Raavanan (Villain) (2010)

62% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(2,182 ratings)

Passions ignite when Dev marries free-spirited classical dancer Ragini, and the two newlyweds move to a town in northern India that has fallen under control of Beera -- a powerful tribal leader who has gone above the law to take control of the remote region. When Dev incurs Beera's wrath, all three… More Passions ignite when Dev marries free-spirited classical dancer Ragini, and the two newlyweds move to a town in northern India that has fallen under control of Beera -- a powerful tribal leader who has gone above the law to take control of the remote region. When Dev incurs Beera's wrath, all three are drawn into the darkest depths of the jungle, where the line between good and evil begins to blur, and their convictions are put to the ultimate test. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 18 min.
Directed By: Mani Ratnam
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jun 18, 2010 Limited
Studio: Big Cinemas

Critic Reviews

Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter
Pan-Indian saga with epic sweep, intense emotion and gorgeous images.
Rachel Saltz, New York Times
Artful but not arty, Mr. Ratnam, whose films include Dil Se and Guru, delivers the goods.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Not unusually for a Bollywood movie, Raavan combines beautiful photography, over-the-top acting, cheesy special effects and musical numbers that stretch things out well beyond the two-hour mark.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Ratnam's pace is steadfastly brisk, and his film is replete with dizzying camerawork, myriad complications, violent mayhem, broad humor, usual musical interludes, a cliffhanging climactic confrontation and a finish that strikes a note of poignancy.
David Hughes, Empire Magazine
While it's hard to see why Villain was so feted by the Japanese academy, the moody, social-realist vibe makes this worth a look.
Simon Foster, sbs.com.au
A.R. Rahman's omni-present score is as overbearing as most other aspects of this overwrought melodrama.
Poonam Joshi, Film4
Only director Mani Ratnam could have the dexterity to ascribe the story of The Ramayana to a raw, modernist setting and yet remain faithful to the original story.
Aaron Hillis, L.A. Weekly
The love triangle is as tediously underwhelming as the slo-mo action, but the actors, costumes and lush mountainsides are easy on the eye.
Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
An exhilarating and thrilling adventure brimming with lush, breathtaking visuals, lively musical numbers and a captivating love triangle.
Nora Lee Mandel, Film-Forward.com
Very satisfying entertainment for the eyes, ears and heart - mythic romance and action adventure to a throbbing beat.
Frank Lovece, Film Journal International
Dark, psychologically trenchant modern retelling of the ancient epic The Ramayana, with a police inspector's wife held captive in a jungle by a near-mythic tribal leader.
Cath Clarke, Guardian [UK]
Bollywood golden couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan star in this absurdly extravagant melodrama, rife with cliches, song-and-dance showstoppers, macho action sequences and lush tourist board-approved landscapes.
Adam Keleman, Slant Magazine
Somewhat succeeding as a specimen of pulpy, viscerally lavishing moviemaking, but largely weighed down by overly sentimental subplots, mostly thin characters, and an aural onslaught of a score.