just watch it!

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

Robert L. Friedman, the former President of Columbia Pictures and AMC Theaters applauded it as one of the great foreign films to have graced Hollywood in recent years. He further added, "The caring and most talented direction by Vidhu Vinod Chopra is worthy of maximum praise and awards. Mr. Chopra has created a masterpiece via this film, thanks to his genuine insight and love for his film vehicle. 'Eklavya' is a movie that transcends all geographical boundaries - a movie for all people, everywhere, it represents the very best that India's great film-making community has to offer." Lionel Wigram, Producer of the Harry Potter films, said "It's a masterpiece and I can safely say that it stands an excellent chance of winning India a much awaited Oscar in the foreign film category."Jeffery Silver, Producer of the film 300, found it to be "a thriller that elevates to the level of art." The critics have also been unanimous in their praise:"Vidhu Vinod Chopra's propulsive 'Eklavya: The Royal Guard' has epic sweep." - Los Angeles Times "Maybe it's the trains. Maybe it's the camels. Maybe it's the intermission. No matter: Something about "Eklavya: The Royal Guard" suggests a lost film by David Lean." - Los Angeles Times"...clearly has a heart for the classics" - New York Times "A Shakespearean tragedy" - Variety Int'l"Vidhu Vinod Chopra is a poet on celluloid" - The Times of India "Eklavya unites the best of Bollywood past and present" - LA Weekly "This is robust storytelling, with blood and thunder pumping through its veins, and real whiskers on its face." - LA Weekly"Far from typical. Very strong and very Shakespearean" - The Sunday Telegraph, UK"Polished and energetic" - The Sunday Times, UK"It's strikingly shot, elegantly plotted Shakespearean drama of palace intrigue and revenge." - The Independent, UK"robustly unassuming and entertaining" - The Guardian, UK"... Gives any House of Flying Daggers set piece a run for its money." - Metro, UK"Film-maker Vidhu Vinod Chopra's mature, confident pacing, gifted eye for composition and impressive talent for choreography raises the bar" - Metro, UK "Engaging Indian drama" - The Daily Telegraph, UK"Put your hands together for one of the finest films to come out of the Hindi film industry!" - indiafm.com"Masterpiece" - Rediff.com "A Must-Watch" - Rediff.com, USA"Eklavya is visually stunning. The performances are even more impressive. But the theme itself is the star." - Bombay Times, Times of India"Eklavya indeed marks the revival of Indian cinema" - Business of Cinema"Eklavya - The Royal Treat" - Glamsham.com "The aesthetics - exemplary; the almost song-less grand illusion - world class." - Mumbai Mirror"Brilliantly written scenes lift the script and enthrall your senses" - Mid-Day

Vidhu Vinod Chopra reinvents ancient legend by giving it the contemporary treatment in Eklavya, the ballad of the Royal Guard.Despite a dubious premise and various plot-related issues that usually plague ambitious projects such as this, there are some very intriguing themes at work here, slithering beneath the surface of what appears to be an otherwise conventional melodrama in the Bollywood mold.Like a sidewinder on the dunes, Eklavya (the film) moves laterally, waits patiently, and when it eventually does manage to sink its teeth in, it doesn't let go.At the very core of the film, beyond the concepts of loyalty, bloodlust and caste-ism, is the examination of male pride and masculinity.Rarely has a Hindi Movie tackled this subject from such close quarters. Eklavya is an attempt to expose the patriarchal autocracy that has existed in India in the form of culture and custom for centuries.Women are subjugated, peasants are exploited and "lower-castes" are sacrificed in eerie Poe-fashion – all in the name of tradition.The Rana, the Head of the Royal Family, is a man of innumerable wealth and prestige. However, his position and standing is merely a facade, behind which lies a shriveled, wretched creature.He is unable to beget children, and his own offspring have been fathered by his loyal servant. To add insult to injury, the king suffers from a severe case of male pattern baldness and must wear a wig to keep up appearances.The male ego is a fragile thing. As a result, the Rana's entire psychological makeup unfolds like a house of cards. Deeply insecure and threatened, he concocts a devious plan to reclaim his tattered manhood. But there are other forces at work, and in true Shakespearean/Greek Tragedy fashion, the fates eventually conspire against him.An early scene, where the Rana asphyxiates his queen, is one charged with sexual fervor – the only time in the film where he truly gets to exercise any form of authority.The Royal Emblem, a Golden Sun against a Red Flag, the ultimate symbol of virility and power, is but a sham. When the Rana draws his final breath in the arms of the Loyal Guard, the late evening Sun can be seen setting in the background.In counterpoint is the queen, who dies by the Full Moon, which represents the female element. Chopra pays homage here to Satyajit Ray's masterpiece Devi by dissolving from the queen's bindi onto the moon.In an interesting side-note, Ray's film also addresses pertinent issues regarding patriarchy. Sharmila Tagore plays the actress in both pictures.Vidya Balan's jewelry, the conch-shaped object that rests on her forehead and the crescent earrings are also symbolic of the feminine principle.The attention to minute elements in the film are borderline obsessive. In a certain shot, the camera picks up on a butterfly fluttering in the lower left corner of the frame as Eklavya pulls up into the neighboring castle in the distance. The butterfly has nothing to do with the narrative and will almost certainly go unnoticed, but it is moments like these that add to the overall fabric and texture of the film. The Devil is in the details.Chopra even uses darkness to great dramatic effect in a subsequent scene where the Royal Guard confronts an enemy. Like Bresson famously said, "the eye can see, but the ear can imagine." He also dazzles with set-pieces, and even though he is occasionally guilty of flying off the rails, the sequence in which a blindfolded Eklavya snaps off the tiny bells tied to a dove's feet, breaks new ground in Hindi Cinema. Literally.The original Eklavya incident from the Mahabharata is well documented. Obedient pupil cuts off thumb at command of his "teacher" as tuition payment.The Freudian theories of the Castration Complex aside, the thumb is also a mark of identity. The thumbprint is used as a form of personal signature even today.The Royal Guard must therefore abandon his sense of self and metaphorically cut off a digit – performing the ultimate sacrifice – severing all ties with his own flesh and blood, even going to the extent of executing his son - all to restore ancient tradition. A moral dilemma of Biblical proportions.Even though the resolution of the film is rather unsatisfactory, employing the typical Hollywood (read: Bollywood) ending, with everything neatly tied up in a bow – Eklavya does manage to successfully excavate old ghosts and even conjure up some new ones.The King is dead. Long live the King.

Bollywood has been churning up some impressive films recently,and improving the quality of their films.But they have yet to learn to master the art of film-making.Their films are not yet perfect or great; they still have a long way to go.But after having seen this film,I'm glad to say that they are getting close.Bollywood has the potential to make great movies and they are trying and improving and almost getting there.But they still fall short of spectacular results.I would say EKLAVYA is by far the best of the very,very rare number of good films that Bollywood has made throughout their existence.Why,because it's more focused and well made than any of their minute number of good films.It's got rich atmosphere,intriguing setup,brilliant visuals,impressive sets,costumes and a different vision.But,overall,it is still a flawed epic.The story revolves around a family,that is hiding secrets that once revealed,might have deadly consequences upon them.It is inspired by some of Shakespeare's works and it echoes throughout the film.It's about one aging guard(Bachchan),named Eklavya; who has served for the family all his life.Many generations of his family has served before him and he must continue to do so,carry on their legacy.The family of the Kindom of Devigarh itself has mysteries that keeps echoing throughout the film.Eklavya has sworn to protect the family no matter what.He also protects some of the secrets that can never be spread throughout the Kindom.Until,one night,the Queen of the Kindom dies,besides her is her mourning husband.This starts the doubts and accusations within the family.The Queen's Son,Prince Harshwardhan(Khan) arrives to take responsibility of the family.But there are other things going on in the palace.Slowly,one mystery after another pops up and secrets are revealed,and as the story progresses we see more and more people dying because of the secrets.Putting Eklavya into a painful position and come to terms with the happenings and the truths about this family's dark history.EKLAVYA is an intriguing period piece.It blends ancient settings with modern lifestyle.Giving the film a unique look.The film functions like a thriller,but focusing more on melodrama and characters,that aren't well written.And it's a well made drama that borderlines on melodrama.But the film has flaws,especially in the second half and by the time it ends,it feels incomplete.It's a relatively short film by Bollywood standards and I was more than surprised.Not only did it manage to tell an engrossing story but also wrapped it up with style with its short length.And the best thing is that it's devoid of songs,only one song throughout the film.But,I guess,because the story is wrapped around an epic setting,it needed a longer running time to develop the plot and characters more.Some of the characters were weak and not well written,some of their back stories are never told and leaves a lot to be desired.First half or so into the movie,you are hooked and quite entertained,but after the interval,the film slowly drags,since the plot becomes weak and it's going in one direction; so there isn't much to tell.Subplots are added to compensate the running time.In other words,it could've trimmed a little more of the length and finished it quickly.That would've made the film perfect.But it gets boring as it drags the story and adds subplot and makes the whole of second half contrived.But the third act,which is the big revelation of who is behind the whole scenario,somewhat pays off with satisfaction.Praise the Director who manages to keep the story afloat,which could've been worse.The whole movie could've been worse if it were handled by someone else.But the Director impresses you with his visual presentation of the story and keep you entertained.His script might be flawed but he succeeds in good storytelling,which is rare in Bollywood. But what he should be thanking most is the film's Cinematography,which elevates the material and gives a bold and rich look to the film.And some impressive set design and costumes,with able score.However,what really keeps this film afloat is the acting.Each and every actor deserves equal recognition.They all have a part to play and they all help in move the story forward.You can't just give out all the praises to Bachchan alone.He was terrific,but the other actors allowed him to emote the character well.But,of course,Mr.Bachchan's performance is the strength of the film.His silence and his eyes says more than his words.I've never liked this actor and thought he was yet another over-hyped Bollywood actor,like any other.But after watching him in this,I understand why people worship him.But I still thought he could've done a little better.Saif Ali Khan was quite competent and gives a good supporting performance,but his character doesn't allows him to do much.This guy has the looks and moves of a good actor.Sanjay Dutt was just great in his small part.Booman Irani's character was flawed as well,and his acting sometimes goes from over the top to annoying.But if that's what his character was supposed to be,than he succeeds.He manages to make his character dark enough to be impressed.Jackie Shroff , Jimmy Shergil as well as the beautiful Vidya Balan have little to do and wouldn't really comment on them.On the whole,this is an ambitious piece of work that could've been better.But for what it is,it's a fine example that Bollywood is capable of making good movies,only if they try.And I hope they keep making films like these.I would like to see more of it in the future.This, with films like Black Friday, proves that Bollywood is learning, and improving but they have yet to learn a lot to be able to compete at a world class level. However,Indian audiences opt for mindless junks or poorly made films like Dhoom 2 or Guru than appreciating films like this one.Reducing the chances of making films like Eklavya .I wouldn't recommend this film to be sent as an entry to the Oscars,Black Friday deserves that position.But it wouldn't hurt if they send it.This film goes to my list of only a handful of Bollywood films that I've enjoyed.B-, 3/5 , 7/10

It's artfully shot like other V.V.Chopra movies. The male star cast has given stellar acting performances. Amitabh is brilliant (for a change), Boman is starkly poignant and Sanjay Dutt is rock-solid. What then stops the film from being an engrossing entertainer or a classic art film? The reason, ladies and gentlemen, seems to be the director's confusion about whether he wanted an out and out commercial entertainer or a subtle artsy classic. The treatment goes from extremely spoofable (the screenplay is THAT mediocre) to intensely admirable between shots-and that is where the audience's attention wanes.Set in the here and now, the film is about skeletons in royal cupboards and illegitimate royalty. King Rana Jaywardhan (Boman Irani)'s impotence results in Eklavya (Amitabh Bachchan)'s sleeping with Queen Suhasinidevi (Sharmila Tagore). While she's bed-ridden, the queen gets foolish enough to ask her husband to fetch her lover and gets strangled. It is then upto Prince Harshwardhan (Saif Ali Khan), Eklavya and Sanju the brash and witty cop to seek revenge and justice and a very sweet'n'syrupy family reunion. Amitabh has done great justice to this role of a lifetime. - Ditto with Boman. - Sanjay Dutt is refreshing. - Vidya Balan plays a very unconvincing Rajjo, Harshwardhan's childhood sweetheart. (Someone could do with a few hours in the gym there.) - Raima Sen turns in an unremarkable but just about OK performance as Harshwardhan's mentally challenged twin sister, Princess Nandini. - Sharmila Tagore disappoints greatly. - Jimmy Shergill and Jackie Shroff are surprisingly good. - Saif doesn't have all that much to do differently-given a rather conventional role and a more conventional approach to handling it. But he seems to have done whatever justice he could.The music's nothing great, the romance lacks spark. But yes, it deserves a chance for sure.