Curate, connect, and discover
I would literally do anything to re live that feeling I had when I first watched Masaan. There is something extremely raw about understanding the original dialogue & not needing subtitles.
And yet. Yet. I did not know a lot of cultural nuances within the story. Such as the belief that splitting the skull during cremation is said to help the soul rest in peace. The betting on kids who can dive to pick coins. Slut shaming & stigma on pre marital sex being more condemned in smaller towns than metropolitan cities.
The subtlety of accents. Devi uses the word "please" "papa" & always speaks in a clear "sophisticated" way, sprinkled with English words. She's digitally literate. Confident even that despite everyone's blackmail, she was just in love & not being the so called slut. She was afraid but never guilty. She never accepted harassment.
Then we have Deepak & Shaalu. Blissfully happy. Until reality starts sinking in. Their families will not accept an inter caste marriage. Deepak starts getting insecure that his family cremates bodies for a living. Shaalu feels pathetic for asking. Of course she meant no harm but damn was she scared of bring disowned.
And then it starts to merge. Devi & Deepak both want to break their cycle of poverty. They study hard & move in search of opportunity. They want to better their lives. They've lost their lovers. They both throw their lover's remaining token into the rivers.
I personally see the last line to be layered. That they should go to sangam twice. But were they really alone? Or were they going with that someone not next to them but in their heart?