The film can be a source of spiritual satisfaction for those who love spirituality and mysticism. At the same time it may be torturous for those who never sailed the boat of spirituality.
The movie takes you on a tour to ‘Varanasi’. It shows the mesmerizing temples endless stairs, mighty ghats and above all religion and mysticism. Background music whispers soothing hymns in your ears.
Cinematographer Nirav Shah has done an excellent job. He has successfully captured the beauty and enigma of the oldest city of India --‘Banaras’.
Pankaj Parashar shoud be praised for showing courage for selecting such a different topic. He has established himself as a film maker with will to experiment and come out with good results.
Music director Himesh Reshammiya made use of the opportunity to come out of his silky voice and unnecessarily romantic tracks. Music is suitable and pleasing.
Great acting performances by Raj Babber and Nasiruddin Shah. Urmila had a strong role and she did that with confidence and courage. She has excelled as an actress.
Ashmit also acted well and did justice to the character of Soham.
Banaras is a story of a Brahmin girl Swetambari (Urmila) who loves a lower caste boy Soham (Ashmit Patel). Her parents are against their relation but they somehow agree to accept Soham as their son-in-law. Soham is murdered just before their marriage and Swatambari takes the path of religion and spirituality. Raj Babber played Swatambari’s father and Nasiruddin Shah played Babaji who is Soham’s spitual guru. Dimple looked fine as Swetambari’s mother
Some scenes like Dimple Kapadia’s realization of her sin had unnecessary drama and extra cinematic effects.
Over all it’s an unconvential movie and has the power to take you to a different world-- which is complete and true –Saral, Sahaj and Samporna.