Many a times, producers bow down to market diktats and end up making films that are ancient history soon . But you do come across that rare film which lingers in your memory and remains etched even after months have elapsed.Banaras falls into latter !
Urmila Matondkar plays Shwetambari a science student at the university in Banaras. Ashmit Patel plays musician Soham.Shwetambari is charmed by the charisma of this low-caste musician. Soham, after one meditative session, is illumined by a mystic named Babaji (Naseeruddin Shah) and decides there is no harm in falling in love with the girl from the high-caste Brahmin family.
But it is a relationship that evokes the wrath of some orthodox mindsets in the holy city. First, Shwetambari faces disapproval from her mother (Dimple Kapadia) and patriarchal father (Raj Babbar). Even after the worries of her parents are placated, the lovers fail to get united.Shwetambari is shattered. Depressed, dejected and deranged, she leaves the holy city.
Seventeen years later, we find Shwetambari is now a world teacher in philosophy and religion. At this point in her life, she is confronted with one final choice, return to Banaras to meet her dying father or continue to deny all worldly attachments.
Will she decide to go back to Banaras? And if she does, will the demons and the dark secrets that have been hidden away like a dormant volcano erupt once again and destroy her peace of mind forever?
In an era where most writers/directors focus on gimmicks while the story takes a complete backseat, Banaras stands out as an exception. Here’s a story that’s refreshingly different from what you’ve viewed so far. The focus is clearly on content, not gimmicks.The film is extremely successful in drawing the viewer into its world.
Tackling a serious theme is a difficult task. And Pankaj Parashar emerges trumps. Brilliantly shot by cinematographer , the locales of Banaras cannot be described in mere words and dialogues that are soaked in emotions make it more compelling
Urmila takes giant strides as an actor. The kind of maturity she reflects in the film is rare. Asmhit is superb . Dimple is first-rate . Rajbabbar and Naseer are efficient.The music gels well with the narrative.
Banaras satiates the appetite of those looking for a story-based fare.