Nikhil Dwivedi has recently shared his candid thoughts on Mani Ratnam's 2010 film Raavan, calling it "bizarre" and stating that it "did nothing for me". In an interview with DNA India, Dwivedi reflected on the Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer, expressing his disappointment with the film's storytelling and its impact on his career.
Dwivedi, who played a character based on Laxmana in the film, admitted that Raavan was a "badly-made film" where the actors were wasted due to bizarre storytelling. While acknowledging that some viewers may have enjoyed the film, he maintains that it was a poorly executed project that failed to benefit him in any way.
Dwivedi clarified that his criticism stems not from an actor's perspective but from that of a viewer. He felt that while Raavan was visually stunning and aesthetically pleasing, the narrative was difficult to follow. He described the storytelling as flawed and bizarre, suggesting it was an experimental attempt that ultimately failed to connect with the audience.
A key point of contention for Dwivedi was the film's reimagining of the epic Ramayana. In Raavan, Mani Ratnam introduced a creative twist by depicting Ragini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), based on Sita, developing feelings for Beera (Abhishek Bachchan), based on Raavan, while Dev Pratap (Vikram), based on Rama, kills Beera through treachery. Dwivedi questioned the necessity of altering a story that has been told and refined over thousands of years. He pondered why filmmakers would attempt to "improve" upon timeless narratives penned by Valmiki and Tulsidas.
Despite his criticism, Dwivedi lauded Mani Ratnam for his efforts and hard work. He acknowledged that creativity involves risk, and sometimes experiments don't succeed. He stated that he could see the effort that Mani Ratnam put into the film.
Released in 2010, Raavan faced mixed to negative reviews and proved to be a commercial failure in Hindi, though the Tamil version, Raavanan, fared somewhat better. The film featured an ensemble cast, including Vikram, Govinda, Ravi Kishan, and Priyamani. The music, composed by AR Rahman with lyrics by Gulzar, was well-received, but the film as a whole failed to resonate with a wide audience.
Mani Ratnam himself has since reflected on the film's shortcomings, admitting that making Raavan as a bilingual project was a mistake. He felt that simultaneously creating two versions put a strain on him, leading to a disconnect with both the Hindi and Tamil audiences. He stated, "It was a case of neither here nor there".
Despite Raavan's failure, Nikhil Dwivedi has continued to work in the film industry, both as an actor and a producer. He has produced films such as Veere Di Wedding and Dabangg 3, and the Netflix thriller film CTRL. While Raavan may not have been a turning point in his career, Dwivedi acknowledged that it was a learning experience.
