Truly Dreadful Film

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Does this movie have some typical bollywood masala scenes? Sure it does. Could certain dialogues of Baba-ji have been better phrased? Possibly. Ashmit Patel's acting is perhaps just OK.Yet, here is a movie that touches us spiritually and makes us think about human behavior and how we can evolve spiritually. It gives us examples of narrow mindedness and repentance. It reminds us how we like to think we are so rational and yet, true peace of mind can not be obtained merely through intellectual gymnastics.Urmila's acting is great in my opinion. Raj Babbar and Dimple Kapadia play their roles well too. The movie has got some nice, melodious songs. There are some nice views of Banaras.The movie is only around 2 hours. How often does one see that in Hindi movies? Highly worth watching.

Good Indian movies are pleasure to watch, since they are extremely well made comparable to American or Italian movies. They always have a message to be taken to the next generation. But in the last five years or so, they are being brainwashed by these non Indian Suvvar rats, who have come illegally from the neiboring country, who have no respect for Indian culture or tradition and these scums were born to scums and they have taken the Hindi movies down the toilet. Their movies have toilet humor and gutter themes made for the sole purpose of making fast buck for these banchods who should go back to the sewer where they came from and stay there. Good producers and directors can't compete with this banchods or stoop down to their level, hence the good movies like "Banaras" are few and far apart. The majority of Indians are ashamed of these maggots, who are on the top because they are promoted by the Suvvar Rats of the Media who are also born to Rats. This is a movie that is a glee to watch. The cast is commendable with a good piece of acting by Urmila As Shwetambari. The story is not contrived but down to earth. This movie has a message of love and respect for the higher being. Ashmita Patel has the serene look needed for the part. Benares is the religious capitol of India that people from all walks of life come to purify their soul.

Has all ingredients of an all-time great movie! Powerful storyline - Love, Romance, status & clash of social values, joy/sorrow, desire/surrender, success/failure,covetousness, suspense of the who-dun- it, control interference and the fight for freedom, purity/sin, justice retribution/understanding, the dilemma of science (physics) vs metaphysics(spiritual/religious thought), the deep hunger/urge in man for meaning & Verities/"Truth" and ideas of Eternal/Ephemeral existence - in short a cameo of LIFE itself."Banaras" even has "action", murder/violence/death which is idiomatically alluded to for each viewer to visualize - or is simply depicted with quiet finality - as in life! I cannot say when I last enjoyed such a totally absorbing masterpiece. I has always wondered if someone would attempt to make a movie that would address all these issues in 2/3 hours. I finally found one that fits the bill! The portrayal of culture, locale is excellent and authentic. The superb music and lyrics - which run completely true to storyline - mood and message as well as events - both timely and timeless. Banaras presents even very deep "fantastic" spiritual concepts: such as 1. the expansion/mergence of the human consciousness with super/cosmic consciousness and 2. Love as the bedrock of all existence 3. The guru-disciple relationship which fords life, death and Infinity seamlessly 4. Principles of spiritual crisis and healing 5. The karma - the cause and effect principle (where we sows the result if our actions - and create/destroy our joy/life by our actions), 6. Forgiveness - cessation of "blame" by absolute love/understanding/surrender (despite awareness of the "sinful" actions) 7. Intuitive transmission/reception of thought/ideas in an excellent manner - with seemingly effortless natural ease - which is again as it should be because "Truth is simple". I saw this once and then had to go back to see it again - because I felt I needed to be a true critic more balanced in my opinion and so must find fault if there is some. I could not fault even the cinematography. The perception of the untouchable - was expressed through the sweeping, the rising of the dust, and the dropping of the broom, all too effectively - the effect was almost viscerally tangible!The authenticity of portrayal of "supernatural" events with real spiritual experience is also astounding!A big thank you to the team! Kudos to each performer - for perfect portrayal of each role and to Pankaj and the editors for a very slick presentation. If Oscars were mine to give - Banaras would surely have had them! May it be the first of many more in its genre - to come from my beloved India!

Jalwa, Chaalbaaz were two of my favorite movies from Punkaj Parashar. Though he has directed a few more films after that but these two movies from him were memorable ones. Most of his movies are different from each other in term of story, presentation, idea. This time he has attempted another different story about spirituality with love story. That's why the name of the movie is BANARAS - A Mystic Love Story. This is a movie that is well narrated and made from heart. But then the movie didn't cater to the masses as it was a film which won't be liked by all types of audiences.If you want to enjoy this movie truly, then you need to watch this movie with a open mind and concentration. It's not like those regular movies with some stupid songs, comic scenes. This is a movie that is based on caste system that is still prevalent in most parts of our country. The movie conveys a very simple message. "Don't look out for answers for life's unsolved mysteries.Try to find the answers within you." This is a movie for those kind of audiences who like to watch meaningful movies.Swtembari (Urmila) the daughter of a rich Brahmin parents Raj Babbar and Dimple Kapadia studies at a local university in Banaras. Sohan (Ashmit Patel) is a low caste mystic teaches music at the same university. When the two fall in love, Banaras was in fire. Initially Sweta's parents disapprove of the match but then the truth of Sohan forces them to approve. On the day of the marriage Sohan is found murdered. Shwetambari visibly shaken decides to leave the city and decides to find out the answers as to why he was murdered. Seventeen years later she is back to the city as a world teacher in religion and philosophy. She has a choice to make - To meet her dying father or continue denying all worldly attachments.