Straight from Marrakech: Ram Leela gets a standing ovation

On Saturday evening Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela received a standing ovation at the Marrakech Film Festival where it was the opening film. The screening was attended by the film’s director Sanjay Leela Bhansali (SLB) and his leading lady Deepika Padukone. She flew into Marrackech on Friday afternoon just in time for the screening and flew out again on Saturday night. Deepika wowed the foreign press who were curious to know how she approached the role of the Indian Juliet. Speaking from Marrakech right after two screenings of Ram Leela, SLB said, “What took me aback was how well-informed the foreign press was about Indian cinema and Ram Leela. They knew all about the film’s genesis and the protests that accompanied its release. Attending this festival has been an eye-opening experience for me. No film of mine has been so warmly received. I feel I’ve come home.” Coming home is not on SLB’s mind right now. Now that the screening of his film at Marrakech is over he’s off on a European holiday visiting cities he has not visited before. Back home Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela continues to go great guns (pun intended). All the films released post SLB’s film—Punit Malhotra’s Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, Anil Sharma’s Singh Saab The Great and this week’s Bullett Raja—have under-performed at the box office, leaving the cost clear for the desi Romeo & Juliet to have an uninterrupted run at the box office.