What I love the most about cinema is that not only it shows stories happening all around us, but it also gives a chance to relive the times before us through the magic on screen. Be it the days of our ancient culture or the recent past, cinema has the power to transport us to the times that we can only imagine. Recently, Ranveer Singh-led ’83 gave me a chance to live the iconic and victorious moment in the Indian sports history, and now with Gangubai Kathiawadi up next, and the release of the teaser of Shamshera today, I have gotten all the more excited for the year to come.
Here are the period dramas that will transport us to history in 2022:
Gangubai Kathiawadi
Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s Gangubai Kathiawadi featuring Alia Bhatt in the titular lead role, is the first period drama in the offing and the stunning trailer of the film released earlier this month has already raised my expectations from it. While Alia’s performance is looking top notch and promising, SLB seems to be back at creating the grandeur that he is known for, and I can’t wait to get transported into the world of Kamathipura under his vision on screen on February 25.
RRR
Although Alia was supposed to arrive as Sita in RRR first, but now the actress will be seen in SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus, after Gangubai Kathiawadi. This Ram Charan and Jr NTR-starrer has already created waves across the nation with its action-packed trailer and it has made me curious to find out the story of Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitaraman Raju. With Rajamouli’s vision behind it, I am certain that RRR is going to be legendary.
Maidaan
After doing cameos in Gangubai Kathiawadi and RRR, Ajay Devgn is all set to take me to the golden era of Indian football, where he is playing the part of football coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Being a sports enthusiast, and especially after witnessing the masterpiece that was ’83, I am stoked to see the representation of football on the big screen. And with Ajay’s name associated with it, it already becomes a must-watch.
Prithviraj
After pushing the release a few times due to the pandemic, Akshay Kumar is now set to come on the big screen as King Prithviraj Chauhan in Prithviraj on June 10 this year. While I am curious to see how the actor has immersed himself in this historical drama, I am more excited about the debut of Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar. I have followed Manushi’s journey since her pageantry days, thus I am really looking forward to see her make a successful transition to showbiz now.
Shamshera
The return of Ranbir Kapoor to the big screen has been long awaited one, and finally I got a date with him today, as the makers announced the new release date for Shamshera to be July 22, 2022. This will be the first time that Ranbir will be attempting a historical, and I am excited to see him in the role of a warrior in this. After Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, my expectations from Vaani Kapoor have also increased, so the combination of these two with Sanjay Dutt as the antagonist, has my excitement up the roof.
Adipurush
After giving the Indian film industry the momentous and much celebrated franchise, Baahubali, Prabhas is now all set to portray the character of Lord Ram opposite Kriti Sanon‘s Goddess Sita in Om Raut‘s Adipurush. I am really looking forward to seeing this large-scale adaptation of the mythology Ramayana on screen, and the director and producers have already promised that the VFX of this film would be something never-seen-before. But above that, personally, I am much more pumped up about Saif Ali Khan taking on the role of Lankesh, as after Tanhaji, I have become an admirer of his grey portrayals.
Pippa
This war-drama featuring Ishaan Khatter, Mrunal Thakur and Priyanshu Painyuli has been on my watch list ever since it was announced. Ishaan plays the part of war veteran Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta of the 45th Cavalry Tank Squadron, who, along with his siblings, fought on the eastern front during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, and I am really intrigued to see how the actor picks up the nuances and physicality required for this role. The premise of the film is already pretty exciting, and this fresh cast just makes it all the more worthwhile and the perfect end for 2022.
It’s always informative to see the history being laid out in front of us through cinema as we get to enjoy victories, feel the pain and anguish and observe the grandeur of the past. These stories are promising me just that. The history nerd in me is all pumped up for this amazing line up, and these films will surely make my 2022 a lot better.