Queen (2013) Review: A Solo Honeymoon Worth Taking

Is Queen worth watching?

Yes. Queen is a funny, warm and quietly radical film, and Kangana Ranaut’s performance as a sheltered young woman discovering her own independence is one of the best in modern Hindi cinema. Vikas Bahl finds comedy in Rani’s naivety without ever mocking her, and the film’s message of self-reliance arrives through character rather than speeches. The reservations are a slightly baggy runtime and some broadly drawn foreign characters.

What is Queen about?

Rani Mehra (Ranaut) is a shy, protected young woman from a middle-class family in Delhi, days away from marrying Vijay (Rajkummar Rao), the man she has been devoted to. Then, on the eve of the wedding, he calls it off. Heartbroken and humiliated, Rani makes a surprising decision: she will go on the European honeymoon they had planned, alone.

She has never travelled without her family, and at first Paris overwhelms her. But a friendship with the free-spirited Vijayalakshmi (Lisa Haydon) and the strangers she meets along the way start to change how she sees the world, and herself.

Queen is directed by Bahl, runs 146 minutes, and is a Hindi-language Indian production shot largely in Paris and Amsterdam. It premiered at the Mumbai Film Festival in 2013 and went on to win the National Film Award for Best Hindi Film, with Ranaut also winning Best Actress.

Kangana Ranaut’s star-making performance

The film belongs to Ranaut. Her Rani is naive, awkward and funny, but never a caricature, and Ranaut makes her gradual transformation entirely believable. She is superb at physical comedy, from Rani’s panic in a Parisian street to her first taste of alcohol, but she also brings real pain to the character’s heartbreak and loneliness. The performance, which she shaped in part by contributing to the dialogue, feels spontaneous and lived-in.

Rajkummar Rao, in a small but crucial role, makes Vijay convincingly self-absorbed without turning him into a villain, and Lisa Haydon is a vivid presence as Vijayalakshmi, whose openness and warmth offer Rani a glimpse of a different kind of life.

Comedy of culture shock, told with warmth

Queen’s humour comes from Rani’s encounters with an unfamiliar world, from food to nightlife to the strangers she shares a hostel room with. The film treats these experiences with warmth rather than cynicism, and the friendships Rani forms, with people from very different backgrounds, give the story its heart. Amit Trivedi’s lively soundtrack adds to the sense of discovery.

The film’s quiet boldness lies in how it treats Rani’s liberation. There is no male saviour or grand romantic rescue. Instead, Rani learns to enjoy her own company, make her own decisions and see her life on her own terms, and the film trusts that journey to be as satisfying as any love story.

Where the trip runs long

The film’s length is its main weakness. Some episodes in Europe feel repetitive, and the pace slows in the middle. Several of the foreign characters are drawn in broad strokes, sometimes bordering on stereotype, and a few comic set pieces play more like sitcom than the film’s more observant moments. These are minor issues, but they keep the film from being quite perfect.

Who should watch Queen?

It is ideal for anyone who enjoys Hindi comedy and character-driven drama, stories of self-discovery and travel, and strong central performances. At nearly two and a half hours, it is a full evening. Content is mild, with some drinking, frank but not explicit references to sex, and mild language, making it suitable for teenagers and up.

Three natural follow-ups:

• Laapataa Ladies, another warm Hindi comedy-drama about young brides finding their own voices.
• Kapoor & Sons, a funny, moving family drama about young people figuring out who they are.
• PK, a big-hearted comedy that shares Queen’s mix of laughter and social observation.

The verdict

Queen is a delightful, genuinely moving film about a young woman discovering her own strength, anchored by one of the great performances of modern Hindi cinema. It runs a little long, but its humour, warmth and quietly radical heart make it a joy to watch.

Rating: 4.5/5