Nemom Pushparaj's Malayalam film Banaras stars Vineeth, Kavya Madhavan and Navya Nair. Pushparaj, being an art director as well, makes sure his film boasts of colour-corrected frames and lavish song sequences. But as far as the story goes, it's mediocre.
Hari (Vineeth) plays a street theatre actor, who takes on the local mafia. He hopes to get a PhD degree from the Banaras Hindu University, where his father (played by Devan) taught, and his mother had died.
Hari is in love with his cousin Devu (Navya Nair) and plans to marry her. But he meets a damsel in distress Amrutha (Kavya Madhavan) in Banaras. Hari helps her from the clutches of her criminal uncle, who wants to get her married to his friend. In the process, the couple end up in bed -- putting an end to Devu's dreams of marrying Hari.
If there is anything that keeps us glued to our seats, it's the sincerity of the three leads. Vineeth has a hero's role after ages. Kavya Madhavan makes one of her final appearances on the silver screen before marriage but she does not do justice to her illustrious career. Navya Nair makes her presence felt in Malayalam cinema after a long while, and does well.
Banaras could have been a worthwhile experience if it was treated with the seriousness it deserved.
Rediff Rating: 
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