THE ROYAL GUARD (Eklavya)

Reviewed by Harvey S. Karten
Eros International
Grade: B
Directed by: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Written By: Vidhi Vinod Chopra, Abhijit Joshi
Cast: Amitabh Bachcahn, Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya
Balan, Jackie Shroff, Jimmy Shergill, Boman Irani, Raima Sen,
Parikshat Sahni, Sharmila Tagore
Screened at: Review 1, NYC, 2/14/07
Opens: February 16, 2007

"The Royal Guard," whose title in India is "Eklavya" and is
known in the online encyclopedia Wikipedia as "Eklavya: The
Royal Guard," is a Bollywood movie without dancing and only a
single song, about a king without a kingdom, a ruler who does
not rule, and a bodyguard who is almost blind. It's a melodrama
that veers into tragedy but ends like Shakespearean comedy.
This is a contemporary story that takes place in India, a
democracy ruled by a prime minister and parliament albeit with
a large province, Rajasthan, apparently governed by a king who
despite his lack of constitutional power is somehow able to
confiscate the land of the farmers. And oh yes, the impotence
of the king seems to be more than simply political. If this is
confusing, Bollywood films have never been meant to be taken
as evidence in any established court of law, if such a place truly
exists.

For my rupees, the film could have been named Dharma, which
could be translated as Duty or, if you prefer the Hebrew
equivalent, Mitzvot. The principal characters are mandated to
perform their sacred duty: that is the motivation that impels the
actions of the title character, Eklavya, and Harshwardhan.
Eklavya (Amitabh Bachchan) is the aging bodyguard of the king,
to protect the royal person is his dharma and has been so for his
family for nine generations. His ability with the knife is
legendary, but one questions whether, with his failing eyesight,
he will be able to do much for His Highness, Rana Jaywardhan
(Boman Irani), who's not such a nice guy anyway since he has
taken away the land of the farmers. For his part, Harshwardhan
(Saif Ali Khan) is the king's only son, a fellow whose dharma
becomes know toward the conclusion of the story, and wait until
you hear what his dharma is! There's a double-twist that'll
knock your socks off. Harsh has no use for the traditions of the
fort, has gone to London to live, but returns upon the death of
his mother, Queen Suhasinidevi (Sharmila Tagore).

"Eklavya" is filled with more exposition and intrigue than
adventure and romance, but what unfolds within the walls of the
fort is captivating enough. Pretty Rajjo (Vidya Balan), daughter
of the royal chauffer, exists to, well, look pretty and sing a song
and to moon over Harsh. She is the confidante of the queen,
friendly with the queen's mentally challenged daughter, Nandini
(Raima Sen)–who has witnessed a murder but keeps her mouth
shut, certain that she will not be believed.

For intrigue, count on several people who have reason to want
to do the king in. For the equivalent of Shakespeare's
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, figure Jyotiwardhan (Jackie
Shroff), the king's brother, and Udaywardhan (Jimmy Shergill),
the brother's son; also Pannalal Chohaar (Sanjay Dutt), a police
officer, an Untouchable whose relatives were once buried alive
inside the walls of the fort.

In deference to Shakespeare, writers Vidhu Vinod Chopra and
Abhijit Joshi make sure to have characters incant some verses
of the queen's favorite sonnet, "Shall I Compare Thee to a
Summer's Day, " in English, while the king's brother, Harsh,
throws in some English words here and there, maybe signal
folks in the audience, "We love the West."

"Eklavya" has a few incidents of choppy editing, particularly
when farmers are brought in to protest the seizure of their lands.
In fact the whole shtick about peasant uprisings can be
eliminated. Six hundred camels were used during Nataraja
Subramanian's filming in Egypt, all the better to drown out the
murder scene (though who's listening out in the lone and level
sands?), while most of the filming took place in Rajasthan, with
interiors shot inside the living quarters of the Jaipur Royal
Family. No less than Prince Raghavendra Rathore and
Subarna Rai Chaudhari designed the costumes while Eklavya's
cottage was built from scratch.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra: welcome back from your seven-year
directing hiatus!

Not Rated. 105 minutes 2007 by Harvey Karten
Member: NY Film Critics Online