Aishwarya Rai Abhishek Bachchan Starrer Raavan Was 'Bizarre': Nikhil Dwivedi

Nikhil Dwivedi recently shared his views on Mani Ratnam's film 'Raavan' starring Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, highlighting its peculiar storytelling and unnecessary changes to the classic mythology as reasons for its failure. While he appreciated the film's visual appeal, he felt the performances were wasted due to a flawed narrative. Dwivedi questioned the need to alter a timeless story, despite acknowledging the director's effort and dedication.

In an interview with DNA, Nikhil admitted that 'Raavan' didn't benefit him in any way. Although some people might have liked the film, he believed it was poorly made and failed to make an impact on his career. He expressed that while the movie was visually stunning, its narrative was hard to follow.

Criticism from a Viewer’s Perspective

When asked if his character lacked depth, Nikhil clarified that his criticism wasn't from an actor's perspective but as a viewer. He found 'Raavan' visually appealing and among the most aesthetically pleasing films. However, he felt the performances were wasted due to a flawed narrative.

In 'Raavan,' Mani Ratnam reimagined the epic by showing Ragini (Aishwarya Rai) developing feelings for Beera (Abhishek Bachchan), while Dev Pratap (Vikram) kills Beera treacherously. Reflecting on this creative twist, Nikhil said that while every storyteller has the right to tell their version, sometimes there's an attempt to outsmart the original by adding unexpected changes.

Questioning Creative Twists

Nikhil questioned why there was a need to alter a story that has stood the test of time for thousands of years, written by masters like Valmiki and Tulsidas. He wondered why there was a need to "improve" upon such timeless narratives when they have already been perfected over centuries.

Despite his criticism, Nikhil praised Mani Ratnam's effort, noting that while the attempt to improve the story didn't succeed, the hard work behind it was evident. He acknowledged that creativity often involves risks — sometimes it works, but other times it doesn't.

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