The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureCinemaShows, on demand & home video

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi | Movie review
11 December 2020
Ghazaleh Golpira
Avatar
Ghazaleh Golpira
11 December 2020

Movie and show review

Ghazaleh Golpira

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi

★★★★★

Release date

14th December 2020

Certificate

UPG121518 title=

Links

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsite

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi is a glossy historical drama telling the story of Indian queen, freedom fighter and feminist icon Rani of Jhansi. On receiving a string of threats from East India Company officials, Rani Lakshmi Bai (Devika Bhise) must gather and train an army to protect their kingdom from annexation by the powerful British Empire.

The narrative shifts back and forth between the UK and India, illuminating the strategies employed by the two camps, and inadvertently diminishing the momentous impact that Lakshmi and her soldiers undoubtedly had in shaping India’s future. Swati Bhise’s screenplay, co-written by Devika Bhise, has been thoroughly researched – and it shows – but problems arise in the dialogue (especially from members of the English camp), which is delivered more like a recital of historical facts than conversation.

There is a lot of skimming over the surface when it comes to the plot, a lot of ground-covering and not enough depth. In one scene in particular, Rani astounds her peers when she rejects the patriarchal custom of a woman having to shave her head on becoming a widow; there is an inkling of her feminism, and the next moment she is on the battleground in action. A more subtle build-up, allowing a natural unveiling of Rani’s personality, would have enabled her bravery, strength and determination to flourish convincingly, and viewers might have become more invested.

Narrative aside, The Warrior Queen of Jhansi scores top points with its costume and production design, and the locations all look credible. Bhise delivers a noteworthy performance and an authentic portrayal of Rani of Jhansi, though her impact is hindered by a flimsy backstory.

★★★★★

Ghazaleh Golpira

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi is released digitally on demand on 14th December 2020.

Watch the trailer for The Warrior Queen of Jhansi here:

Related Itemsbritish east india companycolonialismfilmhistorical dramahistoryindiamoviereview

More in Cinema

The White Tiger

★★★★★
Emma-Jane Betts
Read More

Female filmmakers lead nominees for the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards

The editorial unit
Read More

Persian Lessons: Exclusive new clip

The editorial unit
Read More

Baby Done

★★★★★
Emma-Jane Betts
Read More

Quo Vadis, Aida?

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

The Exception

★★★★★
Guy Lambert
Read More

The New Music

★★★★★
Dan Meier
Read More

Persian Lessons

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Coming together in courage: 76 Days

★★★★★
Georgia Howlett
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Ghazaleh Golpira

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi

★★★★★

Release date

14th December 2020

Certificate

UPG121518 title=

Links

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsite

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • You Me at Six – Suckapunch
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • An interview with Ifrah Ismael: Tales from the Front Line and other stories
    Theatre
  • The Queen’s Gambit: A chess story that’s not about the moves but the motives
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Persian Lessons
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Sleaford Mods – Spare Ribs
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • The White Tiger
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Female filmmakers lead nominees for the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards
    Cinema
  • Persian Lessons: Exclusive new clip
    Cinema
  • Jeremiah Fraites: Piano Piano
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Quo Vadis, Aida?
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • WandaVision: Marvel’s charming sitcom proves an astounding success
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • The Queen’s Gambit: A chess story that’s not about the moves but the motives
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Undercover at Morpheus Show Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Ten short literary collections to get you back into reading
    Literature
  • Mayor
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart | Movie review
David Byrne’s American Utopia | Movie review