Firstly , director must be complimented for tackling a theme that defies the norms of commercial cinema. However, in totality it does not make any sense.It is much more difficult to comprehend and understand the flick .Oh! what a waste!!
Shwetambari (Urmila Matondkar) is the daughter of rich Brahmin parents, (Dimple Kapadia and Raj Babbar). She studies Physics at the Benaras Hindu university.
Soham (Ashmit Patel) is a low caste music teacher at the University. We forgot to mention Babaji (Naseeruddin Shah), who’s been dead for years but assumes a human form at times to help people in need. He is hovering around Soham most of the times as his guardian angel.
Shwetambari and Soham fall in love and there’s mayhem. At first, Shweta’s parents disapprove of the match, but when truth dawns upon them that Soham is a Hindu , they decide to get the lovers engaged.
The marriage date is fixed. But unfortunately Soham is murdered on the day of his marriage. Shweta is shattered. She becomes an introvert.
There’s a passage of time. Shwetambari has severed ties with her parents and shifted base to Mauritius.
She is now addressed as Ma. One day she gets a call from Benares informing her that her father is dying. She’s in a dilemma; to meet her father before he breathes his last or to ignore the call.
Certain sequences between Urmila and Ashmit or the much talked-climax do leave an indelible mark. But, on the other hand, there are several sequences that not only look long drawn, but also seem to be forced in the goings-on.
Music is merely a gap-filler. Cinematography is good. The set of the Banaras looks authentic
Banaras rests on Urmila’s shoulders and the actor does reasonably well. This is the second time she has enacted a similar role, after Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara.Ashmit runs through his role mechanically. Dimple is just about okay. Naseer is efficient.
Banaras is a weak film in all respects. It may appeal to a few pseudos, but will face an uphill task at the box-office. Disappointing.