AFTER A long drawn battle with the Censor Board, "Elizabeth" is finally seeing commercial release in India. But perhaps the wait has been worth the while. For Shekhar Kapur who was at the helm of things, did something that not many from India have done - direct a Hollywood production.

England in the 16th Century is plagued by political and religious (Roman Catholic vs. Protestant) strife. Queen Mary Tudor (a brilliant cameo by Kathy Burke) is childless. But she and some others do not want her half-sister Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) to ascend the throne for they believe she is a heretic. She is arrested on charges of anti-relgious activities. But the queen dies and Elizabeth is crowned queen.

What follows is a series of moves and counter-moves by the council of ministers led by the Duke of Norfolk, to dethrone this pretty, petite queen. But it is not such an easy task, for Elizabeth, who as she herself says "may be a woman. But I have the heart of a man"! Indeed, she did. History tells us that her rule, of nearly 80 years, is considered the golden period in England.

The film made nearly two years ago, got a mixed response then. While several critics decried it as being historically inaccurate, others marvelled at it for its craft and for bringing freshness to the stodgy costume drama.

While the historical aspect can be left to the learned, the film is most surely a very well crafted one. Shekar Kapur and cinematographer Remi Adefarasin have brilliantly captured the turmoil and uncertainty of the era as well as the travails of an innocent young girl who goes on to become the ruthless 'virgin' monarch. Kapur, with his flamboyant Bollywood flourishes, gives the film an operatic feel a la "Godfather". In fact the final bloodbath played out to Mozart's 'Requiem', seems to be heavily inspired by Coppola's masterpiece.

Australian Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth lives and breathes the role. She infuses energy into the role and it is not just make-up, but her expressions that mark the transformation from maiden to queen.

Of the supporting cast, special mention must be made of Geoffrey Rush who plays the Machiavellian Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's trusted advisor.

The rest of the distinguished cast includes Joseph Fiennes as Lord Robert Dudley, Elizabeth's lover, Sir John Gielgud as the Pope, Sir Richard Attenborough as Sir William Cecil and Christopher Eccleston as the scheming Earl of Norfolk.

As one watches the drama unfold on screen, one is drawn into the web of deceit, plotting and political intrigue and that makes this film really an enjoyable one.