Masaan

Along the ghats of Varanasi, Masaan threads together four lives navigating tradition and desire. A young man from a marginalized caste finds himself torn between love and social expectations. A woman in her early twenties carries guilt after a sexual encounter that ends in tragedy, facing judgment from family and community. A middle aged father grapples with fading morality as his choices collide with what his daughter needs. And a spirited girl seeks a sense of family, clinging to hope as the boundaries of caste and propriety press in. Its camera lingers on small gestures and daily rituals, letting the texture of life by the river reveal itself without loud rhetoric or noise.

Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan in his feature debut, Masaan is an original screenplay by Varun Grover and premiered in 2015 to wide critical praise. The cast includes Richa Chadha, Vicky Kaushal, Sanjay Mishra, and Shweta Tripathi, solidifying a new wave.

Masaan earned early festival recognition, notably taking the FIPRESCI Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes in 2015. The honor highlighted its restrained storytelling and the fresh voices in Indian cinema, attracting attention from critics worldwide and boosting visibility for indie projects around the globe.

Masaan sparked conversations about caste and social judgment beyond its festival run, and helped elevate rising talents like Kaushal and Tripathi while signaling a thriving strand of Indian indie cinema. It also inspired discussions about how mainstream cinema treats taboo topics and rural life, and inspired filmmakers toward intimate realism.

Critics praised its restrained storytelling, interwoven plots, and honest look at tradition, guilt, and aspiration in a small town. The film treats its characters with dignity and uses the river banks as a quiet stage for human choice and connection. It remains admired for its quiet emotional pull for viewers.