Ankur

Benegal's first narrative feature mostly recalls the modest realism of Satyajit Ray. The story is of a reluctant young rural landlord attracted to a servant whom he eventually seduces and takes as his mistress. It clearly intends some measure of social protest against an impossibly rigid caste system, the subjection of women, and traditional ruling class privilege; and if the seduction is coyly shown, the sexual nature of the relationship is at least spoken about surprisingly candidly for an Indian film.