Rangoon is set in 1943, when the British colonials in India were fighting the advancing Japanese and Netaji Bose's Azad Hind Army on the country's north east along the Myanmar border and a resurgent freedom struggle under Mahatma across the country. On this wide and raging canvas, Vishal Baradwaj crafts a love triangle involving a clutch of plucky characters. Rusi (Saif Ali Khan) a Parsi aristocrat and an erstwhile action hero whose career was cut short by an accident where he loses a hand and becomes a movie producer. Nawab Mallik (Shahid Kapoor) is jamadar in the British Indian army. And, then there is Miss Julia (Kangana Ranaut), a daredevil movie star who complements the incomplete lives of both these men.

Kangana is fabulous as the pioneering action star of her times and is able to ace a role which is physically as well as emotionally demanding. She owns this part and explores its innocence, action, romance, confusions, arrogance, vulnerability as well obsession with aplomb. Shahid is excellent as the sincere jamadar Nawab Mallik who is torn between his mission and his love for Miss Julia. Saif is a natural as a bruised aristocrat who is driven to desperation to salvage his life and love slipping away. Of the competent supporting cast, the notable performances are from Saharsh Shukla as Zulfi, Miss Julia's make-up man and confidante and Richard McCabe as the British General Harding with a taste for Urdu poetry.

After completing his spectacular trilogy of Shakespearean tragedies with Maqbool, Omkara and Haider, in Rangoon, Vishal Bharadwaj presents an ambitious period drama set against the second world war and packs in a potent mixture of love, action, jealousy, deceit and more through lush visuals of Pankaj Kumar.

Vishal Bhardwaj also excels as the music director as he delivers a background score that accentuates the moods of the movie even as continues his fruitful collaboration with Gulzar and the duo have come up with some wonderful songs.

Rangoon, thus, presents quite a heady cocktail of fine performances, several stand-out sequences such as the conversation between Kangana and a captured Japanese soldier, both glib in their own languages, trademark humour, some great dialogues, superb songs and captivating cinematography. Yet, one feels that there is something amiss which stops it short of being a masterpiece that it seeks to be. The romance does not exactly set the screen afire, the narrative fabric couldn't consistently weave together the multiple strands, the length could have been a tad trimmer or perhaps, the finale could have been much more nuanced.

Vishal Bhardwaj when comes to film making has a vision that is illustrated in his earlier ventures. The music in his movies always stand apart this could also be seen, as a highlight in this undertaking.

Rangoon is set up in the pro-independence India. This movie is different from his earlier Shakespearean outings Haider, Omkara and Maqbool. The Cinematography is excellent. The music is as usual the high point of the movie.

Leading cast is excellent, with Saif again portraying frightening and is reminiscent of langda Tyagi from Omkara.

Shaid deserves an applaud not as superlative performance as in Haider but still top notch.

Kangna again shows why she is considered as a queen of Bollywood . She dances and manages action sequences with ease.

The movie keeps the viewers engrossed throughout. The patriotic song Jan Gan man infuses patriotism when played and beautifully composed by Vishal.

Than what is the issue with this flick? The problem lies in the script of this movie. The last 20 to 25 minutes of the movie struggles and make it tedious for the viewers.

The climax is elongated and gives an unscrupulous taste to the movie. Overall an highly ambitious project from Vishal but the climax could have been glossy and absorbing which has always been a forte of his earlier movies. Also, regulars in Bhardwaj's flicks the likes Irfan Khan and KK Menon are missed. Overall a good watch

Vishal Bhardwaj directed again in Shakespearean style War and Love triangle saga to give tribute to Azad Hind Fauj like he directed Maqbool, Omkara and Haider Movie. Kangana Ranaut is the USP of this movie as there is just good performance from Saif Ali Khan and Shahid Kapoor. Good Music created by Vishal and Gulzar sahab. There was so many songs which break the pace of the drama. Only Bloody Hell, Ye Ishq Hain and Mere MIyan gaye England were good to listen. Script need to be better treatment as there was more Dance or Performances of Julia but Pankaj Kumar's Cinematography is also good ingredient.

As movie has collected 6 crores on day 1 so it seems 40-50 crores will be lifetime collection.