Celebrate Life, Death And Everything In Between, With Neeraj Ghaywan's 'Masaan'

Isha Sharma
Isha Sharma
Updated on Jul 23, 2015, 12:28 IST-4.2 K Shares
Masaan

Masaan

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Cast: Richa Chadda, Vicky Kaushal, Sanjay Mishra, Nikhil Sahni and Shweta Tripathi 

Director: Neeraj Ghaywan

Screenwriter: Varun Grover

No item songs, no Kapoor or Khan to back it, and nothing jazzy about the film. Neeraj Ghaywan's Masaan is nowhere close to the commercial films of today. After winning hearts and a 5-minute long applause at Cannes '15, Masaan is all set to release in theaters on 24th July. If you're someone with a Bajrangi-Baahubali hangover, make a sincere plan to watch this film that will warm the cockles of your heart, and make you experience an extreme set of emotions that exist between life, death and everything else in between. 

Masaan is not like any other film. Rather, it is poetry in motion. Here's why. 

1. Masaan is an artistic ode to innocence, heartbeats, solemnity, grief, life, death, the purity of 'first love', rebirth and never-ending hope! 

Masaan

Facebook/Masaan

Masaan means 'cremation ground'. The plot of the film revolves around Devi (Richa Chadda) and Deepak (Vicky Kaushal). Devi wants to explore her sexuality and chose to have a sexual encounter that ended in an ugly tussle. While she remains unapologetic throughout, she is a guilt-stricken daughter. Meanwhile, Deepak who belongs to a lower cast, falls in love with an upper cast Shaalu (Shwetha Tripathi). What follows is a cinematic experience with emotions of love, hatred, hope and grief. 

2. In an era of rampant social media consumption, you have to see how poetry brings Deepak and Shaalu closer. 

Masaan

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Co-writer Varun Grover has poured his heart out for his love of Hindi and Urdu literature in the film. The film opens with a quote by Brij Narayan Chakbast. Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla has been a major inspiration for one of the characters of the film. Shalu is a big fan of poetry in the film and, "She reads the poets I love," exclaimed Grover in an interview, recalling ace writers like Akbar Allahabadi and Bashir Badr. 

3. From a complicated father-daughter relationship to old-school romance that shifts to a Facebook romance, Ghaywan's story-telling is smooth and seamless. 

Masaan

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The film juggles between extreme fear and endless hope in parts. As a viewer, Ghaywan and Grover will take you on a journey with them, where in some parts you'll cheer for a character, and on the other you'll start dreading the idea of the worst possible turn unfolding in the film.

Masaan

Facebook/Masaan

Humor, drama and emotions are in adequate proportions! 

4. The complexities of modern-day life have been depicted beautifully. Each character in the film tries to break free from the rules of society that oppresses their freedom to live. 

Masaan

Each and every character in the film has been sketched keeping one thing in mind - reality and relatability. You'll empathise, and you'll sympathise. 

Watch Director Neeraj Ghaywan on penning down the main characters of the film here: 

5. Indian Ocean, one of the finest bands in the country, have always stayed away from Bollywood. But they made a beautiful exception with Masaan.  

Masaan

Facebook/Masaan

Get over the fad of second-hand jawaanis, Sheila and Munni, and brace yourself for some soul-stirring numbers in the film. From 'Man Kasturi Re', and 'Bhor' to 'Tu Kisi Rail Si', the tracks have been penned keeping in mind the roots of Benaras and the modern tastes of audiences today. You're in for the best of both worlds this time. 

6. Benaras, despite its flaws and harsh realities, will leave you stunned.

Masaan

Facebook/Masaan

7. The casting of the film is as if Ghaywan chose his cast first, and sketched the characters later.

Masaan

Facebook/Masaan

From ace actors like Richa Chadda, Sanjay Mishra, Pankaj Tripathi to newbies Shweta Tripathi and Vicky Kaushal, each and every performance is stunning.

Let's just say you're in for a ethereal treat.