The only elements that remain with me, after the movie:
1. The anti-smoking disclaimer by Rahul Dravid (thank God, Mukesh is no more!)
2. The background music & the OST - Yeh Ishq Hai
3. The sword-fight sequence between Julia & Russi. Saif Ali Khan is first-rate there and shows flashes of his iconic, Langda Tyagi.
The best acts in the film come from Saif Ali Khan & the Japanese prisoner, played by Satoru Kawaguchi, simply brilliant! For a love story Kangna & Shahid lack the passion that would make audiences root for their love!
Rangoon is an epic love story that wasn't meant to be!
