There
has
to
be
something
really
flawed
about
a
film
which
is
based
on
Ramayana,
has
Mani
Ratnam
at
the
helm
of
affairs,
stars
the
Bachchan
couple,
boasts
of
music
by
A.R.
Rahman
and
has
the
who"s
who
from
the
technical
department.
Still,
Raavan
hasn't
worked
with
the
audience.
We
analyse
why!
Boring
narrative?
Everyone
understands
that
Ramayana
was
about
the
triumph
of
good
over
evil.
As
an
audience
you
are
prepared
to
see
what
is
going
to
unfold.
But
pray,
why
make
it
all
so
boring?
This
is
where
Raavan
falters
because
a
one-dimensional
storyline
just
doesn't
translate
into
a
two
hour
film,
which
could
hold
your
attention.
All
one
gets
to
see
is
every
actor
in
the
film
getting
wet
in
the
jungle
and
slipping
or
running
through
the
rough
terrain.
Abhishek's
character
-
The
weak
link?
As
for
the
lead
actors,
Abhishek
Bachchan
has
definitely
tried
hard.
In
fact
one
can
clearly
sense
that
he
has
followed
Mani's
directions
to
the
T
and
done
whatever
was
asked
of
him.
However,
if
the
attempt
was
to
bring
the
split
personality
side
of
his
persona
out,
than
sadly,
it
fails
totally.
It's
the
character
which
fails
here,
not
Abhishek
as
an
actor.
Aishwarya's
character
-
Contradictory?
Aishwarya
Bachchan's
character
is
full
of
contradictions.
Does
she
wish
to
end
her
life?
Or
does
she
not?
Is
the
Stockholm's
syndrome
catching
up
with
her?
Is
she
falling
for
Raavan?
Does
she
really
get
to
her
husband
in
the
end?
Well,
you
don't
quite
get
it.
Confusing
plot?
One
never
knows
whether
the
outlaw
(Abhishek
Bachchan)
is
a
Naxal,
militant,
rebel
or
something
else?
Yes,
he
the
messiah
of
tribals
but
as
it
turns
out,
the
entire
drama
revolves
more
around
the
personal
enmity
that
he
has
with
the
cop
(Vikram).
But
what
about
the
bigger
picture?
Whatever
happened
to
the
entire
Naxal
angle?
And
if
personal
cause
was
supposed
to
be
the
driver
of
this
entire
episode,
why
have
a
Naxal
angle
at
all?
After
all,
the
outlaw
could
well
have
been
a
corporate
executive
and
that
wouldn't
have
made
any
difference
to
the
film
at
all.