Village Tales: The gates

There are no gates, only pillars, it is just that everyone has got used to saying 'the village gates'. Two moulded lions stand on either side of the road, mounted on the unimaginative plain pillars, their mouths open to a roar - that wasps have built their nests there....

Welcome to Sajjanpur: Forced comedy, great drama

The cast puts up an impressive performance...

Shyam Benegal has gained the reputation of being a 'serious' filmmaker, which means making films on things going around us, things we disregard because they do not affect our lives at all.

Set in a north Indian village, Welcome to Sajjanpur comes as a surprise, as it makes us laugh, sets up an array of beautifully sketched characters and tackles social issues without deviating from the story. The result is some moments of forced comedy,and what Benegal executes best- realistic drama.

Despite its minor glitches, the film has he(art), in form of the screenplay, amazing performances and a largely masterful direction.