The Marathi industry makes its share of ridiculous films but it is films like ‘Sairat’ that reinstate the faith in the power of regional films, especially the Marathi ones.

Sairat with its familiar trope of star-crossed lovers, chase scenes, song-and-dance sequences, slo-mo shots, generous doses of humour and picturesque locales has the right amount of masala to lull your senses. It is, after all, a familiar terrain, you would think. You are wrong, horribly wrong! Sairat jolts you when you least expect it. In those few moments, Manjule gives you a taste of the violent realities playing out in the form of honour killings and the simmering inter-caste hatred that puts them in perspective.

The romance of Parshya and Archie, a low-caste boy and an upper-caste girl in rural Maharashtra, the milieu that Manjule clearly understands, though very mainstream, has beautifully detailed moments, enough to induce a wide-eyed grin on your face.

More than the “story”, we are taken on a ride of emotions, such as the adrenaline rush of waiting for your crush to enter the classroom. This takes you right back to your college days.

Watch this movie to find out how things turn out for this couple and how society feels and reacts to relationships of such young runaways. Nagraj Manjule has created a complete cinematic experience for his viewers. This film also marks the debut of Akash Thosar and Rinku Rajguru, who have done complete justice to their roles.

Amazing storytelling, brilliant performances and music makes Sairat an amazing treat to all movie goers of all ages. While there are scenes where you can have a lot of masti and fun, there are other sequences where you would just want to sit back and ponder over the class and caste issues which we grapple with everyday.

Sairat is not an easy film to make or to grasp. While I recommend it, I’d also warn the audience to pause and take a deep breath before passing the judgment, one way or another.

An epic reimagining of the typical love story touches (and crushes) the heart…

New directors always dream of doing something different. I tell them to just add freshness to tried and tested themes. Nagraj Manjule has done just that and how!

Sairaat may be heartbreaking for some to watch. But for a true movie buff of any kind of cinema, it should be a great watch, especially with the two narratives pre- and post-interval.

Manjule takes well-worn material and a classic tale and gives it his own distinctive touches.