The Story:

Prakash Jha's film Raajneeti is a political thriller that was filmed in Bhopal. The movie deals with Indian politics and concentrates on Indian democracy and elections. The film illustrates unstoppable ambition and how it can lead to violent battles. Ultimately the film is about people who understand power and how to use it.

Raajneeti tells the story of several political candidates' lives and goals during elections in India. DesiHits! spoke to the film's producer, Prakash Jha, who told us that the inspiration for his latest political saga was India's political system and its complexity: "I want to understand the methods of democracy we are all affected by, so we're trying to do that, it's a great political saga, India being the largest democracy in the world with families, individuals and ideologies that come into play, and the movie tries to tell that story," Jha said.

One of the main characters of this film is Bhasker Sanyal (Naseeruddin Shah), who is feared for his ability to challenge the most powerful leaders. His one mistake leads to a self-imposed exile and produces a consequence that will shake the political future of the state. Sooraj (Ajay Devgan) plays a man whose sole goal is leadership but who is trapped in a dilemma.

Arjun Rampal plays the heir to Prithvi Pratap, a powerful political figure who desires to have the top position. His intense passion brings his family to the brink of political extinction. Manoj Bajpai plays Veerendra Pratap, a man who believes he was born to rule and will do anything to achieve his goal.

Katrina Kaif portrays Indu Sakseria, a beautiful, passionate and arrogant princess whose political aspirations causes issues in her personal life. Samar Pratap (Ranbir Kapoor) plays an outsider who reluctantly gets sucked into the arena of family rivalry only to turn into a master of the craft of political warfare.

The Cast:

Nana Patekar as Brij Gopal
Ajay Devgan as Sooraj Kumar
Ranbir Kapoor as Samar Pratap
Katrina Kaif as Indu Pratap
Manoj Bajpai as Veerendra Pratap
Arjun Rampal as Prithviraj Pratap

The Crew:

Producer: Prakash Jha
Director: Prakash Jha
Lyricist: Irshad Kamil, Sameer, Swanand Kirkre, Gulzar
Music Director: Pritam, Aadesh Shrivastav, Shantanu Moitra, Wayne Sharp
Cinematography:  Sachin Kumar Krishnan
Screenplay: Prakash Kha, Anjum Rajabali

What Worked:

The cast, despite being vast, was remarkable. Each actor was one hundred percent committed to his or her role and delivered a memorable performance.  The three men, Ranbir, Manoj, and Ajay, deserve a round of applause for their work. Ranbir, despite being a younger actor, matched up to his seniors. The screenplay is impactful and each line of dialogue is powerful.

What Didn't:

There is a lack of music, which is occasionally missed as this is a Bollywood film. At the same time, the story does not call for music, so it can be forgiven.

The Soundtrack:

The music for Raajneeti is not the crowning jewel of the film. As the movie has such a strong storyline, the music has not been promoted or been a huge part of the production.

Slated or Rated:

This film is amazing. From each charter to the cinematography, Raajneeti delivers a full story which engages from beginning to end! This movie is definitely worth watching.

Rating:

4/5 Stars