Mastram

Director – Akhilesh Jaiswal

Writer – Abhishek Jaiswal, Gunjan Saxena

Cast – Rahul Bagga, Tara Alisha Berry and others. 

The widespread interest in guilty pleasures and fantasies of life can be seen from the popularity of ‘kirtu.com’, a website that created two famous housewives Savita Bhabhi and Velamma. Erotic stories and magazines have dominated Indian markets for ages. The film ‘Mastaram’ is debutant director Akhilesh Jaiswal’s take on this sensual issue.

A bank clerk Rajaram Vaishnav (Bagga) aspires to be a writer. He decides to quit and pursue his dream following a spat with his superior. However, publishers refuse to work with him as they fail to find uniqueness in his work. At the behest of a publisher Mr Purohit, Rajaram decides to write ‘masaledar’ stories. Instead, he ends up writing steamy stories using the pseudonym ‘Mastram’. 

        

         Director Akhilesh Jaiswal who co-wrote Gangs of Wassepur has handled a bold subject with significant ease. We know ‘sex sells’ but are reluctant to discuss it. This taboo has made lives pleasure and miserable at the same time. He also highlights the plight of struggling writers. The ascent of English made Hindi authors vulnerable as the new generation failed to understand the emotions conveyed through their words. Today, they are left with very few options.

            Rahul Bagga is excellent as Rajaram, a timid, ambitious and budding author. Tara Alisha Berry (making her acting debut) fits perfectly into the role of his ‘sati-savitri’ type wife. The village backdrop has paved the way for a few stage actors to give useful supports and provide better insights into rural mindsets (connected to erotica). The film, which gathers your interest in the first half, hurries to its climax in the other half. 

            I am going with three out of five stars for Mastram. It is a must watch for all conservative pseudo- intellectuals.