Queen is a refreshing film in many ways. Though it might appear as an out-and-out entertaining movie with many laugh-out-loud moments, it has many layers to it, as one discovers during the course of the film.
The protagonist Rani (Kangana Ranaut) goes through a very subtle change in her outlook towards life and the way she views herself, while she goes about fulfilling her long pending wish of going to Paris and Amsterdam. The movie unfolds through Rani's eyes, who is a middle class woman from Delhi (Rajouri, as she so proudly announces several times in the movie). Her fiance Vijay is played wonderfully by Rajkumar Rao, who has portrayed the double standards of certain men, whose idea of the ideal life partner is someone who looks good and is modern (modernity here is limited to dressing up and speaking well) but will not unnerve them by making her own choices and leading her life independently.
There are many quirky supporting characters in this film, but they do not interrupt the flow of the film in any way. One of them is Rani's adorable nani, who urges her to step out and explore Paris ('duniya ka sabse khubsoorat sheher') rather than mope in her hotel room trying to get over her heartbreak. Vijaylakshmi who is half Indian, befriends Rani in Paris and helps her loosen up and enjoy life without being weighed down by her past. Rani's trip to Amsterdam turns out to be full of surprises, new friendships and self discovery. We are shown glimpses of her bittersweet memories with Vijay through flashbacks which blend in well with the movie and make her journey of self discovery more believable.
This is one rare film, where your heart goes out to the protagonist in moments where she is shown helpless and coping with her emotional turmoil. On the downside, there are a few over the top scenes, but one can look past them in an otherwise completely enjoyable film. What I liked the most about it is the way it ends, without any melodrama and cliches and completely true to the spirit of the film.
