FILM REVIEW: BANARAS (2006)

Director: Pankaj Parashar
Cast: Raj Babbar, Dimple Kapadia, Urmila Matondkar, Ashmit Patel, Akash Khurana
Music: Himesh Reshammiya

The film is about relationship. It seems to be putting front foot depicting our understanding of life and death. Relationship of humans with God and the relationship off great men like Buddha, Kabir, Tulsi and Shankaracharya with Banaras. With this as the core subject, the film delves into the relationship of a loving young daughter, with her parents.

Shethambari (Urmila Mantondakar) daughter of rich brahmin parents (Dimple Kapadia and Raj Babbar) studies science at the local university in Banaras and falls in love with a low cast, mystic, musician Sohum (Ashmit Patel) and a protege of Babaji (Naseeruddin Shah).

When the conservative and orthodox forces come to know of their love, hell breaks loose in Banaras - the city Shethambari love and adores. Her powerful parents try to ignore the social strictures for the happiness of their daughter; the dark forces and destiny take complete control.

When she looses her beloved, shattered and disillusioned Shwetambari decides to abandon the city and in despair she turns inwards to look for answers. In the task of knowing the inner soul, the mystical preacher (Naseerudin Shah) helps her transcends her own attachments and she discovers the ultimate freedom.

17 years later, Shwetambari, now a world teacher in philosophy and religion, is confronted with a final choice. Whether to return to Banaras to meet her dying father or to continue to deny all attachments?

Will she decide to go back to Banaras? What if, her return would awake the sleeping demons and surface the deep dark secrets lying underneath? Will they erupt like a volcano and destroy her for ever?

Direction: Pankuj Parasharhas to be admired for tackling such a sensitive issue, and does so in a humane and knowledgeable way.

Cinamatography: Nirav Shah has given this film an international look by capturing the essence of the story through the lens.

Music: Himesh Reshammiya’s music is acceptable, however the background score by Surinder Sodhi has to appreciated.

Acting: Urmila Matondkar has already proven to her critics on many an occasion, and does not let down again. She has truly become an accomplished actor and, if she continues to portray hard hitting roles as this, will soon be regarded as one of the very best., Ashmit Patel does well in a role that doesn’t demand much. Naseeruddin Shah, Raj Babbar and Dimple Kapadia prove that experience in character roles does make a huge difference.

Banaras is a film for the thinking mind, and not your average masala flick. And that is why it will not fare well in the cinemas. A pity.

RS Rating: 7/10

Credit: Tony.
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