Mystic mysteries unfold. Review on Banaras - A Mystic Love Story

Spirituality couldn't have manifested itself in such a lucid manner. The last time I saw it on celluloid was Rang De Basanti a history that was so distant yet made so relevant and identifiable to today's times and to today's generation. This movie Banaras strikes on the same chord. Spirituality and mysticism which is so distant and incomprehensible to those who have never experienced it, made so relevant and identifiable with this story of two lovers.

It’s a story of two superior minds, of Soham and Shwetambri who have transcended as intelligent people. One a brilliant student of physics who in a scene is shown as being greatly fascinated by the explanation of meta physics by her professor. Other a maestro of music, a mystic. One who has transcended paranormal.

It’s a story of unearthly love; uninhibited yet very slow, subtle, gentle, and spiritual. It connects them. As in Shwetambri’s words ’’ Soham ek ehsaas hai’’

Love is shown divine in this film. Love, which is not sensuous. Superiority of human nature has been subtly touched upon and left for the audiences to experience it.

Spirituality is not shown as just connecting with God. Spirituality manifests as the act of forgiving. Shwetambri forgives her mother the moment she gets to know the fact after she sees the ring in the drawer. She herself is shattered as she is the one who lost her lover, whose mother betrayed her, but the fact that she did not have any malice towards anyone but despair.

Banarasunfolds the mysteries of spirituality yet leaves a lot to be discovered. A connection with oneself that gets to its peak by the end of the movie and lingers on long after.

There is lot of symbolism used throughout the film. Like the seed that should evolve to become a tree must get water, sunshine and the earth to enable it sprout and full bloom. Likewise, seed in Soham or Shwetambri must evolve through practice of what they are gifted with. That explains their intelligence, in their respective fields. The seed of mysticism must evolve also. This is done in case of Soham by his devoted meditation and in case of Shwetambri through her experiences of love and despair.

Both of them fulfill the purpose of their life - self-realization. Soham is the medium of Shwetambri and hence her connection.

There is another symbolism used - the rudraksh. Rudrakshapart from it’s other significance is also a symbol of wisdom. It is said that rudrakshis for attaining the superior powers of the mind and intelligence. It aids and facilitates the same. Shwetambri was given these two gifts by Soham, at the time when he was about to go away from her life. Soham must die and Shwetambri must carry on her quest for self-realisation, which she attains very well.

Food for the mind and the soul. Watch it. Even if you may not get all the messages imbibed but still some messages will make sense as you go through life. It’s not just entertainment but much precious experience.

Thanks to the directors who put in so much research and meticulously transform the message to make it meaningful in our context. We need such cinema - in mainstream.