Vikas Bahl's Queen is a refreshingly sensitive film, which gives us a story which is raw, simple, and highly involving. The film tells the story of Rani, an innocent and demure young woman whose fiancé calls off their upcoming wedding all of a sudden just a day before. Heartbroken, she decides not to cancel their pre-booked honeymoon and embarks on a journey to Paris and Amsterdam all by herself. How this simple, unassuming girl, who never left her city let alone her country, will manage all alone abroad is what this film is all about. The interesting people she meets, the lessons she learns as she reflects back on her past life, make it a fascinating ride.
The film is wonderfully developed, and it works as a true dramedy, a positive one at that, where we are shown there's something good out of everything. Rani's story is inspiring and touching, and clearly a true queen emerges out of her struggle. Needless to say, nothing would have worked as well without Kangana Ranaut, whose charming, relatable and authentic performance is a portrait of vulnerability, strength and resilience. She really manages to capture Rani's naivety, innocence, and particularly her growing maturity and sense of independence. That this film is so good is mainly to her credit, as she is the heart and soul of the entire enterprise.
Queen addresses many important themes and conveys social messages which could inspire many young girls, or everyone in general. But above all it's just a very entertaining film, with hardly a dull moment. The story might seem a little simplistic on paper, but the writing makes it much more profound than it could have been. It just feels so real and simple and devoid of redundant clichés. Bahl's excellent direction makes it a moving experience, producing an uplifting coming-of-age picture infused with moments of strong drama and heartwarming comedy, right to the exhilarating conclusion. If you haven't seen it yet, you should.
