> Banaras

Starring:
Urmila Matondkar,
Ashmit Patel, Naseeruddin Shah,
Dimple Kapadia,
Raj Babbar,
Akash Khurana

Director: Pankaj Parashar

Music: Himesh Reshammiya

Producer: L C Singh

Shwetambari (Urmilla Matondkar), born in respected Brahmin family of Banaras (Dimple Kapadia and Raj Babbar) is studying science in her hometown. Soham (Ashmit Patel), a protege of Baba (Naseeruddin Shah), is a music teacher having ample talent. However his disqualification is his low caste. And as usual the two falls in love.

Theres a clash between conservative society and the evolving thoughts. Soham is killed mysteriously. Shwetambari's life is shattered. But she happens to see something which makes her hate everything around her, her parents, the society, the town of banaras, the town which she loved from the time when she gained senses.

She leaves the city and take a spiritual way to cope with her hopeless grief. But life has much more in store for her. While finding her own answers to life she helps many others with answers to their lifes. She becomes a prominent figure as a spiritual leader. 17 years later her father is on deathbed with a wish to see her daughter. She has to decide - to soothe the pains of death of her father or deny the worldly attachments. She decides to fulfill her duty as a daughter. But why was she so hesitant in the first place? Who was the one who murdered her Love Soham? Was it her own father?

For a change Himesh Reshammiya gives something which is not really mainstream. Music is soothing. Urmila gets full credit for her performance. More importantly Pankaj Parashar made each of actors perform above par. Screenplay and story is well woven around the sceneries of Banaras. All in all, a experience to watch.