Queen

If you are feeling low or down in the dumps, go watch Queen. It’s a feel-good movie that’s meaningful and funny, too.

The story revolves around Kangana Ranaut, a small-town girl who is about to get married. The opening scene is all about preparations for the wedding. The bride-to-be has stars in her eyes and is a bit nervous about the impending nuptials.

When she gets a call from her fiancé asking to meet her before the wedding, she is totally unprepared for what he has to say. He wants to call off the wedding, saying they have grown apart since the time he was abroad.

Devastated, Kangana goes home and locks herself up in her room. But something in her makes her want to go on her honeymoon....alone!

So, the girl who is escorted even to the cafe by her over-protective brother now sets off to Paris alone.

The adventures that follow are what make this movie a joy to watch. Initially, she is faced with a culture shock when she sees a woman, Lisa Haydon,  smoking and swearing. But they soon grow to be friends. With Lisa Haydon’s help, she manages to have a good time in Paris, the city of love.

Lisa helps her get a room in Amsterdam and when she sets off to Amsterdam, she is horrified to find that she is supposed to spend the night in a hostel room with three boys. However, she soon realizes that they are a good sort and hangs out with them.

From having her first “lip-to-lip” kiss to being appreciated for her culinary talents, Kangana comes into her own in Amsterdam. She learns to let her hair down and have a good time.

It’s then that her former fiancé decides to track her down and ask for forgiveness. The way she decides to go for a rock concert over meeting him in Amsterdam really makes you want to cheer for her.

With a bucketload of memories, she returns a changed woman to her hometown, stops at her former fiancé’s house only to return his ring with a “thank you” for saving her from a boring life filled with parlours and kitty parties.

Kangana has come full circle both in terms of her acting and in terms of her film choice. Her portrayal of Rani evokes your empathy and love. Lisa Haydon has acted brilliantly with her bright demeanour changing the tone of the movie in a second.

Kangana doesn’t change overnight. She still dresses the way she did earlier with no dramatic changes, but the change is more within.

This movie is a must-see for all women. It teaches you to fly even when your wings are clipped. It released around women’s day and would have made a brilliant woman’s day watch.