Apr 11, 2006 08:25 AM
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(Updated Apr 11, 2006 08:25 AM)
Banaras has a novel story with several poignant moments as its USP. A well-made film with a few loose ends nonetheless, it has much to offer as compared to the vendetta fares and mushy love stories being dished out in the garb of entertainment.
Shweatambari (Urmila Matondkar) is the daughter of rich Brahmin parents (Dimple Kapadia and Raj Babbar). She studies science at a university in Banaras. Soham (Ashmit Patel) is a low caste mystic and a protégé of Babaji (Naseerudin Shah) and teaches music at the university.
As is bound to happen, the two fall in love and all hell breaks loose. For their daughter’s happiness, the parents try to ignore the upheaval but a shattered Shweatambari decides to abandon the city.
Seventeen years later, she is confronted with a choice – to return to the city to meet her dying father or stay where she is and deny all attachments.
There's no denying that Banaras is a novel plot well told. The sequence of events and the pace at which the drama unfolds comes as a bolt from the blue. And, at times, the impact is spellbinding.Music is a sore point, which fails to elevate the goings-on. The tunes are just about okay .
Directorially, Parashar is in great form. Besides drawing outstanding performances from entire cast, he leaves a lasting impression in several sequences, like – the sequence when Dimple's true face comes to the fore (climax) and the interval point.
On the technical side, Nirav's cinematography is eye-filling. The background score is appropriate.Urmila essays a complex role with utmost ease – a simpleton and then nun. Ashmit enacts a suave character with terrific understandingDimple performance towards the end is praiseworthy. Amongst character artistes, Naseer and Raj are adequate.
Worth a watch .
