Eklavya The Royal Guard

Eklavya

the royal guard

Director & Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Star Cast: Amitabh Bachhan, Saif Ali Khan, Boman Irani, Vidya Balan, Jackie Shroff, Jimmey Shergill, Raima Sen

Story

Eklavya (AB) is a person from menial race, which has been guarding or protecting the kings from aeons. Eklavya serves as a guard at Rana Singh (Boman Irani) palace. Rana Singh wife, played by Sharmila Tagore, continually takes Eklavya name on her deathbed. From that Rana Singh understands Ekv. is the father of her two kids. Unable to tolerate the truth, he chokes her to death, in presence of daughter Nandini (Raima Sen), a lunatic from birth. Sharmila Tagore tells this truth to her son Prince Harshwardhan Singh (Saif Ali Khan) through a letter, written before her death of course and asks him to take care of his true father Ekv. Badly hurt Rana Singh with his brother Sunder Singh (Jackie Shroff) and his son Uday Singh (Jimmy Shergill) conspires to kill Eklavya. At the moment of truth, however, Sunder Singh ends up killing Rana Singh and accidentally also the driver, who is Rajjo (Vidya Balan) father. Rajjo loves Harsh right from her childhood and Harsh having the same fillings promises her father to marry her when he is on a deathbed. Ekv. is left distressed over his failure to protect his king, to follow his dharma as they put it. Ekv., nevertheless, recognizes that Uday Singh has killed Rana and is about to shoot him when DCP Chavan (Sanjay Dutt) stops him and vouches to punish them at the right time. Determined to follow his dharma Ekv. kills Uday Singh and also his father Sunder Singh but comes to know the person who asked Sunder Singh to kill Rana Singh. Now how he follows his dharma is a beautiful story to watch. Since it is a new release, I wouldnt like to spoil your experience by putting the whole story. And my sincere request to you all, just do not discard it by reading the above mentioned raw story. How they have presented it, is really amazing. Watch it for the good performance of all the star-cast. Watch it for the beautifully depicted palace time culture and traditions. Watch it for interest provoking storyline without, yes without, intruding irrelevant and misplaced songs.

The performance of the entire star cast is commendable, even more commendable is the director perfection in giving justice to each character. Each character is introduced and developed in the storyline impeccably.

The wardrobe is perfect. Excellent direction. Excellent script. Relevant dialogues. They have intelligently woven the philosophy behind Ekvlavya life with the story. Only one song i.e. a lori, chanda re

However, when the entire story unfolds and policemen come to tell AB how they have converted father & sondeath into suicide, and Evk. consents. I strongly feel it would have been a true dharma if he had handed him over to police admitting his act. So did they do it just to keep Ekv. alive at the end of the story or what?

Mind blowing art direction. The story takes place in Jaipur palaces. They have wonderfully shown the opulence of these palaces.

Although this story is based on Ekv. philosophy and a few characters say intonation from our scriptures and gives gyaan on it occasionally, it hooks you to the seat till the end. It is a beautifully told story which is the best ever seen combination of mythology and human emotions.

On a final note I would say it was quite an experience watching this movie.

Feedback would be appreciated.