MASAAN

Masaan is a simple story, with no complexities in the narrative. It involves two parallel stories placed in Varanasi (Kashi). Story of individuals who are like two rivers and how they face their hardships only to meet at Sangam (Allahabad) in the end.  Movie is so simple that it becomes extraordinary after a while.

Story 1: Richa Chaddha who plays Devi is the daughter of Vidyadhar Pathak(Sanjay Mishra) a Pandit cum translator at the Ghats of Varnasi. Devi meets a guy and falls for her also she has a curiosity for sex, so they plan to rent a hotel room for their act. But as fate has it, police raids the room and finds them naked. Police Inspector makes an mms of Devi and then starts blackmailing Vidyadhar Pathak to pay him Rs. 3 Lacs in three months else he will upload the video on You Tube.

Story 2: Deepak played by Vicky Kaushal is a Dom whose family cremates dead bodies by the ghats of Benaras. They live at the Harishchandra Ghat and belong to the lowest strata of society. The problem begins when he falls in love with Shaalu Gupta (Shweta Tripathi), a girl from an upper caste family. Their romance reminds of the teenage, first love feelings, those bike rides, the phone conversations, listening to songs, the love for poetry, Durga Pooja Pandals as meeting points and the first kiss. All beautifully shot, and excellently delivered.

Anymore about the story and it will destroy your cinematic experience. How these two stories become one is for you to see in the nearest theatre.

   The four main characters were the perfect casting for their roles. Sanjay Mishra has proved again that not only is his comic timing unbeatable but he can also portray other emotions well. A helpless, penniless father whose daughter is caught in a scandal has been delivered beautifully by Mishra. Add to it Richa Chaddha bought back the memories of Smita Patil for me. The ‘Chotey Sheher ki ladki’ played by her is so real that it becomes an obligation to believe her. For all the raids in which girls are blamed, we never blame the society which is so sexually oppressed that teenagers fall into the trap of seedy hotel owners and police nexus.

Vicky Kaushal and Shweta Tripathi both look cute together and Vicky needs a special mention for what he has done. From his dialogue delivery to the scene where he is heartbroken, inconsolable, gets drunk and cries. Don’t know about what you might but I could feel the amount of amplifying hurt and pain someone goes when a loved one is taken away. Vicky is a simple looking extraordinary actor who fits the small town guy criteria perfectly.

Masaan raises questions about society, sex, love, caste, life, death. It is a story of Love lost and Life found. Both Devi and Deepak are characters who are trapped in those customs, traditions, old thinking, but they have an eye for what lies beyond horizon. They want to break the shackles and run away from this vicious circle. Do they succeed in it?

In the end we have to root for Debutant Director Neeraj Ghaywan and the writer Varun Grover for such a realistic portrayal of Varanasi. The caste, religion divide that was also shown in Ranjhnaa its true and actual picture is shown in Masaan. The young generation living in these cities is willing to break the old traditions and chose their partners fearlessly without worrying about caste and social status.

The back ground score by Indian Ocean is as rhythmic as the movie itself. The movie and music both flow like a river. “Tu kisi rail si guzarti hai…..main kisi pul sa thar tharata hunn….” Such an engaging description of a romantic relation is so heart touching. It reminds us that we have some amazing hindi writers. Varun Grover and Neeraj Ghyawan need a round of applause for Masaan. It’s not the Varanasi where foreigners come to seek salvation. It takes courage to venture into this space of realism and show the city that lives inside of what we are accustomed to

It leaves you pondering on various questions about life and love.

Is life a trap? Is love a journey? Watch Masaan to find out!.