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The Movie: Masaan (Graveyard / Burial ground)

Caption: Yin and Yang

Rating: 4/5

Zephyr: Story, Screenplay and Direction

Imagine a bad hair day! Imagine a bad day at work day! Some people tend make big fuss about little things until they see the real “bad” day in people’s lives. Masaan gives a real taste of life with right amounts of shade covering struggles, love, emotions, loss, compromise, acceptance and moving on. This movie is a fight between life and a living, a compromise between likes and dislikes, a war on emotions and wants, and a no-line between moral policing and privacy. This movie definitely unfolds the so-called biased society with unwanted moral policing, red tapism, exploitation, casteism, and lastly, zero-value to a poor man’s life.

Story in a nutshell (spoiler alert):

Masaan showcases complicated lives where everything they encounter is nothing but negativity and/or ill-luck. With a very positive ending on how they thrive and grow out of their misery. It has 2 stories which are shown intertwined with clear distinction for better clarity. Backdrop is based in Banaras. This movie is very intriguing and haunting.

First story talks about a young girl’s date going going wrong and the boy committing suicide because of over enthusiasm from the police. Female protagonist in the first story is very courageous, determined and confident. She and her father are harassed by police for saving her name from suicide case. This story talks about exploitation of poor by policemen, relationship between a father and daughter, a father’s stress on societal pressure, and finding all means and ways to pay 3lac rupees to police as bribe are very well shot. The female protagonist tries and succeeds in getting out of her past, and succeeds in getting a Govt. job in a nearby city. Her character is very gutsy. She endures all insults that come upon her and fights back with brave heart.

Second story talks about a low caste boy – who’s day job is working in the graveyard to burn the dead bodies – liking an upper caste girl. Love or attraction is beyond religions, castes and society. A teenage boy liking a girl, a normal process. The protagonist in the 2nd story is highly ambitious. He goes to college to do a white collar job and do well. When he confesses his love to the girl, the girl accepts his proposal. However, she encourages him to do well in his studies and get job first before they share their love news with her parents. A pure / innocent love that goes on with long phone calls, being around and talking together, riding on a bike are very well shown. One day when the protagonist was working in the graveyard, he gets to burn a body which ends up as his girlfriend’s body. She dies in a bus accident when she goes on a tourism along with her parents and relatives. The boy get devastated. He almost loses interest in his life. But one day, he decides to put his past to rest and start a new life. He succeeds in getting a good job in a nearby city.

Climax: Female protagonist from first story meets the male protagonist from the second story on a boat. This open end leaves audience to think a positive outcome in their lives.

What worked well:

1. Story, screenplay and the direction
2. Very good casting. All artistes out-did their jobs
   1. The little kid’s scenes where he jumps into waters to bring coins as a part of local betting is very gripping. Audience empathize with his character and gets to the edge of the seats in the scene where he jumps into waters and doesn’t come onshore
3. Songs are well timed and are of great composition. “Tu Kisi Rail Si .. “ is worth listening as lyrics touch your hearts. “tu kisi rail si guzarti hai, main pul sa thartharata hoon” – meaning if you pass like a train, I shiver like a bridge … watch full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpf8hrbT2d0

Conclusion:

If you like off-beat movies then this is the one. Weak and emotional hearts and reality-averters, please stay away.