Director: Vikas Bahl

Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao, Lisa Haydon

Rating: 4 stars

There are few forays when it comes to making women-centric films in Hindi cinema. Fewer still create a lasting impression. It is for exactly this reason that Queen is as delightful a watch as it is memorable.

You may have already received the gist of the plot from the trailer. A distraught Rani Mehra (Kangna Ranaut) goes off alone on her honeymoon after her London-returned fiancé Vijay Dhingra (Rajkummar Rao) calls off their wedding at the last minute.

What you do not get from the trailer is how it is more than just a story dotted with partying scenes. Rani makes for a naïve, relatable protagonist. Despite her ignorance and initial cultural shock, she makes the right travel companion for the audience as you and she traipse along lovingly lit streets of European cities.

Her itinerary features Paris and Amsterdam. Unfortunately, her mood is less than rosy when it comes to taking in the sight and sounds. However, she meets exciting motley of characters, from party girl/hotel attendant Vijaylaxmi (Lisa Haydon) in Paris to a racially-mixed trio of men in Amsterdam, who make for the best roommates.

But while Rani is getting tourist-savvy in foreign land, Vijay is hot on her trail to win her back.

There is a lot about Queen that reminds one of Sridevi’s English Vinglish. The protected and conventional good girl sets off alone on a journey of self-discovery and new-found confidence. She interacts with a fascinating shade of humanity, overcomes the language barrier and adapts to solitary travel.

It is not just about the story, but also the little nuances in writing that shine through onscreen. The film begins with the hectic pre-wedding preparations, slowed down to Rani’s perspective as the anticipating bride-to-be. Unlike the big budget shaadicacophony one sees on the big screen, this feels closer home and more close-knit. With the character, you navigate through the hordes of relatives, decorators and thehalwaais.

From the protected confines of her room to the impersonal hotel rooms abroad to the night clubs and glowing red-light areas, you are deeply involved with her inner turmoil. You feel her disillusionment as the stark, unlit Eiffel Tower reminds her of the time she could have spent there with Vijay. And you rediscover the enchantment of its gleaming majesty under the Parisian night sky when she stands beneath it.

Rani also evolves, from the timid Punjaban to a girl on the move, with the gradual changes in wardrobe, baggage and hair styles. It represents old baggage being shed and the heroine at long last letting her hair down.

It is also interesting to note how two Vijays lead to a transformation in her life: her fiancé Vijay who rejects her and Vijay (laxmi) who shows her a world she would never have ventured into, on her own.

Watch out for the scenes where she meets her family’s friends – The Vermas – in Paris and when she visits a sex toy shop (without knowing what it really is).

Through all the eventful celebrations and her eventual travelling, Amit Trivedi’s ambient music keeps the foot a-tapping. ‘London Thumakda’ and ‘Harjaaiyaan’ are the film’s best scores.

Kangna Ranaut is a revelation, in a break-out performance that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Lisa Haydon is a surprise package too, with her smoky eyes, delicious French accent and a lack of inhibitions. Rajkummar Rao is good too, but one wouldn’t expect any less. Everybody does the greatest justice to their characters but the one you want to take home is Rani’s onscreen grandmother, whose own spunk inspires her to take control of her life.

Do NOT dismiss Queen as a simple chick-flick. It is a must-watch after the recent big banner tripe that’s been piling up at multiplexes. Go for a story with some heart. This is a highly recommended weekend watch. Show some love towards sensible, story-driven cinema.