‘Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva,’ the latest Bollywood epic written and directed by Indian filmmaker Ayan Mukerji, premiered at the PVR Cinemas in One Galle Face on 9 September 2022.
The fantasy/action/adventure flick was screened in 3D at PVR Cinemas, and as the film is being distributed by EAP Films and Theatres it will be available in both 3D and 2D in all EAP theatres islandwide.
The film has been licensed to be screened in Sri Lanka courtesy of Antenna International Director Devashri Abideen, with the company acquiring international territorial rights for distribution of this particular film as well as numerous other films of multiple languages. Abideen spoke of the significance of Brahmāstra, noting that it was the first 3D film in a long time that was being screened in Lankan theatres.
“There haven’t been any 3D films screened in Sri Lanka in about three to four years. This is the first one we’ve brought down in a long while,” she noted. She also shared that the film had both Sinhala and English language subtitles. This too is a relatively unique characteristic as subtitles are often in English when it comes to theatres. Abideen explained that this was a step taken in hopes of bridging the gap between languages and allowing all audiences to enjoy the film.
However, there has been some pushback with regard to this effort at inclusivity by some locals, demanding that the Sinhala language subtitles be taken down. Addressing this, Abideen stated that prior to its public screening, the film had been subject to evaluation and approved by a nine-member board representing the Public Performance Board.
The film
Considering the film itself, the hype around it leading up to its eventual release speaks for itself. The film has been highly anticipated, with it having been in the works for years now; principal photography for the film lasted five years and the production and release of the film were delayed multiple times for numerous reasons, including the pandemic.
The film is also said to be the most expensive Hindi film ever made, with an estimated budget of $ 51 million, and really, the money was quite well spent as it really does show in the end product. This film simply looks expensive.
Brahmāstra has also been notable in its efforts to become a genre of its own for Indian and also South Asian audiences – a kind of answer to the superhero epic that Marvel has held a monopoly on for over a decade now.
Ranbir Kapoor, who plays the male lead Shiva in the film, has reportedly said that they had hoped to create their own India-specific Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): “We had the opportunity to create our own Marvel, which Ayan is trying to do with his Astraverse [astras are the mystical objects that form a huge part of the world of Brahmāstra]. Any film, any good compelling story, made in your culture, in an authentic way, in a true form, will connect to a large audience.”
While the story beats do leave quite a bit to be desired, it is clear that Ayan Mukerji had a very clear goal in mind, and he was ready to achieve it even at the expense of the plot or storyline. It appears that he set out to make a visually stunning masterpiece, recruiting the best in the industry for visuals to create an absolute feast for the eyes: V. Manikandan (Cinematographer – Ra.One), Pankaj Kumar (Cinematographer – Tumbbad), Sudeep Chatterjee (Cinematographer – Dhoom 3, Gangubai Kathiawadi), Vikash Nowlakha (Camera Department – Black), and Patrick Duroux.
The other key highlight of this film is its score; the film score is composed by English composer Simon Franglen, responsible for cinema classics like ‘Seven,’ ‘Avatar,’ and ‘Titanic’. This score will keep you at the edge of your seat even on occasions when the story starts to falter just a little bit: especially during the second half of the film when it somewhat loses its way, the score will bring you right back. The soundtrack for the film was also quite beautiful, composed and written by Pritam with songs written by Amitabh Bhattacharya.
Astraverse vs. the MCU
As the title of the film suggests, ‘Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva,’ is part one of a larger story which has been Marvel’s MO with its long-running films, sequels, and prequels. Much has been said about the ‘Astraverse’ and its comparisons to the MCU.
Having watched the film for ourselves and also following the comments we received from audience members, the comparison is understandable, especially with the storyline focusing on building a brand new superhero, with part one essentially being the origin story. However, when it comes to epic cinema and larger-than-life action sequences, India has been doing that for years. There’s not a lot of borrowing from Hollywood in that regard.
With Marvel fatigue setting in with audiences, we have seen how Western audiences are turning to other forms of media – the recent popularity of Indian Telugu language action drama ‘RRR’ is the perfect example of how hammy action sequences feel cinematic and fresh to an audience who has been fed droll Marvel content for years now. The same can be said of the West embracing Korean films and television shows – there is a market for ‘similar but different’ content and the ‘different’ here can be language, history, culture, music, and any number of other non-Western things.
Sri Lankan cinema
Having watched the film in 3D, we must make a personal note that 3D has always felt like somewhat of a chore rather than a necessary experience. However, technology has come a long way and watching this specific film at PVR Cinemas was quite comfortable – the equipment, especially the 3D glasses, have improved immensely. So much so that watching the film in 3D actually doesn’t take away from the experience. Moreover, this film is available in 2D as well, so we were happy to see that option available.
It has also been interesting to note that, despite Sri Lanka’s current situation and its deepening economic crisis, it appears as though cinemas are doing just okay. Commenting on this, SCOPE Cinemas Director and CEO Thushan Meemanage said: “People are under a lot of stress and they are looking for a way to get comfortable and take a break from their realities. So when it comes to difficult times like these, it is not too surprising to see the cinemas packed. This coming October is when the season really starts and films like ‘Black Adam,’ ‘Black Panther,’ and then ‘Avatar’ will be released and you will see packed cinemas.”
He noted in 2009, ‘Avatar’ was able to break records in viewership despite being released in the middle of a recession. “It is all about value for money; customers will come as long as we have good, interesting content and we hope to exceed expectations of our customers as and when we provide our services,” he said.
There is definitely something to be said about looking for immersive experiences that allow us to escape our realities when living through difficult times. The cinema and even other spectator experiences like sports allow the public to feel relief, even for a moment.
If you are on the lookout for such enjoyable escapism, then perhaps Brahmāstra might be just the thing. The film is screening in EAP cinemas islandwide and it is available in both Hindi and Tamil, complete with both English and Sinhala subtitles.
