Masaan - review
Tu kisi rail si guzarti hai,
Main kisi pull sa thartharata hoon !
Main kisi pull sa thartharata hoon !
From the Ghaats of the holy Ganga comes an astonishingly beautiful and bold gem of a movie -- Masaan. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, and presented by Drishyam films, this movie has already won the hearts of serious movie connoisseurs in Cannes and in Ahmedabad.
Set in the picturesque town of Varanasi, this film-- as it has proclaimed in the trailer itself-- 'Celebrates Life, Death and Everything in between.'
Set in the picturesque town of Varanasi, this film-- as it has proclaimed in the trailer itself-- 'Celebrates Life, Death and Everything in between.'
Its not a single story. Its a unification of two stories, saperate on the surface, but joined by a common thread -- Banares. Two rivers, formed by rivulets of myriad instances flowing parallel, merging -metaphorically so- at the Sangam.
Devi, who is caught between anger, guilt, and shame after her encounter with her boyfriend in a hotel room turns awry when they are busted by a corrupt policeman threatening to defame the couple, and the boy, in an attempt to save the humiliation, commits suicide -- leaving behind a shattered Devi to fight the blackmailing policeman to save her and her father's pride. Sustaining her father's anger and frustration, she struggles to find a place of her own in the society, where women are leered at the workplaces and their dignity questioned each time for their choices. She is full of anger when she finds herself betrayed by her lover in committing suicide, at the same time, feeling guilty for the same and trying to make up for it by confronting his parents.
Then there is Deepak, an engineering student belonging to the family which cremates corpses at Harishchandra Ghaat for a living. Deepak falls in love with a beautiful Gupta girl Shaalu who is mad for poetry and they both take vows to give Janam Janam ka saath and all... but Deepak is afraid of revealing his caste, afraid that he might lose the love of his life. But he is a strong soul, he collects the pieces of his shattered heart when she leaves, and moves on towards his dream.
Both of them are tied to the city of Banares, where there are strong barriers between the castes, where dialogues like:
"Ladki Upper-caste hai dost, jyada senti mat hona.." make immense sense.
And where a bribe of 3 lakh rupees is taken with condescendence for not posting your daughter's nude video on youtube.
"Ladki Upper-caste hai dost, jyada senti mat hona.." make immense sense.
And where a bribe of 3 lakh rupees is taken with condescendence for not posting your daughter's nude video on youtube.
The only fear we have while watching an art-film with a strong storyline is that of being bombarded by either under-acting or painfully over-acting. This movie saves you from both. The director has brewed all the characters in just the right amount of taste. And that is pretty awesome!
The movie earns its respect from the honesty with which the actors portray their character. Like, when asked by his girlfriend: "Mirza Ghalib ka naam to suna hoga aapne..." And the guy is like: "Haan.... wo...." and that natural expression of slight embarrassment caused by the ignorance shines on his face. And there, there the movie strikes a chord.
Every minor details are so much taken care of that when Devi's father negotiates her salary with her boss, you could notice just the fine lines of mute anger on her face, disagreeing with the way her independence is being throttled. The hesitation in calling her dead boyfriend's father and the impromptu improvisation she makes through tears choking her voice: "hum Kaashi bank se bol rahe hain, ek nayi scheme hai ..."
Every minor details are so much taken care of that when Devi's father negotiates her salary with her boss, you could notice just the fine lines of mute anger on her face, disagreeing with the way her independence is being throttled. The hesitation in calling her dead boyfriend's father and the impromptu improvisation she makes through tears choking her voice: "hum Kaashi bank se bol rahe hain, ek nayi scheme hai ..."
All over, the movie seems to be painted in two major colors -- Macabre, and Cute.
Macabre as in the burning corpses at the Ghaats, and the kids fishing for coins in the water, and the way the Lover is beaten by the police for the so called indecency.
Macabre as in the burning corpses at the Ghaats, and the kids fishing for coins in the water, and the way the Lover is beaten by the police for the so called indecency.
Cute, as in everything Shaalu and Deepak do together. Shaalu seems to be bursting with cuteness. ( I could not think of any word other than Cute,which is more apt for the sweetness of her smile and the playful way she talks and the way she recites poetry.)
From the way she haggles with the Bhujiya wala to the "Aap bahot buddhu hain - aur pyaare bhi..." to "agar aap hine hamein rula diya to ?" to "ghar main sabse chhote haina, isiliye sab itna pyaar karte hain"
She fills the screen with the radiance of her cuteness in every friggin frame! Except her last - when - lying there, moving not even a muscle of her face, she manages to crush your heart with so heavy a pain, that brings tears to the toughest eyes.
Sanjay Mishra is a well invested actor. I just can't understand why he has wasted so many years doing comedy roles when he could've easily pulled serious roles with such a great expertise? And the scene where he asks his daughter who intends to move out: ".... Aur hum? Hum nahin fit hote kahin ? Ghaat par hi so lenge...."
From the way she haggles with the Bhujiya wala to the "Aap bahot buddhu hain - aur pyaare bhi..." to "agar aap hine hamein rula diya to ?" to "ghar main sabse chhote haina, isiliye sab itna pyaar karte hain"
She fills the screen with the radiance of her cuteness in every friggin frame! Except her last - when - lying there, moving not even a muscle of her face, she manages to crush your heart with so heavy a pain, that brings tears to the toughest eyes.
Sanjay Mishra is a well invested actor. I just can't understand why he has wasted so many years doing comedy roles when he could've easily pulled serious roles with such a great expertise? And the scene where he asks his daughter who intends to move out: ".... Aur hum? Hum nahin fit hote kahin ? Ghaat par hi so lenge...."
Talking about other supporting characters, everyone has done their part best. The inspector Mishra, with his tough and menacing look, riding an Bullet fits perfect. And the brotherly K.K supporting every move, paving way for the novice Deepak. Sadhyaji, with his polite shuddh Hindi. And Baba, taking immense pleasure in watching his beloved son read for the exam towards the liberation he will bring of his family from poverty.
In this movie, the river Ganga seems to have a character of her own. The same river which earns his lively hood, snatches away the love of Deepak's life. She conspires to bring the ring thrown away by Deepak to the hands of the kid who dives for collecting coins, in the end helping Vidyadhar easing away his izzat from the inspectors grip. And when Devi pays her tribute to her dead lover, by floating the un-opened gift from Piyush, in Gangaji, she carries it away gracefully, taking away the sorrow and the pain.
In this movie, the river Ganga seems to have a character of her own. The same river which earns his lively hood, snatches away the love of Deepak's life. She conspires to bring the ring thrown away by Deepak to the hands of the kid who dives for collecting coins, in the end helping Vidyadhar easing away his izzat from the inspectors grip. And when Devi pays her tribute to her dead lover, by floating the un-opened gift from Piyush, in Gangaji, she carries it away gracefully, taking away the sorrow and the pain.
Before I end, look at the awesome lines penned by the writer, that is the heart of the film.
Jhontwa: "apne paise ka ghoom rahe hain, usme aapki kya sulag rahi hai?"
Inspector Mishra: "Kabhi bi humse molbhaav mat kariyega, Panditji. Saabun bechne aaye hai kya apke darwaaze pe?"
Vidhyadhar: "kya kaand kar ke aayi ho?"
Devi: "agar dobara aisi gandi baat vala phone kiya na to dauda ke maarenge."
K. K: (consoling the shattered Deepak) : "chup hoja Deepak, warna bahot maarenge tumhe."
Sadhyaji: "jo aadmi kheer nahin khaaya, wo manushya yoni main paida hone ka purnatah faayda nahin uthaaya."
Deepak: "Pataa nahin" (after Shaalu finds him marveling at her face)
Shaalu: "Pataa nahin" (after Deepak asks that will she marry him?)
Just a small phrase, but to measure the intensity of emotions with which it has been spoken, you'll have to watch the movie. Again. And again. And again.
Just a small phrase, but to measure the intensity of emotions with which it has been spoken, you'll have to watch the movie. Again. And again. And again.
There is a strong message conveyed by the movie. That, whatever happens -- no matter how big the mishap, the tragedy-- you can not stay stuck there. You ought to move on. Albeit it leaves a scar, but still-- life goes on.
On the basis of watchability, I would rate this movie Masaan 95/100 stars. Highly recommended to watch if you're a serious movie lover.
On the basis of watchability, I would rate this movie Masaan 95/100 stars. Highly recommended to watch if you're a serious movie lover.
The Making of the movie: The Soul of Masaan
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