It’s been ages since the Indian audience was treated to an unconventional story, which has the essence of simplicity and is engrossing. Masaan gets full marks and is very real, not only with its unpretentious writing but with every actor’s honest on-screen persona and performance. This film is a perfect blend of sentiment served well with modest storytelling.
The story: Devi (Richa Chadda) and fellow student Piyush (Saurabh Chaudhary) are caught in the act by the police, who burst through the door and arrest them for allegedly indulging in a sex scandal. Piyush commits suicide and Devi and her father, Vidhyadhar Pathak (Sanjay Mishra), are subjected to blackmail by the police officer.
Deepak (Vicky Kaushal), who belongs to a low caste, is working on the ghats of the Ganga and also studying to become a civil engineer. Soon, he meets upper-class Shaalu (Shweta Tripathi) and falls in love with her. How the two stories move forms the crux of the story.
Debutant director Neeraj Ghaywan is a powerful story teller. The simplicity and anguish in each frame is clear but subtle. Many scenes are overwhelming and in tune with the essence of the subject. Ghaywan and his writer Varun Grover smartly carve a niche screenplay and hold the narration firm throughout.
The film is a smooth sail during the first half and, post-interval, the narration lifts to another level. On the whole, the film is a seamless mixture of emotions and many scenes leave you awestruck.
Editing by Nitin Baid is firm. Cinematography by Avinash Arun is fantastic. The locations are brilliantly captured and portray Benaras’ crowded areas and the ghats well. Music and background score are top rate and take the narration forward beautifully.
The dialogue is tight and includes some heart-wrenching lines. From locations to costumes, the look of the film is suitable. Special mention of the scenes that show the cremation ground. The screenplay incorporates them aptly and subtly. Casting by Mukesh Chhabra is brilliant; he casts the perfect actor for even the smallest of roles.
Performance-wise, Richa Chadda executes her role with effortlessness and simplicity. She plays her part with extreme conviction and delivers a well-rounded performance. Sanjay Mishra is brilliant. Vicky Kaushal is excellent and brings out the many layers in his character. Shweta Tripathi excels and ensures that the innocence of her character is constant throughout. Pankaj Tripathi is outstanding. Child actor Nikhil Sahni emotes well.
Verdict: Not to be missed, a must-watch!
