Benares, the holy city on the banks of the Ganges, deals out cruel punishment for those who do not respect moral traditions. Deepak, a young man from a poor neighborhood, falls hopelessly in love with a young girl from a different caste.
Masaan, the Hindi word for crematorium, is part of the new generation of indie films whose clear intent is to set ablaze a hidebound society's constrictions on personal liberty.
Neeraj Ghaywan's understated and assured Masaan takes its narrative cues from the flow of the Ganga river and the movement of the trains that pass over it.
Helmer Neeraj Ghaywan hasn't found ways to overcome script and editing weaknesses, resulting in a disappointing drama that's unable to realize the potential of the one truly interesting character.
