Review of movie Mohalla Assi

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Rating:2/5

Made around the politically charged topic of Ram Janmabhoomi, 'Mohalla Assi' was delayed for six years before it could be released. But when you see the film, there is literally no reason for that to have happened. But it may have helped the film considering the Ram Temple issue has heated up again and more people will be curious to know just what is in the film. The thing is, they will be disappointed considering there is very little that will either tell you more on the subject, let alone hold your interest.

Based on Dr Kashi Nath Singh's popular Hindi novel, 'Assi Ka Kaashi', the film looks at the changing landscape of the holy city of Varanasi and focuses particularly on the Assi Ghat, one of the holiest places in Hinduism. The book has successfully managed to show the changing face of Varanasi through interesting conversations that happen at chai shops. The film, on the other hand, fails miserably on that subject. You glean very little from these conversations because of shoddy editing. The conversations start and end abruptly, which make it tough to keep up. It is as if the filmmaker marked his favourite portions in the book and shot them line by line.

Sunny Deol as Kashi, the angry Sanskrit Scholar is unconvincing and even seems uncomfortable mouthing the abuses that the dialogue is littered with. It’s almost as if he doesn’t want to curse on screen! Sakshi Tanwar delivers a credible performance in a role that has more shades to it than Deol’s. Ravi Kishan, as the wily guide, could have provided the needed comic relief, but he fails to do so.