Director: Pankaj Parashar
Starring: Raj Babbar, Dimple Kapadia, Urmila Matondkar, Ashmit Patel, Akash Khurana, Naseruddin Shah
Music Dir: Himesh Reshamiya

Banaras is a city so mystic and still so vulnerable. The city known as Varanasi now has been in news recently for wrong reasons. Some terrorists planted few bombs at different parts of the city that took several lives apart from tearing the social and communal structure of this northern city of India situated at the banks of river Ganga. And, now director Punkaj Parashar brings back the real identity of this holy town on big screen in his 'Banaras - A Mystic Love Story'.

Punkaj Parashar started film making more than a decade back with a small budget film 'Jalwa' (Pankaj Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah) and then moved on to making big films like 'Chalbaaz' (Sridevi), 'Rajkumar' (Madhuri Dixit) and his last 'Tumko Na Bhul Payenge' (Salman Khan). Punkaj Parashar must have tasted blood in his last outing that was based on the illusions and other mystical theories in the beginning but ending it as a dud by justifying all this in the climax. But, this time he has learned from his mistakes.

So in Banaras one sees the Punkaj Parashar moving ahead from the interval and completing the circle with Urmila Matondkar. Urmila! Oh! What an actress. Having started as a child actor in 'Kalyug' and 'Masoom', she is one of the few faces in Hindi cinema who could make it big. And, that too despite once touted as a seductive girl for her 'Rangeela' and 'Mast' image.

And, when everyone wrote her off following quitting the Ram Gopal Verma camp, she shot to fame in 'Pinjar', 'Naina' and now 'Banaras'. 'Banaras' is a turning point not only for its director Punkaj Parashar but for this beautiful actress as well.

'Banaras -- a mystic love story' is a departure from Bollywood style in many ways. It belongs more to the current trend of realistic cinema. The narration is packed with many unexplainable things around and at a time when caste politics is taking a heavy toll on Indian political scenario, this nicely made 'Banaras' comes out loosening these strings into a love story. Yes, this is a love story between a girl from highly disciplined Brahmin family and a young musician from a lower caste.

The relationship between them tries to change the lives of many. Urmila Matondkar plays Shwetambri. She is a young, beautiful and bubbly daughter of a renowned family of rich Brahmins (Raj Babbar and Dimple Kapadia). She is a science student and also progressive.

She does not believe in set norms of life. She chances to meet Soham, played by Ashmit Patel, of a low caste and working as a music teacher. Besides, he is also a protégé of a mystic guru known as Babaji (Naseeruddin Shah). Soham and Shwetambri meet and they strike a chord immediately.

The chemistry between the two works. Though Shwetambri's parents are not against this, the society is opposed to this relationship. Frustrated and fuming Shwetambri leaves the town and vouches to keep no relation with this city. Two decades later, Shwetambari turns a teacher of philosophy and religion.

A subject where there is no place for hatred. At this juncture she learns about the illness of her parents. The path ahead looks divided on two different roads. Where should she go from here? She chooses to return to her roots and face the reality.

'Banaras' is a unique experiment at a time when the world cinema is daring to shed social taboos in society. If Oscars can value films like 'Brokeback Mountain' and 'Crash', why cannot we salute a cinema that is more than dance and drama sequence? Director Punkaj Parashar had dared to be different every time and has succeeded too. 'Banaras' is a litmus test for him. His life can go either way from here but this film will always be a milestone in his career.

Producer L C Singh along with Javed Siddiqui has molded a thought into a beautiful and a very contemporary narration. But full marks should be given to director Punkaj Parashar who comes out a winner in ideating and executing a concept that must have been woven on several illusions.

The film is technically very strong and the sets, the aura, the setting are all very brilliant. And, acting of its cast is very supportive of Punkaj Parashar's thoughts. Urmila has shown once again that she is not what people think of her but she is what she has shown in films like 'Pinjar', 'Naina' and now in 'Banaras'.

She deserves applause for her portrayal of Shwetambri. The role is another feather in her crown. The weak link of the film is only Ashmit Patel. Had Punkaj chosen someone more efficient actor for the role, the results could have been dramatically different.

Dimple and Raj Babbar are apt and Akash Khurana, Arif Zakaria and Javed Khan do their parts well too. Naseeruddin Shah in the role of Babaji is a surprise package of the film. Having got good music by Himesh Reshamiya and impressive lyrics by Sameer, 'Banaras' is indeed a flavor of the season!