Of love, life and everything in between

Masaan

The quiet paced journey to the sangam, after all the upheaval and 'utpaat' in their lives, is a very apt closure. And yet, I carry all of them back home with me; Deepak, Devi, Sadhya ji, Jhonta, Vidyadhar Pathak, Shaalu and even Sikander. 

The shared deep remorse of all the characters, of life as it is and of loves that could have been, does not drown them in the depths of the river or singe their spirits in the fires of the pyre. It defines them further, and propels them forward. They carry their grief and regrets with dignity and set out to embrace love, life and all else that comes their way. Once again. Staying true to their core.

Avinash Arun’s cinematography and Nitin Baid’s editing are organic. This makes Masaan, everyone & everything in it, tangible and believable. You seem to be watching it all play out in front of your eyes (maybe, majority of the shots being in natural light might also have something to do with it) and it plays out seamlessly. The edit and photography seem to work around the sacred script and the screenplay. Varun Grover’s earthy writing finds the perfect pitch in its actors and setting. All of it comes together with a natural ease, just like Chakbast’s fine balance of the elements. 

And the music, well it sticks. And how! Just like the Kashi in the film, it is an insider in the story. Interwoven. And yet giving all the elements in the story a release. Like the balloons.