Neeraj Ghaywan's 'Masaan' is packed with strong performances, but as a tale, its flawed & not as gut wrenching as it believes to be. This Two-Story based narrative is certainly not without some merit, but it could've been so much more.
'Masaan' Synopsis: Four lives intersect along the Ganges: a low caste boy hopelessly in love, a daughter ridden with guilt of a sexual encounter ending in a tragedy, a hapless father with fading morality, and a spirited child yearning for a family, long to escape the moral constructs of a small-town.
'Masaan' aces in its first story, which is genuinely tragic. The father-daughter angle is powerfully handled, offering moments so real, they literally hit you like ton of bricks. My problem was with the second story. I couldn't care less for the low-caste boy who falls for a girl, who turns out to be his opposite, in terms of caste.
Ghaywan & Varun Grover's Screenplay solidly builds one story, but fails in the another one. I wasn't repulsed by the goings-on, although the Writing aims to disturb you. The Writing needed to be sharper. Ghaywan's Direction is good. Cinematography & Editing are perfectly done.
Performance-Wise: Richa Chadda & Sanjay Mishra lead 'Masaan', with heartbreaking performances. As the conflicting father-daughter, Chadda & Mishra deliver magnificently. Newcomer Vicky Kaushal & Shweta Tripathi are sincere. Pankaj Tripathi is priceless in a cameo.
On the whole, 'Masaan' isn't as powerful as it hopes to be, but its still worth a watch for the performances.
'Masaan' Synopsis: Four lives intersect along the Ganges: a low caste boy hopelessly in love, a daughter ridden with guilt of a sexual encounter ending in a tragedy, a hapless father with fading morality, and a spirited child yearning for a family, long to escape the moral constructs of a small-town.
'Masaan' aces in its first story, which is genuinely tragic. The father-daughter angle is powerfully handled, offering moments so real, they literally hit you like ton of bricks. My problem was with the second story. I couldn't care less for the low-caste boy who falls for a girl, who turns out to be his opposite, in terms of caste.
Ghaywan & Varun Grover's Screenplay solidly builds one story, but fails in the another one. I wasn't repulsed by the goings-on, although the Writing aims to disturb you. The Writing needed to be sharper. Ghaywan's Direction is good. Cinematography & Editing are perfectly done.
Performance-Wise: Richa Chadda & Sanjay Mishra lead 'Masaan', with heartbreaking performances. As the conflicting father-daughter, Chadda & Mishra deliver magnificently. Newcomer Vicky Kaushal & Shweta Tripathi are sincere. Pankaj Tripathi is priceless in a cameo.
On the whole, 'Masaan' isn't as powerful as it hopes to be, but its still worth a watch for the performances.