No place in the world is associated with Religion & Death simultaneously as Benaras / Banaras / Varanasi / Kaashi …. Every Hindu wants end his life’s journey in the abode of Lord Shiva …. Having a good death is as important as having good life….. That is ” Kaashi “ for you in two justified sentences ….
” Banaras ” Movie also sends same intensity of thoughts as you really get into the movie…. though it is just portrayed as “ A Mystic Love story ”
Pankaj Parashar has handled the story with utmost sensitivity as the topic deserves ….. the background score by Surender Sodhi is great… Banaras has been Mystically and beautifully captured on celluloid by Nirav Shah. .. Dilouges have been just out of life, Natural, heart rendering by Javed Siddiqui
Urmila[ Shwethambari] the epitome of ethereal beauty has done more than justice to her role as a Love / Spiritually inclined scholar of religion …. Dimple[ Gayatri devi] dons the role of a mother with the sophistication, her performance is out of the world when she reveals the truth in the climax ….. None other than Raj Babbar [Mahendranath] would have done justice to the role of doting father who ignores the social restrictions for the sake and happiness of his daughter…… Ashmit patel[ Soham] is an discovery to many in this movie, who has proven his mettle impresses anyone tremendously.
The movie is for a sophisticated niche audience that can watch it with an open mind… as the story revolves around the caste system that still prevails in certain parts of the country…. the journey into self realisation…. supreme struggle towards life without attachments….. Conspiracy of a mother to protect her prodigy……. Revealation of sordid truth….. coming to terms with reality….. one roller coaster ride into the turmoils of human emotions….
Shwetambari, a svelte, young daughter of rich Brahmin parents, studies science at an University in Banaras. Soham , is a low caste mystic who teaches music at the University. When the two fall in love, hell breaks loose.
Despite of all opposition from the orthodox society …. parents finally give in and consent to the marriage …. but desiny had its own design… soham gets murdered on the day of marriage…. Shweta abondons the most coveted city Banaras …. Searching for answers she embarks into journey of introspection…. tries to detach herself from all worldy ties .. as the despair looms on her life….
The movie unfolds unexpected series of events towards the climax… when Shweta, now a world teacher in philosophy and religion returs to Benaras after 17 years to meet her father on death bed…. fighting her inner turbulence as she denies all her attachments ….. Little does she realize that she is going to confront the sleeping demons and the dark secrets lying underneath erupt like a dormant volcano…… that will question the very being of her so called Self realization……. the movie takes you to the zenith of emotions in the concluding part when she realizes her own mother was the mastermind behind the Murder os Soham…. ..
Well …… I had a good Handkerchief to see me through the tears that was streaming through my eyes unknowingly … uncontrollably…..
Not a Movie for the masses though!!!
