Banaras interprets the concept of existentialism with the help of a love story. It kind of connects quantum of physics to what the Vedas say.
It deals with the relationship between humans and God. An atmosphere of unrest settles in the otherwise peaceful city, when Shwethambari, an upper caste Brahmin falls for Soham, a low caste mystic..
Shwetambari, a bright young daughter of Brahmin parents, studies science at a local university in Banaras. Soham, a low-caste mystic and a protégé of Babaji, teaches music at the university.
When the two fall in love, all hell breaks loose. Her parents are not able to ignore the social strictures, forcing Shwetambari to leave the town she loves. In despair and hopelessness she turns inwards to look for answers.
Banaras truly signals the birth of restless by the time the film reaches the finale.
a cinema that is part realistic and caters to an audience that is looking for a change.The problem with film is that the viewer would saunter into the theatre expecting to watch a light entertainer, but what unfolds is a complete contrast. If the first half is decent , the film takes a dip in the post-interval portions as the Urmila decides to go separate ways from her hometown. The pace drops at regular intervals, getting boring at places, and though the end is well executed, the viewer does get restless .
Banaras boasts of some amazing performances by not just the main actors, but by the character actors as well. It would be difficult to imagine anyone except Urmila enacting the main role. To say that this is amongst her most memorable performances would be putting it very mildly and understating the performance . Dimple is fabulous .Ashmeet springs a surprise by enacting a difficult role with flourish. He is tremendous in certain sequences.
Banars is a different fare that may appeal to a select few, but those looking for escapist cinema will be sorely disappointed.Watch it at your own risk.